Parker Ito kept his new show a secret—even from his gallery

Artists planning a big gallery show often try to surprise visitors with work that feels fresh or unfamiliar. The Los Angeles artist-provocateur Parker Ito has taken things one step further: he managed to keep his gallerists at Chateau Shatto in the dark, not letting them see the work in progress in his studio for nearly a year and banishing them from the shows installation.
Ito has clearly enjoyed building the suspense. A letter he wrote in lieu of a press release reads: Dear chateau shatto, i