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SHOPPING & RECREATION

The Art of Vegas

THE CITY SLOUGHS OFF ITS REPUTATION AS A CULTURAL DEAD ZONE

It might seem hard to believe, but Vegas has a layer of sophistication and culture lying just beneath the sequins and slots. The city is home to numerous art galleries featuring famed local and international artists. Here’s a roundup of our favorites:

The Arts Factory Las Vegas (www.theartsfactory.com) at 107 E. Charleston Blvd. features the work of a variety of artsy types — including architects, photographers and graphic designers — in several galleries all under one roof. Hours vary by gallery and admission is free. And if you plan your trip right, you can experience the festivities of the aptly named First Friday, held (you guessed it) the first Friday of each month. The event showcases local artists and arts-oriented businesses, live music, street performances and other entertainment.

The Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery at UNLV (www.donna-beamgallery.unlv.edu) hosts as many as 15 different exhibitions throughout the year, including single-person and group shows, themed programs and competitions. Exhibits feature work by regionally and nationally recognized contemporary artists, as well as by UNLV faculty and students. Thus, you’ll likely find a young, hip crowd sipping wine and admiring the often stellar artwork. The gallery is located on the university campus in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

If you’re looking for an “art 101” experience, check out the range of emerging and established contemporary artists at the Las Vegas Art Museum (www.lasvegasartmuseum.org), the first major fine art museum in the state of Nevada. The museum features nearly 8,000 square feet of exhibition space and offers adult and children’s art education programs. Recent exhibitions have included a survey of Southern California minimalists; solo exhibitions by artists Michael Reafsnyder, Paul Morrison and Victoria Gitman; a collection of Roy Lichtenstein’s prints; and an exhibition by architect Frank Gehry. The museum, located at 9600 W. Sahara Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

In honor of the 44th president, world-renowned pop artist Peter Max has created an installation of 44 portraits of Barack Obama, which were recently unveiled on the CBS “Early Show.” The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace (www.caesarspalace.com) have four of the artworks on display for Vegas visitors through the end of the month. Max has created portraits of the past five U.S. presidents and his psychedelic, multidimensional paintings of historical American landmarks have long fascinated the nation. Art doesn’t have to be all land-themed programs and competitions. Exhibits feature work by regionally and nationally recognized contemporary artists, as well as by UNLV faculty and students. Thus, you’ll likely find a young, hip crowd sipping wine and admiring the often stellar artwork. The gallery is located on the university campus in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Art doesn’t have to be all landscapes and flowers. As proof, see photographer Neil Leifer’s images of some of the most iconic moments in sports history on display at Caesars Palace. The Neil Leifer Gallery (www.caesarspalace.com) spotlights the celebrated photographer’s most recognizable works, including Muhammad Ali standing over a fallen Sonny Liston, Secretariat winning the Kentucky Derby and President John F. Kennedy (with then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson) throwing out the first pitch of the 1961 baseball season. Admission is free, and the art is for sale.

Organized in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (www.bellagio.com) recently debuted “Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends,” on display until September. The exhibition features paintings and sculptures by major contemporary artists with a focus on the 1960s and ’70s, including Frank Stella’s “Sabra III” (1967), Lichtenstein’s “Mirror” (1971) and Sol LeWitt’s “Floor Piece #4” (1976). Classic examples of Abstract Expressionism by Hans Hofmann and Clyfford Still, precursors to the major ’60s movements, will also be on view. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. General admission is $15 and includes an audio tour.