Mariposa Opens in Hollywoodland with Peter Schlesinger

  Exhibition view of Peter Schlesinger at Mariposa, 2026. Courtesy of Mariposa.

By PIPER OLIVAS February 24, 2026

Beachwood Canyon is a charming pocket of Los Angeles, known for its romantic, picturesque personality (and for being directly under the famous Hollywood sign). At its center sits a small village affectionately known as ‘Hollywoodland’ by both locals and visitors. Mariposa, located in the historic Hollywoodland Realty building, becomes the first commercial gallery to establish itself in this secluded neighborhood. 

On February 21st, Mariposa opened its space with a solo exhibition of Peter Schlesinger's new sculptures. The exhibition is Schlesinger’s first solo presentation in Los Angeles in over a decade, marking his return to the city where he was born and began his own artistic career. Born in 1948 in Los Angeles, Schlesinger studied at UCSC and UCLA before relocating to London in the late 1960s. Initially, he worked as both a painter and photographer, documenting iconic figures such as Andy Warhol and Cecil Beaton. He eventually transitioned to ceramics in the 1980s after settling down in New York. His turn to clay opened a new chapter defined by material experimentation and sensitivity to form.

Several of the works exhibited were inspired by Schlesinger’s habit of watching the birds that migrate through his garden in Bellport, New York. Instead of depicting the birds directly, he blends their unique postural qualities both abstractly and figuratively with more classical vessel shapes and motifs. His ceramics feel free-spirited and playful, reconnecting with his earliest years in clay, when openings, spouts, and handles were similarly shaped by avian-esque anatomy. Through his very own interpretations, the work draws on a centuries-old impulse to unite both function and symbol—one that spans early ritual objects and vessels. Another group of works features similarly shaped forms, inspired by the artist's involvement with nature, specifically his gardening practice— abstractly glazed, softly toned, and botanical, the works complement the avian elements and round the show out with an organic feeling.

Peter Schlesinger, Small Swan, 2025

In a neighborhood unmarked by the city’s gallery circuits, Mariposa offers visitors a slower, more intimate encounter with contemporary art shaped by a surrounding community. With this inaugural show, Mariposa establishes itself not just as a new space but as a warm and thoughtful presence in an unlikely corner.

Peter Schlesinger is on view at Mariposa Los Angeles, from February 21 - April 4, 2026