Marciano Art Foundation

The Marciano Art Foundation (formally named the Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation) is a non-profit arts foundation located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[1][2] It was established by the co-founders of Guess, Maurice Marciano and Paul Marciano. The Marcianos opened the museum on May 25, 2017[3] as an exhibition space to display their 1,500-piece collection of contemporary art.[4] The museum closed indefinitely in November 2019 after workers attempted to unionize.[5][6] The Marciano Foundation released a statement a month later that the closure was permanent.[7] However, it later reopened by reservation only.[8]

Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Los Angeles, California was purchased by The Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation in July 2013. It opened as a contemporary art museum from 2017.

History

Following a recommendation by artist Alex Israel in 2013,[4] the Marciano Art Foundation paid $8 million to buy the former Scottish Rite Masonic Temple on Wilshire Boulevard.[9] The building was converted into an exhibition space by contemporary architect Kulapat Yantrasast of Why Architecture and Design.[10] With 110,000 square feet (10,000 m2) over four floors, it was as large as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and The Broad.[4][11] A 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) sculpture garden by the entrance featured works by Oscar Tuazon, Danh Vō and Thomas Houseago, among others.[12]

In order to avoid any conflicts of interest with Maurice Marciano's subsequent co-chairmanship of MOCA, the project was temporarily put on hold.[12] The museum’s inaugural show, Unpacking: The Marciano Art Foundation, was organized by guest curator Philipp Kaiser.

Collection

About 90 percent of the Marciano Art Foundation’s collection has been amassed since 2010. Today, the foundation owns works by Yael Bartana, Wade Guyton, Glenn Ligon, Alex Israel, Albert Oehlen, Mai-Thu Perret, Seth Price, Sterling Ruby, Barbara Kruger, Mimi Lauter, KAWS, Charles Ray, Mike Kelley, Jonas Wood, Paul Sietsema, Rudolf Stingel, Kaari Upson, Adrián Villar Rojas, and Christopher Wool, among others.[4]

References
  1. "Inside the Marciano Art Foundation's Final Days and More: Morning Links from February 17, 2020". Art News. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. "Marciano Art Foundation to Close Permanently". Hollywood Reporter. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. Deborah Vankin (23 February 2017), Marciano Art Foundation sets L.A. museum opening date for May Los Angeles Times.
  4. Kelly Crow (18 November 2016), Guess Co-Founder Maurice Marciano is Opening LA’s Newest Museum WSJ. Magazine.
  5. Miranda, Carolina A. (November 6, 2019). "Marciano Art Foundation announces it won't reopen in wake of layoffs following union drive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  6. MIRANDA, CAROLINA A. (November 8, 2019). "What's next for nonprofit museums after the closing of the Marciano Art Foundation?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  7. "MOCA will voluntarily recognize new employee union; Marciano closure is permanent". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  8. https://marcianoartfoundation.org/visit/
  9. Roger Vincent (24 July 2013), Bluejeans moguls to turn Masonic lodge in L.A. into a private museum Los Angeles Times.
  10. Jori Finkel (16 September 2014), Fourth time’s a charm Archived 2014-10-09 at the Wayback Machine The Art Newspaper.
  11. Ian Lovett (25 August 2013), A Bigger Closet for Their Art: Maurice and Paul Marciano, of Guess Jeans, Plan a Museum New York Times.
  12. Deborah Vankin (29 December 2016), L.A.'s art world eagerly awaits 2017 opening of Marciano museum Los Angeles Times.
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