In a historic partnership between three prestigious art institutions in LA, including the Hammer Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art LACMA, and the Museum of Contemporary Art MOCA, the city will witness an extraordinary collection of art pieces. These institutions have collectively announced the unveiling of a new iconic anthological collection of contemporary art. The Mohn Art Collective, commonly known as MAC3, plays a key role in changing the local cultural framework by uniting the institutions with the same vision of supporting and preserving the creativity of all Los Angeles-based artists.
The foundation of the MAC3 collection is a remarkable gift of 260 artworks sourced from the private collection of philanthropists Jarl and Pamela Mohn. Known for its paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works by Los Angeles-based artists, the collection has been amassed for nearly two decades. MAC3 is now building a magnificent repository, the Mohn Collection, to showcase Mohn’s great contributions to the arts and establish a new form of partnership between institutions.
The Mohn Art Collective represents the future of L.A.’s vibrant art scene. The Mohns have also pledged to establish an endowment to fund annual acquisitions and support the ongoing care and storage of the collection. This endowment will help the MAC3 collection grow continuously, staying abreast with the rapidly changing world of contemporary art in Los Angeles.
Besides the Mohns’ contribution, the Hammer Museum is enhancing the MAC3 collection with 80 works previously acquired through its Made in L.A. biennials since 2012. This biennial has been a crucial platform for showcasing the emerging artists of L.A., and its inclusion in the MAC3 collection has further solidified its role in defining contemporary art in Los Angeles. Curators from all three museums have come together to select 16 additional works from Made in L.A. 2023: Acts of Living exhibition, which increased the initial MAC3 collection to a total of 356 artworks.
The significance of this collaboration extends beyond the number of artworks. The MAC3 collection has established a new model for institutions to work together to support artists and their creativity. MAC3 is pooling resources and expertise to create a platform that will celebrate the artistic talent within Los Angeles and also preserve, display, and appreciate their works on a global scale.
“Pamela and I are ecstatic to make this gift, not only to make these outstanding artworks by Los Angeles artists available to the public but to do it in such a way as to foster collaboration among three of the city’s most extraordinary museums in the spirit of this tight-knit community of artists,” said Jarl Mohn.
Michael Govan, CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of LACMA, emphasized this initiative, stating, “Only in L.A., a city that champions experimentation and out-of-the-box thinking, can such an unprecedented joint acquisition be made.” He further praised the Mohns’ generosity, recognizing it as a symbol of the collaborative spirit that has defined the partnership between these three institutions over the years.
Johanna Burton, the Maurice Marciano Director of MOCA, highlighted the cultural impact of the MAC3 collection, describing it as a “profound commitment to the artists of today and a promise to future generations.” She believes that the collaboration allows the museums to continue supporting and showcasing the incredible talent within Los Angeles’ art scene while also allowing the voices of these artists to be heard and their works to be appreciated worldwide.
The MAC3 collection is a welcoming move in the world of contemporary art. By establishing a jointly held and managed collection, the Hammer, LACMA, and MOCA have created an exemplary model that prioritizes collaboration over competition to support contemporary art. As the MAC3 collection grows, it will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of art in Los Angeles and beyond.
