Public art is getting taken to a whole new level in Beverly Hills with the unveiling of a new world-class exhibition, Dali Exhibit at Two Rodeo Drive. 12 statues, made by Surrealist icon Salvador Dalí, will be on display on Rodeo Drive from June 16 to September 23. This marks the first and largest outdoor showcase of the Spanish artist’s work and the exhibit will be free to the public. It highlights Dalí’s three-dimensional bronze sculptures that are up to 12-feet tall, as well as museum-sized sculptures that range in size from four to nine feet. Each sculpture highlights Dalí’s provocative and untamed imagination, for which he became infamous.
The display is sponsored by the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitor’s Bureau in partnership with Galerie Michael and The Stratton Institute. The works have been loaned from The Stratton Institute, who possesses the world’s largest collection of Dalí’s sculptures. The so-called Monumental Sculptures include Persistence of Memory, Saint George and the Dragon, The Unicorn and Woman Aflame. Throughout the duration of the exhibition, Galerie Michael will offer complimentary tours of the collection on weekends, which begin on Saturday, June 25.
The exhibit has also partnered with Operation Smile, an international non-profit medical organization dedicated to improving the health and lives of children in developing countries with access to surgical care for those born with cleft lip, palate or other facial deformities. Donations raised during the exhibition as well as a percentage of sales from purchased sculptures will benefit the organization.
Why Salvador Dalí? We asked the founder of Galerie Michael, Michael Schwartz, who told us, “I knew Dalí personally and we had collaborated together in the past. He’s a defining artist and a great character. Also, we knew of the great work that Operation Smile carries out, and it made sense to bring Dalí, whose work would bring so many smiles, together here in Beverly Hills. It’s very important to bring this level of culture to the community for their enjoyment.”
