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"LOS ANGELES \u2014 Currently in its fourth year, Art Los Angeles Contemporary has finally hit its stride. With a strong mix of international exhibitors alongside local galleries, the fair served to showcase L.A.\u2019s growing presence as an international hub. One doesn\u2019t expect to see the blue chip galleries present at Frieze, Art Basel, or FIAC, but the fair does provide a good opportunity to discover emerging talent like \u2014 to name some highlights from this year's edition \u2014&amp;nbsp;Neil Beloufa, Sarah Cain,&amp;nbsp;and Samara Golden.And the modest scope might be an asset as well \u2014 or at least that's what several people at the opening had to say. With just 70 stands in Santa Monica's Barker Hangar, many exhibitors felt optimistic that the fair\u2019s manageable size would encourage collectors to come back for multiple visits.At the opening, collectors Jeffrey Soros and Homeira Goldstein strolled the stands, while curator Shamim M. Momin eyed Ry Rocklen\u2019s furniture line on display at Thomas Solomon. The strongest foreign presence was from France, thanks to the fair\u2019s partnership with the French-L.A. exchange initiative Ceci n\u2019est pas. And it wasn\u2019t just the French language overheard everywhere that gave away the Gallic presence, but the billowing clouds of cigarette smoke at the fair entrance! Paris galleries such as Galerie Sultana and Claudine Papillion Galerie were joined by L.A.-based French expats M+B Gallery and Francois Ghebaly.Other notable international exhibitors include Cardi Black Box from Milan, London\u2019s Jonathan Viner Gallery,&amp;nbsp;and Yautepec Gallery of Mexico City. &amp;nbsp;In the early hours, galleries reported some sales, with Cardi Black Box selling several pieces to a California collector and L.A.\u2019s Night Gallery moving a large piece by local artist Alika Cooper&amp;nbsp;\u2014 with a few more pieces on hold.&amp;nbsp;To see images from the opening of Art Los Angeles Contemporary, click on the slideshow.&amp;nbsp;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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