It never rains in Los Angeles. Except for this past Friday, when rain poured down on the city just in time for the kickoff of Frieze Los Angeles, the first annual art fair that is infusing the city with a heavy dose of contemporary art in fresh and immersive contexts. With all of this art comes an influx of art patrons from all over the country, ready to see what L.A. has to offer. And what better way to welcome new friends into town than a house party?
This particular house party just happened to be at Casa Perfect, a design marvel tucked in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in the historic Trousdale Estates. The home once served as the Beverly Hills hideaway of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, and is now currently the Los Angeles outpost for the Future Perfect, a contemporary design gallery that sets itself apart through its focus on creative curation.
Luckily a little rain didn’t stop a mix of art lovers, celebrity stylists, and even a royal or two from coming out to see some of Andy Warhol’s works, including some unseen photographs by the Pop Art pioneer, in the context of a residential space. And unlike most house parties, if you happened to find yourself coveting an end table or light fixture, you’re in luck: The entire house serves as a showroom showcasing covetable designs that you can take home with you. The result of all this was a glittering scene with a retro vibe that felt almost haunted with the spirt of art worlds past. Perhaps these partygoers might have been regulars at the Factory back in the day?
“To host a Warhol show in a Hollywood Regency home felt like such an incredible opportunity, so when we were presented with it, we jumped at the chance,” said the Future Perfect founder David Alhadeff. “Given Warhol’s fascination with Elvis, it was like this incredible opportunity to reenergize the home with the ghosts of the past in a supercool way. Part of what we love at the Future Perfect in general is the possibility to create that social interaction with the work that we present, because it completely changes the psychology of how you view it.”
The exhibition’s curator, Jim Hedges, did a careful job selecting Warhol pieces that both highlighted and felt at home in the space. “Seeing art, experiencing art in a residential environment is much different than being in a white-box gallery,” he said. “Having that context in this gorgeous modernist Regency home with furniture and design and beautiful architecture is a very unique opportunity.”
As the night went on, the sky cleared and allowed guests to step outside and admire the sweeping views of the glamorous city that always captivated Warhol.