"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
West Hollywood, California, USA. 28th January, 2026. "Dialogues on the Knoll" brought together 19 contemporary artists whose practices explored how art can ground us in a world of constant motion. Curated by Kipton Cronkite, with salon partner and artist Todd Williamson, the exhibition unfolded across four newly completed luxury townhouses, situated on a quiet knoll in West Hollywood, transforming the residential architecture into an immersive artistic landscape. The event included a panel discussion which brought together leaders from art, architecture, real estate, and design to consider how creative practice and the built environment intersect—shaping the way we live, gather, and find meaning in place.
Director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, artist Todd Williamson, Paul Lester, partner/founder The Agency, Christopher Gialanella, president/publisher of Los Angeles Magazine, TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and Ryan Gordon Jackson, principal Studio Jackson
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
The exhibition examines the ways art, architecture, and daily life intersect to create moments of stillness within a shifting world. Through sculpture, light, painting, and functional design, the works engage material and memory—transforming the turbulence of the present moment and offering gestures of stillness and refuge. Together, they form an evolving dialogue that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and inhabit the space between intensity and quiet.
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
"Dialogues on the Knoll" Art Exhibition
The panelists were Kipton Cronkite, Curator; James Frost, Frost/Chaddock Developers;
Christopher Gialanella, President/Publisher, Los Angeles Magazine; Ryan Gordon Jackson,
Principal, Studio Jackson Inc.; Paul Lester, Partner/Founder, The Agency; Leo Marmol, Artist
and Architect, Marmol Radziner; Todd Williamson, Artist and Salon Partner.
Panelists Todd Williamson, Ryan Gordon Jackson, Leo Marmol, Christopher Gialanella, Paul Lester, James Frost, and Kipton Cronkite
Participating artists included Mark Acetelli, Charles Arnoldi, Kristina Rose Baker, Mads Christensen (Mads Christensen is represented by Timothy Yarger Fine Art / Los Angeles), Christina Craemer, Shane Guffogg, Steve Hash, Alexandria Hilfiger, Caroline P.M. Jones (Caroline PM Jones is represented by Timothy Yarger Fine Art / Los Angeles), David Paul Kay, Mona Kuhn, Brandon Lomax, Leo Marmol, Bernardo Montgomery, Harry Moody, Mohamed Ouedraogo, Theo Pinto, Cybele Rowe, and Todd Williamson.
LABA Board members director/filmmaker Harrison Engle, TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), neon artist Lisa Schulte, and artist Todd Williamson with his artwork
Artist Christina Craemer with her artwork
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and artist Mark Acetelli with his artwork
Artist/architect Leo Marmol with his artwork
Artist Mohamed Ouedraogo with his artwork
Artist Kristina Rose Baker with her artwork
Artist Bernardo Montgomery with his artwork
Special thanks was given to Frost/Chaddock Developers, along with Paul Lester and Daniel
Stevenson from The Agency, for their support and collaboration in realizing this project at The
Row on West Knoll.
Panelist Biographies
About Kipton Cronkite | Curator
Kipton Cronkite is a Los Angeles–based art advisor and curator and the founder of ArtStager.
After transitioning from a finance career at Citigroup and Bank of America in 2009, he built a
global advisory practice that bridges investment strategy with artistic vision, supporting clients
in developing emotionally resonant collections with long-term value. Formerly active with the
Whitney Contemporaries, the Frick Young Fellows, and the American Friends of the Louvre,
Kipton has also served as Art Chair for Next Beverly Hills. He is regularly recognized as an art
expert by leading international publications, including The New York Times, Forbes, CNN, and
The Wall Street Journal.
About James Frost | Principal/Managing Member, Frost/Chaddock Developers
James Frost founded Frost/Chaddock with the late Guy Chaddock in 1994. He has 30 years of
experience in commercial real estate, having started with R.W. Selby & Company in 1987. He
personally handles all acquisition and development decisions, and is the managing member of
all syndicated investments. James has a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of
Southern California.
About Christopher Gialanella | President/Publisher, Los Angeles Magazine
Christopher Gialanella is President and Publisher of Los Angeles Magazine, Orange Coast
Magazine, Pasadena Magazine, and SoCal Design. Appointed in 2023 after joining Engine
Vision Media, he brings more than two decades of experience in luxury lifestyle publishing,
including 23 years with Modern Luxury in executive leadership roles such as Group Publisher
of Angeleno and LA Confidential. Known for revitalizing print and digital platforms, Gialanella
has expanded audience engagement through events, podcasts, social media, and experiential
marketing. His work and commentary reflect a deep engagement with Los Angeles culture,
lifestyle, and media.
About Ryan Gordon Jackson | Principal, Studio Jackson Inc.
Ryan Gordon Jackson is an award-winning designer known for his refined, edited
contemporary aesthetic and a thoughtful approach that balances form, function, and feeling.
As founder and principal of Studio Jackson, he leads residential and bespoke design projects
worldwide, translating diverse cultural influences into cohesive, deeply personal spaces. His
work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Galerie, Elle Decoration China, Interior Design,
Veranda, and LUXE. At the core of his practice is a commitment to collaboration and the
creation of spaces that feel both timeless and intimately connected to those who inhabit them.
About Paul Lester | Partner/Founder, The Agency
Paul Lester is a leading Los Angeles–based real estate advisor with over 20 years of
experience and more than $1.2 billion in residential sales. A top-ranked agent recognized by
REAL Trends/The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Business
Journal, he is known for his deep market expertise and concierge-level client service across
Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and surrounding coastal and hillside communities. Based at The
Agency’s Beverly Hills office, Lester brings a global perspective shaped by an international
career spanning multiple continents. A longtime supporter of the arts, he serves on the Board
of Directors of BODYTRAFFIC and is a founding member of Desert X in Palm Springs.
About Leo Marmol | Artist and Architect, Marmol Radziner
Leo Marmol, co-founding partner of the acclaimed Los Angeles–based design-build firm
Marmol Radziner, is an architect and abstract painter whose work elegantly bridges built space
and studio expression. With a B.Arch and a minor in Philosophy from California Polytechnic
State University, he channels architectural discipline into oil and cold-wax paintings inspired by
the intense light and terrain of the California desert. His dual practice invites viewers to
consider the interplay of color, texture and environment through both architecture and fine art.
About Todd Williamson | Artist & Salon Partner
Todd Williamson is a Los Angeles–based abstract painter whose work explores the tension
between stillness and movement through layered surfaces and musical linear motifs. A
recipient of the 2019 Pollock Prize for Creativity and multiple Pollock-Krasner Foundation
grants, he has exhibited internationally, including selection as an Official Exhibition of the 58th
Venice Biennale (Processional, 2019), with museum presentations in the U.S. and Europe.
Williamson has been recognized by international cultural leaders for his artistic impact and
served for 11 years on the West Hollywood Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, where he
helped advance public art initiatives and the city’s first Artist Grant. His practice continues to
merge visual art with sound, light, and immersive experience.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Universal Artifacts Token, Token Works, USSCA Chinese Economic & Culture Association, World Peace One, MDSUN, XAVVI, Shennel Trading, InLight Foundation, Cynthia Clarté, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Galaxy Community, Liu Chun Art Studio in Beverly, and The Beverly Arts Foundation
- The Beverly Arts
- Jan 27
Updated: Feb 15
Miss Asia International Winners - CiCi Sappakittkuntro (2nd Runner-up), Junjiao Sissi Wang (Miss Asia International 2025) and Grace Pan (1st Runner-up)
San Gabriel, California, USA. 24th January, 2026. The 37th Miss Asia International Pageant was held at the Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel with Junjiao Sissi Wang being crowned the Miss Asia International 2025. The theme of this year’s event was “Back to the Millennium, Brilliance Re-imagined,” and featured the first Miss Little Asia International and the Mrs. Asia International pageants, fashion shows, and entertainment. The event was held in conjunction with the 7th Asian Film Festival Los Angeles, merging the worlds of fashion and cinema into a grand celebration. Together, the two events shined a light on the growing influence of Asian culture on the global stage.
Miss Little Asia International 2025 winners and pageant participants with their awards and certificates
Mrs. Asia International 2025 winners - (2nd Runner-up), Clara Lobel (Mrs. Asia International 2025), and Annie Chen (1st Runner-up)
Since its inception, the Miss Asia International Pageant has been held internationally in cities that have included Beijing, Chengdu, Shenyang, Xiamen, and Los Angeles. Regional competitions are held across Asia and North America, with the top three finalists from each division advancing to the global finals. The ultimate winner is crowned Miss Asia International, with runner-ups and special awards being honored. The competition celebrates the beauty and diversity of Asian culture and fosters global cultural exchange while inspiring new generations of women to express their confidence, creativity, and inner beauty.
Music artist Misty Chang is interviewed on the red carpet
Peter Wu, president/CEO of XAVVI, TV host Joey Zhou, Artist Director of pageant, Julie Shen, President of Art Hearts Fashion, and Christina Fulton, CEO of Immortal Beauty
Distinguished guests from the entertainment, fashion, media, and many other industries joined the festive red carpet event. The organizers of the event included Julie Shen, President of Art Hearts Fashion, Michelle Guo, President of MGAC Global Aesthetic Group, Charles Dong, General Manager of American Multimedia Television USA (AMTV USA), and Jason Quin, Executive Chairman of the Miss Asia International Committee and representative of the official licensor, the American International Chamber of Commerce (AICC). TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), was the Artistic Director of the pageant.
Event organizers Julie Shen, President of Art Hearts Fashion, Michelle Guo, President of MGAC Global Aesthetic Group
Julie Shen, President of Art Hearts Fashion, music artist Septimius the Great, and Michelle Guo, President of MGAC Global Aesthetic Group
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and Annie Chen, Mrs. Asia International contestant and nominee for LABA Icon Award
Fashion designer Maribel JD (center) with her models
About the Miss Asia International Pageant
Founded in the 1980s, the Miss Asia International Pageant soon expanded and became international cultural and marketing event linking the U.S. with Asian countries. The event is organized and operated by a nonprofit organization affiliated with the American International Chamber of Commerce (AICC), with a mission to promote international trade, investment, tourism, cultural exchange and sustainable development between the United States and other nations.
The Miss Asia International Beauty Pageant is centered on women’s empowerment and gender equality. Through its programs and events, the organization promotes women’s participation in economic and social life across sectors, emphasizing the role of equality in strengthening economies and advancing global development goals. Through its outreach initiatives, the Miss Asia International Beauty Pageant provides guidance to businesses and private-sector partners on supporting women in the workplace, marketplace and community. The organization aligns its mission with global women’s empowerment frameworks supported by organizations including UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Universal Artifacts Token, Token Works, USSCA Chinese Economic & Culture Association, World Peace One, MDSUN, XAVVI, Shennel Trading, InLight Foundation, Cynthia Clarté, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Galaxy Community, Liu Chun Art Studio in Beverly, and The Beverly Arts Foundation
- The Beverly Arts
- Jan 23
Updated: Jan 28
Annie Chen
Annie Chen is a distinguished and influential business leader who has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of issues impacting the Chinese American community. Her achievements have received international recognition, and she has been nominated for a 2026 Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Icon Award.
Born in Shanghai, China, as the youngest of three children, Chen excelled early, graduating with top honors in mechanical engineering from the University of Shanghai. Based on her stellar academic record, Chen was selected as a fellow at General Electric Company—an opportunity that later positioned her to help launch one of the largest marketing firms in Shanghai.
Annie Chen
In 1995, Chen decided to move to the United States, leaving behind an extraordinary career in search of greater opportunities. Despite the challenges she faced establishing herself in a new country, her professional trajectory advanced rapidly. Within five years, she was honored with the John Hancock Manager of the Year Award, a firm-wide distinction granted to only one individual annually. She later founded her own agency, which has consistently been recognized for outstanding performance by institutional partners such as AIG and Blue Shield.
Annie Chen
While achieving significant professional success, Chen has remained deeply committed to nonprofit advocacy, dedicating much of her time to advancing issues relevant to the Chinese American community. After more than 20 years of living in the United States, she developed a nuanced understanding of the dual cultural experience of being both Chinese and American. This perspective led her to join the Diamond Bar Chinese American Association, where she became the longest-serving president in the organization’s history. In this role, she helped preserve and promote Chinese culture among first-generation students, ensuring the continuation of a rich cultural heritage.
Annie Chen
Recognizing the need for a strong support network for Chinese American women, Chen went on to serve as the second president of the Jinguo Committee from 2020 to 2022. Under her leadership, the committee made significant strides in advancing female community leadership and strengthening Chinese American relations. In 2020, the Jinguo Committee was widely praised for its proactive response to the Wuhan public health crisis. Led by Chen, the organization launched a coordinated campaign to support public health efforts in China.
Annie Chen speaks at the 2022 Jinguo Committee Awards Gala
In addition to her business career, Chen has embraced her love of fashion and began fashion modeling training at the end of 2023. Her rapid progress quickly earned her spots on prestigious runways including Silicon Valley Fashion Week, Italy Gold TV Fashion Show, and Paris Fashion Week. Some of her other fashion accomplishments include:
2024 Global Supermodel Contest - Top Ten in the Charm Category
2024 New Silk Road World Model Contest Los Angeles Division - Charm Category Champion
2025 IMTA - Top Ten in Six categories
Annie Chen
Honors and Awards:
2020-2022 President of Jinguo Committee
2020 Orange County "Women of influence- Breaking Barriers Leadership" Award
2019 AIG National Top 100 Broker
2015-2018 President of Diamond Bar Chinese American Association
11th World Outstanding Chinese Youth Award
Gold and Platinum Partner of Largest Insurance General Agency
Honorary Member of Royal Society of St. George, California Branch
Annie Chen - Video
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Universal Artifacts Token, Token Works, USSCA Chinese Economic & Culture Association, World Peace One, MDSUN, XAVVI, Shennel Trading, InLight Foundation, Cynthia Clarté, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Galaxy Community, Liu Chun Art Studio in Beverly, and The Beverly Arts Foundation