Modern Love: From Temple to Art Museum

In decades spent avidly collecting contemporary art, brothers Paul and Maurice Marciano, cofounders of fashion brand GUESS, amassed some 1,500 pieces. It felt like the right time to share their collection with the public, but rather than donate it to an existing museum, they decided to open their own— the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF). They found an ideal site in the former theater of the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. The imposing marble-and-travertine building, on Wilshire Boulevard in Windsor Square, was designed in 1961 by muralistarchitectural designer Millard Sheets. MAF opened in late 2017, with more than 110,000 square feet spread over four floors. Rotating exhibitions feature works by contemporary artists ranging from the nascent to the well-established. The Marcianos hope visitors to their temple of contemporary art will discover the transformative effect these works can have and will develop a lasting love for them, just as MAF’s founders have. MAF is open Thurs.–Sun. Admission is free. Timed tickets are available online and should be reserved in advance. —By Kathy Passero Find your new home in Los Angeles here.