In Los Angeles’s Holmby Hills, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation opens a private Mediterranean-style villa and its grounds for guided visits. More than 400 modern and contemporary works fill the rooms, from paintings by Picasso, Warhol, Kandinsky, Miró and Rothko to sculpture and a Keith Haring-painted motorcycle. Hand-painted ceilings and wood-inlaid floors are part of the setting, and the collection is arranged throughout the home’s living spaces. Tours also visit the gardens and finish at the garage, where vintage cars are on display.
Art throughout a Holmby Hills home
The Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation preserves the private collection of art collector and philanthropist Frederick R. Weisman and makes it accessible to the public by appointment. The collection includes more than 400 works of modern and contemporary art, displayed in a Mediterranean-style villa in Los Angeles’s Holmby Hills neighborhood.
The setting shapes the visit. Art appears throughout the home’s living spaces, alongside hand-painted ceilings, stucco details and wood-inlaid floors. Paintings, sculpture and other works share rooms and surfaces with the house’s original interior decoration, so the visit brings together the collection and the place where it was assembled.
Artists and works to look for
The collection spans European modernism, Surrealism and contemporary art. Its artists include Cézanne, Picasso, Kandinsky, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, René Magritte, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg and Ed Ruscha. The range makes each room different from the last, with paintings and sculpture presented as part of the home rather than in a conventional gallery layout.
Look out for a motorcycle painted by Keith Haring. The collection also includes work by artists such as Giacometti, Botero and Lichtenstein. A guided visit gives you time with the works while a docent explains how Weisman collected and arranged them.
How the guided visit works
Visits are by appointment and take the form of a guided tour through the house, estate and gardens. The tour lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes. Reserve well ahead, as openings can be difficult to secure at short notice.
Expect to walk through the property, climb stairs and pass through some tight spaces. Photography is prohibited inside the house, though outdoor photographs are permitted. Parking is on the property driveway. At the end of the tour, the garage holds vintage cars; a collection book is available to buy as a keepsake.
FAQ
Do I need to book a tour?
Yes. Visits are by appointment, and booking well ahead is advised because tour places can fill months in advance.
How long is the tour?
Plan for about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Can I take photographs inside?
No. Photography is not allowed indoors, but you may take pictures outside.
Is the tour accessible for visitors with limited mobility?
The route involves stairs, substantial walking and tight spaces, so it may not suit visitors with mobility limitations.
