Photos by Whitney Irick
“The Andy Warhol: Icons & Symbols” exhibit opened Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Malibu Lumber Yard Gallery. It is under the direction of gallery owner Seda Baghdasarian and the collection’s owner, well-known music producer and Revolver Beverly Hills owner Ron Rivlin.
A few hundred guests viewed the exhibit opening night. This collaboration between Rivlin and Baghdasarian is the beginning of an international tour, displaying the third largest Warhol collection in the world.
The critically acclaimed exhibit features some of Warhol’s most prolific works, 46 pieces in all. The works include a group of three Marilyn Monroe portraits being sold at $130,000 a piece and the last available Edward Kennedy portrait, going for $75,000; there are various other pieces depicting pop culture and political figures like Teddy Roosevelt, Dracula, John Wayne and Muhammad Ali. The art prices range between $12,500 and $200,000 (for a complete list of titles and prices visit warholmalibu.com).
The “Andy Warhol: Icons & Symbols” exhibition displays a variety of Warhol’s pieces, allowing viewers to feel as if they get to sample his career’s evolution. The exhibit has everything from his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” to his famous Pop Art flowers to “The Electric Chair.” The exhibit also features his personal Polaroid camera — being sold at $60,000 — and a rare occurrence of two portraits of Elizabeth Taylor, which have never been seen together before.
What started as a hobby for owner Rivlin has turned into a thriving business. All of his pieces are for sale because he wants others to get the chance to appreciate the art as well. “If I can own them for a day, I’m happy,” Rivlin said. Warhol’s work is in very high demand; according to Forbes 2013, he is “the number one selling artist, just behind Picasso. “The collection that Rivlin owns is around $2 million.
Rivlin began his collection because he had always wanted to own a Mick Jagger Warhol. He went to an art auction one day and ended up bidding on every piece. “I was always a fan, but my knowledge wasn’t extensive. I love the Marilyn’s because they are so iconic, but every single one tells a story,” Rivlin said.
The auction that began his collection took place on Dec. 16, 2012, and by Dec. 28 he had a lease agreement for a space in Beverly Hills, now home to Revolver Gallery. Originally the lease price was too expensive for a gallery, but when the owner discovered that Rivlin planned to designate the space for Warhol art, he cut the lease price in half. Six months later, Rivlin was the owner of the third-largest collection in the world. He said he’s now known in the art world for precisely one thing: “I’m that guy who outbids everyone on the paintings, whenever something comes up, I buy it.”
The idea for the exhibit show in Malibu came about fewer than two weeks ago. “I came here with my wife and kids, and I started talking to Seda (the gallery owner), and we just decided to go for it; ten days ago, and here we are,” Rivlin said.
Malibu Lumber Yard now hoasts the impressive collection, thanks to the sponsorship of the SurfRider Foundation. The gallery is focused on eco-friendly, sustainable art and design and typically features only local Malibu artists. The previous exhibit featured Maureen Haldeman’s series of photographed metal, inspired by the ocean. Her husband, Barry Haldeman, present at the opening said, “This is a bit of a change for the gallery, they usually only have local artists. This will be good to put it on the map.”
The collection will be on display at the MLY Gallery free of charge until Oct. 13.
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As published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
