Marciano Art Foundation opens in LA

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
May 26, 2017

Guess founding brothers Maurice and Paul Marciano have opened LA's newest contemporary art museum, the Marciano Art Foundation.

Over the past 30 years through the success of Guess, Inc., the Marcianos amassed a large personal art collection. While Paul has continued to remain involved in Guess, Maurice no longer is involved in the company's daily operations and instead has made other investments which primarily include art.

Maurice has most recently been the chairman of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and is fully immersed in the art world.

The Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) opens in the old Masonic temple in Hancock Park. There are two kick off exhibits: Unpacking: The Marciano Collection features works from Takashi Murakami, Ed Ruscha and Sterling Ruby, and an installation based solo show from Jim Shaw entitled The Wig Museum.

Guests at the opening gala for the museum held over the weekend included Terry J. Lundgren, Rachel Roy and Richard Buckley from the fashion industry.

Actors Sharon Stone and Owen Wilson, who frequent MOCA events, joined LACMA board member Ryan Seacrest. Art dealers Larry Gagosian, Mary Boone and Jeffrey Deitch attended as well as Mohamed Hadid, Gigi and Bella Hadid's father.

Artists that were at the opening party included Murakami and Jeff Koons.

MAF is located at 4357 Wilshire Boulevard. The museum occupies the old Scottish Rite Masonic Temple built by Millard Sheets in 1961.

Maurice explained, “This is everything we enjoy the most in life and want to share with everybody.”

The museum is open to the public Thursday through Saturday. It is free although tickets must be ordered in advance.