LAICA's primary mission was to support contemporary artists of the area through a democratic organizational structure that responded to a large and diverse but then-underrepresented local arts community.

Exhibitions at this space included Three L.A. Sculptors: Lloyd Hamrol, George Herms, and Bruce Nauman in 1975 and Imagination in 1976, which was curated by Llyn Foulkes.

Continuing its mission to showcase a wide range of contemporary art practices, both local and international, exhibitions here included a west coast showing of the groundbreaking exhibition PIctures (1978-1979), curated by Douglas Crimp, as well as Mike Mandel and Larry Sultan's Evidence, and solo shows by artists such as Eleanor Antin and Suzanne Lacy.

[7] LAICA cofounder Robert Smith recalled an early meeting with local artists in which Billy Al Bengston reportedly noted, "We don't need another gallery.

"[8] As Smith and former Artforum critic Fidel Danieli began the Journal, they focused its pages on the history and identity of the Los Angeles artistic community, publishing writings and works by local artists such as Guy de Cointet, Rachel Rosenthal, Allan Kaprow, Allan Sekula, Martha Rosler and Judy Chicago.