New 'Playful' Art Gallery Opens in Hollywood
The Mariposa Gallery has opened in Hollywood, aiming to be a playful art space that blurs the lines between gallery, studio, and social club. Its inaugural show features ceramics by artist Peter Schlesinger, reflecting a broader trend toward more accessible and hybrid art venues.
- The gallery's founder, Alec Smyth, also serves as an Associate Director at the prestigious contemporary art gallery David Zwirner, indicating a high level of industry connection and expertise. - Peter Schlesinger, the inaugural artist, has a significant history in the art world, famously being a muse and former partner of artist David Hockney. He is depicted in Hockney's iconic 1972 painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)." - While the inaugural show features his ceramics, Schlesinger is a multidisciplinary artist with a long career in photography as well, having captured intimate moments with figures like Andy Warhol and Cecil Beaton. He began his career as a painter before transitioning to ceramic sculpture in the mid-1980s. - The Mariposa Gallery has a presence in both Los Angeles and New York, with the New York location operating on a by-appointment basis. There is also a connection to a Paris-based Mariposa Gallery, where an exhibition of Schlesinger's photography was previously held. - The concept of a hybrid art space is a growing trend in Los Angeles, with other venues also blending gallery exhibitions with social or commercial elements. For example, the Pauhaus Gallery in Hollywood functions as a creative space for various artistic disciplines with events like open mics and comedy nights, while Soho House West Hollywood integrates an art collection curated to reflect the city's creative scene. - The Hollywood neighborhood has a dense and evolving gallery scene, with both established and emerging art spaces. Mariposa Gallery's location at 2700 N Beachwood Drive places it within this dynamic artistic landscape. - Schlesinger's ceramic work is recognized for its inventive and experimental glazes and has been exhibited at notable institutions such as the Parrish Art Museum and MoMA PS1. He was the recipient of a Tiffany Foundation Award in 1993 for his contributions to the medium. - The "playful" and accessible approach of the Mariposa Gallery aligns with a broader movement in the art world to create more engaging and less conventional art experiences, moving away from the traditional "white cube" gallery model.
