Michael Ovitz

lucky enough to stumble on a man named Glenn Lowry, who had absolutely no contemporary art background. He had a PhD in Islamic art, knew nothing about contemporary art, but was smart, articulate, well-spoken, handled people brilliantly, and had this extraordinary burning desire to learn. And everyone that was debating it was saying, well, he doesn't know anything about art.

You know, well, that's true. But neither did I when I started. And you learn. And we chose Glenn. It was an extraordinary long shot compared to all the other candidates that all had mega museum backgrounds. Turned out to be the greatest thing we ever did. Glenn came in and didn't do anything at the beginning except study. You know, there's a lot of employees there. There's a lot of art there.

You know, well, that's true. But neither did I when I started. And you learn. And we chose Glenn. It was an extraordinary long shot compared to all the other candidates that all had mega museum backgrounds. Turned out to be the greatest thing we ever did. Glenn came in and didn't do anything at the beginning except study. You know, there's a lot of employees there. There's a lot of art there.

We have 35,000 pieces of art just in storage.

We have 35,000 pieces of art just in storage.

We have the greatest reservoir of modern art in the world. In the world. And we needed someone that knew how to display it, could raise money. understood who the new artists were, didn't lean on some of the older postulates of the museum, which was only take established artists into the collection. How do we start a fund for the 21st century, taking young, new artists?

We have the greatest reservoir of modern art in the world. In the world. And we needed someone that knew how to display it, could raise money. understood who the new artists were, didn't lean on some of the older postulates of the museum, which was only take established artists into the collection. How do we start a fund for the 21st century, taking young, new artists?

Glenn turned out to be that guy.

Glenn turned out to be that guy.

He did so many things that were fantastic. First of all, he led by example. There was nothing he asked anyone to do that he wouldn't do himself. Yeah. That's the cardinal rule of being a leader. First person out of the Fox. You want someone to do that? You better be able to do it yourself. And if they don't do it, just go do it.

He did so many things that were fantastic. First of all, he led by example. There was nothing he asked anyone to do that he wouldn't do himself. Yeah. That's the cardinal rule of being a leader. First person out of the Fox. You want someone to do that? You better be able to do it yourself. And if they don't do it, just go do it.

Secondly, he populated the board with the most diverse, amazing group of men and women, but they had one common denominator. They were all art collectors of something. They collected something. So they had a passion for the arts. There's a huge difference between

Secondly, he populated the board with the most diverse, amazing group of men and women, but they had one common denominator. They were all art collectors of something. They collected something. So they had a passion for the arts. There's a huge difference between

between an institution with trustees that are financially responsible or socially responsible, but don't have the passion to collect something. And there is an understanding of The mission of the museum from a collecting standpoint, balanced by a financial standpoint, and also how to show it off. The shows are the best. The trustees are incredibly supportive.

between an institution with trustees that are financially responsible or socially responsible, but don't have the passion to collect something. And there is an understanding of The mission of the museum from a collecting standpoint, balanced by a financial standpoint, and also how to show it off. The shows are the best. The trustees are incredibly supportive.

You don't have to ask anybody for anything. It's like a club and everyone gets along, which is really crazy. and supports each other. So it just all works like a Swiss watch.

You don't have to ask anybody for anything. It's like a club and everyone gets along, which is really crazy. and supports each other. So it just all works like a Swiss watch.

I love that guy. He is the opposite of me. He is at the same speed 99% of his life. He doesn't let anything bother him. He knows what he's doing. He enjoys his work. There's a zen-like quality around him. And when people say that, you kind of go, oh, nonsense. People say that. But man, he had it.

I love that guy. He is the opposite of me. He is at the same speed 99% of his life. He doesn't let anything bother him. He knows what he's doing. He enjoys his work. There's a zen-like quality around him. And when people say that, you kind of go, oh, nonsense. People say that. But man, he had it.

He had this aura about him of calmness and determination, passionate about what he did, excited about his art, but no emotional swings. Just lived his life, enjoyed his life. We brought him to L.A. for six weeks to paint a 26-foot high mural in the lobby of our building that I am pay design. He was the greatest six weeks of my life.