LACMA receives $500 million in art from billionaire

November 7, 2014
A billionaire announced Thursday he would donate 47 pieces of artwork valued at about $500 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (Park Sang-hyuk/The Korea Times)

Jerry Perenchio, fourth from right, announced Thursday he would donate 47 pieces of artwork valued at about $500 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. (Park Sang-hyuk/The Korea Times)

Claude Monet's 1881 "The Artist's Garden at Vethéuil."

Claude Monet’s 1881 “The Artist’s Garden at Vethéuil.”

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Former film producer and ex-Univision Communications Chairman and CEO Jerrold Perenchio announced today plans to bequeath a major portion of his extensive art collection to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art – the largest-ever art donation to the museum.

The donation will include masterpieces by Bonnard, Degas, Picasso, Manet, Monet and Pissarro.

“LACMA has made tremendous progress over the past seven years under (CEO) Michael Govan’s leadership, along with the support of the Board of Trustees and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,” the 83-year-old Perenchio said. “With the newly proposed Peter Zumthor building poised to deliver LACMA through the 21st Century and beyond, I decided now was the perfect time to announce that I intend to leave the most important part of my art collection to the museum.

“Hopefully, my gift will serve as a catalyst to encourage other collectors to do the same and also stimulate major private donations to ensure that the Peter Zumthor building is built in a timely manner,” he said.

“It’s a coup for the public of Los Angeles,” LACMA Director Michael Govan told the Los Angeles Times. “LACMA could never afford to buy works of art like this. It’s an unthinkable thing at this point.”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved $125 million in funding for a 400,000-square-foot museum — designed by Zumthor – that will replace four existing structures on LACMA’s mid-Wilshire campus.

The Ahmanson and Hammer buildings and Bing Center at LACMA were built in 1965. The fourth structure set for demolition, the Art of the Americas Building, was completed in 1985. 

“The 1965 buildings are really ailing. They are not worth saving,” Govan told the board Wednesday. He said the buildings have water damage and failing mechanical systems. 

The Zumthor building is expected to cost about $600 million, with the balance of the funds coming from private donations collected over a period of 20 years. To expedite design and construction, the county is expected to issue bonds to cover project costs while private donations are being solicited.  

Newer museum properties, including the Broad Contemporary Art Museum and Resnick Pavilion, will be used as collateral for the bonds. Construction is expected to begin in 2019 and to be completed in 2023. The museum plans to remain open throughout the project. 

Govan called Perenchio’s donation the “cornerstone of our future.” 

“Without this collection, LACMA could not tell the story of Impressionism and the birth of Modern art,” he said. “Mr. Perenchio’s artworks will become some of this museum’s greatest highlights.” 

Although the donation will not be finalized until the completion of the new building, LACMA officials said select works from Perenchio’s collection would go on display next spring, coinciding with the museum’s 50th anniversary. 

The Los Angeles Times reported that the donation of at least 47 works has a value of about $500 million. 

Among the works that will be donated are Edgar Degas’ “Au Cafe Concert: La Chanson du Chien” from 1875; Edouard Manet’s  ”M. Gauthier-Lathuillefils” from 1879; Claude Monet’s “Le Jardin de l’artist a Vetheuil” from 1881; and Pablo Picasso’s “Tete (Head of Fernande)” from 1909. 

Before the one-time talent agent acquired Univision, Perenchio was a co-owner of Avco Embassy Picture Corp. Bought for $25 million in 1981, Avco was sold four years later for $485 million, and Univision, purchased for $550 million in 1992, was sold in 2007 for $13.7 billion. 

Perenchio worked with Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin at Tandem Productions, which produced shows such as “All in the Family” and “Sanford and Son,” along with the film “Blade Runner.” Perenchio later produced the films “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Frida.” 

4 Comments

  1. StaceyPr

    May 7, 2015 at 1:05 AM

    Viagra Mexico Drugs Toprol Xl Generic Supply . Now buying discount Accutane so easy. You can get generic cheap Accutane without a prescription online. Accutane no prescription needed. How Does Topamax Help Migraine Symptoms [url=http://www.netvibes.com/adipexsale ]After Adipex[/url] Zovirax Ointment Things Drug_interactions Prozac Onset Time Advair Diskus Substance Classification Caffeine In Iced Tea Verses Coffe . Viagra Prescription Cost Pills Aj Allegra Neurontin For Arthritis Pain Treatment Of Fibromyalgia [url=http://www.netvibes.com/zolpidem ]Purchase Zolpidem[/url]. Nasacort Aciphex Phentermine Actos Imitrex Order Imodium Overnight With Mastercard Order Propecia Cod Next Day Delivery Hydrochlorothiazide Online Overnight Mastercard .

  2. Ashleymer

    May 7, 2015 at 3:41 AM

    Lexapro And Short Term Confusion Propecia To Take . No Prescription Sale Generic Zoloft Aspirin Contains Caffeine Apap [url=https://archive.org/details/TadalafilOnline ]Buy Tadalafil Prescription Laptop Online[/url] Tungsten Carbide Silver Allergy New Weight Loss Breakthroughs Metabolic Rate Tylenol Every Hours Daily Dose Unbiased Acai Berry Reviews Weight Loss Pills . Moxifloxacin Ophthalmic Drops How Does Running Impact Arthritis Oxycodone Pain Control [url=https://archive.org/details/CheapAmbienOrder ]Order Ambien Without A Pharmacy[/url]. Phoenix Az Skin Cancer Screen L-arginine Deficiency What Acai Product Does Recommend Vitamin C In Orange Citrus Fruits .

  3. Sandrazete

    May 7, 2015 at 5:48 AM

    Lexapro acetylcholine minimum dosage of olanzapine zyprexa cmi olanzapine price in states. E doc side effects webmd buy synthroid canada zyprexa for. Zoloft Appetite Muscle Stiffness . Lipitor Sleep Problems Coenzyme Q10 Zantac C [url=https://archive.org/details/FlexerilCod ]Flexeril 10 Mg 2632[/url] Visio Allergy Male Investment Traders Whose Finger Lengths Indicate High Testosterone Levels Metoclopramide Dosering Tardive Dyskinesia Allegra Sleep Disorders . Concerta Allergy No Prescription Affordable Aspirin Dipyridamole Gliclazide Metformin She [url=https://archive.org/details/Tramadol50mgNoPrescription ]Tramadol 50mg No24[/url]. Auto Immune Disease And Caffeine Medicina Natural Para El Colesterol Butalbital Acetaminophen Caffeine And Codeine Overdose Lamictal Long Term Side Effects .

  4. Pingback: Buy Phentermine With Mastercard | Store Credit Cards