Skip to Content

Guide to the Marciano Art Foundation

Update: The Marciano Art Foundation has closed as of November 6, 2019, and their spokesman has told the Los Angeles Times they have “no present plans to reopen.”

Marciano Art Foundation
4357 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010

Hours:
The Museum is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11am – 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10am – 6pm. Please note that the Museum will be closed from January 21st – February 28th, 2018 for installation of a new exhibit.

Description:
The Marciano Art Foundation is LA’s newest art museum, located in what was once the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple on Wilshire Blvd. Maurice and Paul Marciano, the founders of GUESS?, who have been collecting art for years, decided to share their collection with the public at this fascinating and historic building. The collection has more than 1500 works by 200 artists, dating from the 1900s to the present day. According to their website, the work “…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.”

There are several monumental pieces in the collection, and the Museum space is a wonderful way to display them. Many of the pieces show a witty sense of humor, some are very dark in tone, and some do display adult themes. For example, many of the works include nude figures, so some parents may want to see the collection before taking their children.

Special Exhibits:
The Museum plays host to several exhibits at a time, and more are planned for 2018. Past exhibits include Latin American Artists in the Marciano Collection (as part of the Pacific Standard Time LA/LA Citywide exhibition), and Jim Shaw: The Wig Museum, and the next upcoming exhibit is Olafur Eliasson: Reality Projector, which will run from March 1st until August 2018. There is an ongoing exhibit in the Relic Room of artifacts from the Masonic Temple.

Price:
The Museum is free for all to attend, but you must reserve tickets ahead of time on their website; there is no stand-by line.

Parking:
There is limited, free, on-site parking, available to those with reserved tickets, and there is some street parking available nearby.

Food:
Twist Eatery is located just inside the main entrance of the Museum and carries a limited selection of sandwiches, salads, pastries, and beverages. The atmosphere is airy and it’s a lovely spot to sit, have a snack, and reflect on the art you’ve just seen.

Toddler Fun Factor:
This Museum is wonderful, but it is really geared towards adults and would not be very fun for an energy-filled toddler, in our opinions. There is no children’s section, and it is generally a quiet place. We would recommend this Museum for older kids, and babes in arms (or strollers). There are elevators and ample room to navigate a stroller around the galleries.

Nearby Attractions:
The Marciano Art Foundation is located about two miles from LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Petersen Museum; an easy drive or bus ride directly West on Wilshire Blvd. The Museum is two and a half miles from the Grove, which has dining and entertainment options, and it’s about four miles from Hollywood and Highland, which also has dining and entertainment options.

exterior Scottish Rite Masonic Temple Marciano Art Foundation
exterior Scottish Rite Masonic Temple Marciano Art Foundation

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.