BRAD’S LEAVING HOLLYWOOD
Taking the art world by storm! Brad Pitt takes a break from acting to pursue his longtime passion
He’s been toying with the idea for a while now. “I consider myself on my last leg,” Brad Pitt mused of his career in June. “What is this section gonna be? And how do I wanna design that?” A few months later, he attempted to clarify his comments to mean he wasn’t necessarily retiring from show business, but added, “I’ve never been a ‘five-year-plan’ kind of guy. I’m just like, what feels right .... ”
And more and more lately, being a movie star isn’t it. “Brad has had a decades-long dream of becoming a full-time artist, and now he’s on the verge of leaving Hollywood to focus on his art instead,” a source reveals to In Touch, noting that the Oscar winner has also been spending a lot of time at his new $40 million architectural gem of a home in Carmel, Calif., and at his beloved Château Miraval winery in France. And with his last two films, Bullet Train and Babylon, performing worse than expected at the box office, says the source, “it’s never been a better time to put his energy into other things that he’s passionate about.”
Brad’s production company, Plan B, which has backed a roster of noteworthy projects, including Moonlight and 12 Years a Slave, is even exploring potential offers for a sale. “He has enjoyed working behind the scenes and supporting upcoming filmmakers, so he’ll likely stay on as an adviser at the company, assuming it stays profitable. But already we’re seeing Brad pulling back and putting his main effort into what he really loves — art — which is being part of something he regards as way more meaningful and creative.” (Brad’s rep denies that he is leaving Hollywood.)
WINNING KUDOS
His artistic endeavors have gone over surprisingly well so far. The 59-year-old, who has long been a connoisseur of art and architecture, has served as an advocate for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is a frequent Art Basel patron. “But in the past few years, he’s also thrown himself into sculpting” to cope with his newfound sobriety amid the bitter divorce and custody battle with ex-wife Angelina Jolie that he’s been waging since 2016, says the source. “And the shocker is, he’s actually really good at it!” His debut exhibit, in which he unveiled nine pieces at a Finnish art gallery in September, garnered great reviews. (“Pinch me — I must be dreaming. Brad Pitt is an extremely impressive artist,” raved The Guardian’s art critic.)
The positive feedback is helping to fuel his new passion: Brad has revealed that his historic Charles Greene-designed Carmel home — dubbed Seaward — “is a place I’ve been in love with since the ’90s,” and he’s busy transforming the cliffside perch into an art studio for himself. But he also wants to continue to support other creative types as well. “His ultimate dream is to invest in museums and exhibits around the world. And with his A-list status, raising capital won’t be an issue,” says the source. “It’s like acting’s very much his second priority these days, and nobody denies he’s earned it. He’s more than ready to move on to the next phase of his life.” ◼