Art lovers are drawn to The Broad Museum’s unmissable downtown Los Angeles facade (by visionary architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro) and by the bold contemporary art within. The impressive 2,000-piece collection was built by billionaire Eli Broad and his wife Edythe who decided to build the museum themselves, rather than let their treasures become part of another existing institution.
The Broad has free admission — and has loaned more than 8,500 pieces to over 500 museums and galleries. No amount of money can buy pieces from the museum’s installations by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Bradford, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol and 200 other contemporary and postwar artists. But the Broad’s gift shop goes beyond arty souvenirs to make art collector dreams come true by offering limited-editions artworks by an impressive Who’s Who.
ANDY WARHOL
Flower LED Neon Sign
Floral elements were popular in the 1960s fashion and art scenes, which inspired Andy Warhol to depart from his usual pop culture subject matter to make the 1964 Flowers series. His original hibiscus blossoms get lit with multicolor LED neon lights in this adaptation licensed by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Limited to 500 pieces, the ready-to-hang piece is 20.5” x 20.5”. $499
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
BE@BRICK Basquiat #9 1000%
The Broad has one of the West Coast’s largest collections of paintings by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat. To offer one-of-kind offerings beyond the usual gift shop poster or tschatke, Basquiat’s estate licensed Medicom Toy’s to transform his “Untitled (Angel)” fine art into collectible BE@RBRICK figures. Hydro-dipping techniques ensure a unique pattern on each 27.5” x 14” PVC statue. $795
RICHARD PRINCE
Richard Prince: Cowboy
Cowboy (2016) is an art coffee-table book more valuable than most coffee tables. The hardcover investment piece was published following the 2015 exhibition of Richard Prince’s first figurative sculpture and includes an essay by Neville Wakefield. Produced in a limited edition of 50 copies, each is hand signed and numbered by the artist and is encased in a custom leather clamshell. $2,250
ED RUSCHA
Turbo Tears, 2020
Like many of Ruscha’s works, Turbo Tears (2020) uses an eye-catching type font that is oddly reminiscent of advertising slogans. Ruscha has said, “I’ve always had a deep respect for things that are odd, for things that cannot be explained,” Ruscha has said. “Explanations seem to me to sort of finish things off.” Produced in an edition of 120, each framed, 26.25” x 32.5” 2-color lithograph is hand-printed on Grey Rives BFK paper and is is signed by the artist. $18,750
JEFF KOONS
Antiquity 3, 2019
While the Broad Collection’s 2010 piece, “Girl With Dolphin and Monkey Triple Popeye” by Jeff Koons isn’t for sale, the Broad does offer this rather similar limited-edition archival pigment print on Innova rag paper and foil. In “Antiquity 3,” Koons explores themes of fertility, feminine beauty, and the notion of “good taste” — something the artist has pushed past extremes with tongue-in-cheek irony. 41” x 52.5” framed. $28,500
photos courtesy of The Broad
