Art Issue of VF talks to Broad

Jasper Johns' "Flag" hangs over a fireplace in Eli Broad's Brentwood home, we learn in Bob Colacello's profile of the art collector and would-be Los Angeles media mogul in the new Vanity Fair. Also, after Broad's bid of $11.8 million won the May auction for Andy Warhol's "Small Torn Campbell Soup Can (Pepper Pot)," Broad's wife Edythe blurted out "what dumb idiot bought that?" The piece explores Broad's involvement with education reform and LACMA, his wish that David Geffen would join the museum's board, and his weekly Sunday hikes in the Santa Monicas with Richard Riordan. Broad's quest to buy the Times is mentioned only in passing.

Also in December's Art Issue (with Brad Pitt on the cover): VF tells us the favorite clothes, cosmetics, inspirations, cocktail (Ten Cane Mojito) and extravagance (Caviar and champagne at home in Hancock Park with her family) of Katherine Ross, senior VP of public relations and communications at Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and wife of LACMA director Michael Govan...LA Observed contributor Bruce Feirstein translates the culture's favorite holiday insincerities...and L.A. Times web editor Richard Rushfield (and Adam Leff) give an Intelligence Report on "Rich L.A. Doofuses" Brandon Davis, DJ AM, Stavros Niarchos, Paris Latsis, Cisco Adler and Harry Morton. Mark Lacter has already read the Sumner Redstone piece for LA Observed.