A photograph of a tapestry featuring two silhouetted reclining bodies on a geometric patterned background
Diedrick Brackens, nuclear lovers (2020) Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, and Various Small Fires Los Angeles / Texas / Seoul.

Los Angeles is taking the lead, in these trying times. The Hammer Museum, LACMA, and MOCA announced this week they’re taking on a jointly owned and managed art collection to promote L.A.’s local artists, courtesy of an immense donation from noted collectors Jarl and Pamela Mohn. The new collective, which will steward and grow the 356-artwork collection, is dubbed the Mohn Art Collective: Hammer, LACMA, MOCA—or, MAC3.

Art organizations are increasingly pooling resources lately. “Collaboration and cooperation are becoming more important in the not for profit sector and in highly competitive areas,” Mohn wrote in an email to Artnet News. “This creates new ways of doing business efficiently and inspires creativity.” A press release points out that these three institutions have already worked together. LACMA and MOCA both went in on Chris Burden’s Hell Gate (1998) in 2007, for instance. But, MAC3 proves their largest partnership yet.

Arthur Jafa, Bloods II (2020) Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery

Meanwhile, Mohn, a venture capitalist and media bigwig, ranks amongst L.A.’s most important collectors. He’s championed the city’s talent by patronizing local artists and funding The Hammer’s Made In L.A. Biennial.

MAC3 arose from Mohn’s efforts in 2011 making Made In L.A.’s $100,000 Mohn Artist Award. “We began conversations with all the museums then,” he recalled. “There was a lot of interest but differing timelines and commitments made it difficult.” Those scheduling conflicts started clearing up over the past few years. “The whole process was iterative and collaborative,” Mohn said of finally giving the idea life. “Everyone had a voice in shaping what was to become MAC3.”

Luchita Hurtado, Untitled (1971) © The Estate of Luchita Hurtado. Courtesy The Estate of Luchita Hurtado and Hauser & Wirth

The collective’s centerpiece is a donation directly from the Mohns’ contemporary art collection, amassed mostly over the past 19 years, comprising 260 artworks by 125 different L.A. artists, such as Arthur Jafa, Martine Syms, and Luchita Hurtado. The Hammer is contributing 80 more works they’ve acquired through various editions of Made In L.A. as well. Last year, the MAC3 institutions joined Mohn in unanimously selecting 16 artworks from Made In L.A. to round out the collection, including works by Luis Bermudez, Jackie Amézquita, and Mohn Artist Awardee Pippa Garner.

The Mohns are also creating an endowment of $15 million to $20 million to help care for MAC3’s collection—and finance its growth. Curators from all three museums will take the lead, culling acquisitions from Made In L.A. ever year that it happens. On off years, they’ll attend shows and studio visits to select their new works. The cohort also hopes outside collectors will get involved by contributing.

Jarl Mohn. Photo by Stephen Voss for NPR.

MAC3’s institutions all have access to display the collection. They can also loan pieces out, thus delivering L.A.’s best and brightest artworks to museums around the world, sometimes even covering costs for smaller institutions. In this sense, MAC3 echoes the Crystal Bridges Art Museum’s inter-museum coordinating initiative, Art Bridges Foundation, which is also backed by an incredibly affluent, enthusiastic art collector. MAC3, however, maintains a unique commitment to elevating its hometown scene.

“As far as I know there has never been a collaboration of this type,” Mohn said. “It is unique to LA and speaks volumes about the friendships, openness and community of art here.”