O.J. Trial Obsessive Adam Papagan Brings Simpson Museum to Los Angeles Gallery

by Chelsey Sanchez

Even if you were born after the trial ended, you probably know of and about the O.J. Simpson Murder Case.

It was arguably the biggest court case of the '90s. When former NFL star O.J. Simpson was tried for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, the country was divided along the borders of racial strife and national heartbreak. However, it was his acquittal of their murders that stirred a controversy poignant enough to last decades.

Fast forward 21 years, a Las Vegas heist, and a nine-to-33-year prison sentence later, and Simpson, 70 now, has been granted not only parole for his Vegas robbery stunt, but also a pop-up gallery featuring memorabilia based from his trial in the '90s.

The O.J. Simpson Museum will arrive at the Coagula Curatorial Gallery in Los Angeles’ Chinatown from August 18-22. Simpson himself is not associated with the displays.

“The O.J. Trial has been a lifelong obsession of mine,” says Adam Papagan, curator of the exhibit. (“Lifelong obsession” is perhaps an understatement, considering that Papagan also hosts a tour that takes participants to the scene of the crime and other noteworthy locations from the O.J. Simpson trial. He also co-hosts the podcast “Juicing the People v. O.J. Simpson.”) “Everyone knows the media version,” Papagan continues, “but The O.J. Museum is the vernacular of the people.”

The exhibit will display memorabilia (what some have referred to as “murderabilia”) created during or based on the 1994 case. Artifacts include board games, videos, bootleg trial t-shirts, a 1994 Ford Bronco, and more. Additionally, the exhibit includes a tribute to Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, who, according to an interview between Papagan and CNN, are “at the center of this. I think this is really going to help the public see them as two individuals, not just O.J.'s wife and her friend."

Tickets are $5 at the door and $4 online. You can find more information about the pop-up gallery here.


Written by Chelsey Sanchez

Photos Courtesy of the Coagula Curatorial Gallery