The Peggy and Eric Lieber Collection and Other Gifts at the Weisman Museum, Pepperdine University

Frederick R. Weisman
Museum of Art

EXHIBITION
ANNOUNCEMENT

Llyn Foulkes (American, born 1934), "Greetings from Hogback Mountain," 1963, oil on canvas, 64 x 64".

THE FREDERICK R. WEISMAN
MUSEUM OF ART
presents

"Celebrating Two Decades:
The Peggy and Eric Lieber Collection
and Other Gifts"

Exhibit showcases recent acquisition of contemporary art donation from the estate of Peggy and Eric Lieber.

May 11 - August 4, 2013
Opening Reception:
Saturday, May 11, 5-7pm

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263

General information: (310) 506-4851
Museum staff: (310) 506-7257
Email: michael.zakian@pepperdine.edu
Website: arts.pepperdine.edu/museum
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
Closed on Mondays and major holidays
No admission charge

Malibu, CA--The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University presents "Celebrating Two Decades: The Peggy and Eric Lieber Collection and Other Gifts" from May 11 through August 4, 2013.

The Weisman Museum recently received the donation of a collection of contemporary art from the estate of Peggy and Eric Lieber. This new gift consists of 30 works of art, focusing on contemporary American art, adding to previous gifts of over a dozen works donated by the Liebers beginning in 2001. Their gifts totaling almost 50 works comprise the largest donation of art ever received by the museum.

Selections from the Lieber donation will be featured in an exhibition of works from the museum's permanent collection. Celebrating Two Decades: The Peggy and Eric Lieber Collection and Other Gifts was organized as part of the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary season of the Weisman Museum.

The opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. There is no admission charge and the public is invited to attend.

Highlights of the Lieber collection include key works by renowned California artists such as Llyn Foulkes, Tim Hawkinson, David Hockney, Ed Kienholz, Michael C. McMillen, Gwynn Murrill, John Register, Peter Shelton, and the late Mike Kelly. The collection is strong in Post-Minimalism, Process, and Assemblage Art, but it also includes examples of Pop Art.

Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960–1988), "Untitled," 1982, colored pencil on paper, 30 x 22".

"This donation adds significant depth to our holdings of contemporary art," said Michael Zakian, the museum's director. "Eric Lieber had studied art before entering a career in television and was always drawn to works that reveal the artist's creative process. This interest in unconventional methods and materials shaped the works he collected."

Besides the California component, the collection is also strong in work by American artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Deborah Butterfield, Chuck Close, Nathan Oliveira, Larry Rivers, Andres Serrano, and Sean Scully.

"The collection has so many extraordinary pieces," said Zakian. "If I had to select one favorite, it would be an untitled 1982 drawing by graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. This image features an array of the artist's favorite and most famous symbols, such as the crown, Lincoln penny, and lists of African-American athletes. This work is a quintessential example from perhaps the best period of his tragically short career."

Peggy and Eric Lieber

The Liebers enjoyed long careers as television producers. Eric Lieber created and executive-produced TV's long-running dating show "Love Connection." He also produced the Dick Cavett, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Mike Douglas talk shows, three Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons, and the television coverage for the 1976 Democratic National Convention. Peggy Lieber specialized in working with musicians and produced television specials for Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, and Herb Alpert. Eric Lieber died in 2008, and Peggy Lieber died in 2012. The Weisman Museum takes great pride in fulfilling their wishes by sharing their collection with the public.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art

Since its dedication in September 1992, the Weisman Museum of Art has established a reputation as one of Los Angeles' most respected small art museums. Illustrating Modern Life: The Golden Age of American Illustration from the Kelly Collection was organized by Zakian to mark the museum's 20th anniversary. For two decades the museum has engaged visitors through its insightful exhibitions, which have included Rodin's Obsession: The Gates of Hell (2001), Wayne Thiebaud: Works from 1955-2003 (2003), Claes Oldenburg: Drawings (2004), Chihuly Los Angeles (2005), Jim Dine: Some Drawings (2007), and Roy Lichtenstein: In Process (2011). Illustrating Modern Life is part of the Weisman Museum's new Program for Contemporary Realism, which will look at the sources and state of representational art today.

Works are on view at the Weisman Museum in the Gregg G. Juarez Gallery, West Gallery, and Ron Wilson-Designer Gallery.

Located on Pepperdine's main campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays and major holidays. There is no admission charge.

For more information, call (310) 506-4851, or visit: http://arts.pepperdine.edu/museum