DATOS GENERALES
Con obra de
Adrian Paci
Adrián Villar Rojas
Ai Weiwei
Descripción de la Organización
The Marciano Art Foundation was established in 2017 by Maurice and Paul Marciano to grant the public access to the Marciano Art Collection through presentations of rotating, thematic exhibitions housed in a permanent exhibition space in Los Angeles.
The collection contains works by well-established, mid-career and emerging artists, predominantly from the 1990s to present. It is the Marcianos’ desire to share such forward-thinking and dynamic artworks with Los Angeles—their home for the past 35 years—as well as with the rest of the world. By opening up their collection to the public, it is their hope that the public will be inspired to appreciate and engage in the transformative power of contemporary art.
Transformation of the temple’s former Ladies’ Lounge into MAF’s Lounge Gallery
The experimental approach MAF embraces, allows the foundation to continuously re-imagine itself and change shape in response to new developments in the world of contemporary art. Experimentation and evolution are two of the core values embedded in the conception of the foundation. Maurice and Paul have carried these ideas through from the very beginning by transforming a unique building that is historic and meaningful to the Los Angeles community—a former Scottish Rite Masonic Temple built by Millard Sheets in 1961—into a public space for exhibiting contemporary art. Not only does the Foundation provide a venue to display the collection publicly, it also serves as an experimental forum for artists to develop new concepts, installations, and exhibitions.
There is an undeniable vibrancy of artistic activity in Los Angeles, especially strong in the past decade, that MAF strives to enhance and contribute to through its unique programming and vision. MAF implements this through thoughtful presentations of the Collection, innovative commissions, site-specific installations, and the development of an active educational program for students of all ages. One of the aims of MAF’s programs is to teach the audience how to look at contemporary art and ideas at large with open minds and to embrace the questions they give rise to with thoughtfulness and curiosity.
The Marciano Collection focuses on acquiring principal works by established, mid-career and emerging artists, living and working around the world.
The Collection seeks to communicate and respond to the most historically significant developments in art history and human society, while continuously considering current socio-political conditions and contemporary visual culture. Containing over 1,500 works by more than 200 artists, dating from the 1990’s to the present day, the Collection embodies a variety of formal and conceptual approaches in all mediums–ranging from painting, sculpture, photography, and works on paper, to installation, performance, film and digital work. Many artists are collected in-depth, in an effort to display the evolution of an artist’s career over time.
Founders
In 1981, the Marciano brothers moved to Los Angeles, California from the South of France and founded a small denim company that would eventually grow into a world-renowned brand. Their love of the American West combined with a European sensibility became the driving force behind the creation of the iconic denim lifestyle brand, GUESS?. Their engagement with contemporary art began around the same time and developed through visits to galleries and auctions in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. Early on they were drawn to the work of painters such as Roy Lichtenstein, Gerhard Richter, and Sam Francis. Maurice and Paul soon began to spend time with artists in their studio, including Ed Ruscha, and to experience the joy of learning about art directly from the artists creating it.
In 2006 they began collecting work from the 1990s forward. Maurice and Paul were intrigued and excited by how fast the Los Angeles art scene was changing and expanding. They cultivated relationships with artists that became just as important to them as the works they collect. In 2012 they reached a point where it was important for them to share their collection, and love of art with the public, resulting in the establishment of the Marciano Art Foundation. In 2013 they bought the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple on Wilshire Boulevard with the vision to transform it into a contemporary art foundation.
Maurice Marciano, Co-Founder and former Chairman of the Board of GUESS? Inc., retired in 2012 after holding several executive position, switching his focus to his passions; wine and art. In 2006 he purchased a vineyard in Saint Helena, California and built the Marciano Estate winery where he makes sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and rosé wine. Following yet another passion, Maurice joined the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in 2012 and served as Co-Chairman of the board with Lily Tartikoff from 2014 to present.
Paul Marciano, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Creative Officer for GUESS?, Inc., is credited with the vision that is the cornerstone of the GUESS image, leading to some of the most innovative and ground-breaking icons in the history of advertising. Paul’s discerning style shaped GUESS from its inception. Defined by dramatic photography, his images evoke an emotional response from viewers. Paul has been instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the company. His passion and dedication to the company is unsurpassed in the fashion industry.
In 2013 Maurice and Paul bought the best wine store in Los Angeles – Wally’s, where they have been buying their wine for over twenty years. The next year they expanded the store to Beverly Hills where it became a gourmet food shop, wine-tasting bar and restaurant. Much like their approach to collecting art and opening their collection to the public, Maurice shared, “This is everything we enjoy the most in life and want to share with everybody.”
Exposición. 13 dic de 2024 - 04 may de 2025 / CAAC - Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo / Sevilla, España
Formación. 01 oct de 2024 - 04 abr de 2025 / PHotoEspaña / Madrid, España
