This fall, I moved to New York to study with Christie's. Their certificate program, Modern Art, Connoisseurship and the History of the Art Market, has taken me all over the city. We tour museums, galleries, artist's studios and my favorite; Agnes Gund's home on Park Avenue.
Agnes Gund is president emerita of the Museum of Modern Art and chairman of its International Council.
This notable philanthropist and collector of post-war art an impressive home and an even more impressive art collection: Mark Rothko in her living room, Jasper Johns above her Sofa and countless others tucked away in hallways and as quiet little shrines in offices and guest bedrooms. These are pieces that draw immense crowds at historically important museum shows. These very artworks are loaned out for exhibition all over the world.
This woman literally lives with some of the most important post-war contemporary works of art. She eats her cereal by a Lichtenstein, brushes her teeth near a Rauschenberg and shoos her pups away from the Wolfgang Laib work consisting of slabbed marble and graceful white rice piles in the front hallway.
This was one of those experiences that changes you. This woman has some serious art all wrapped up in a seriously spectacular apartment.
It felt spiritual.
Silly as it may be, with all that amazing art and exceptional design I felt really proud of humans. Even in the unnatural world, the man-made world, we are participating in the creation of beauty.
Mother Nature does not have a monopoly on beautiful design.
I realize this isn't news to most people, especially artists and designers, but it was a "moment" for me. A happy epiphany. Art is not just stuff. It's really, really beautiful stuff.
Read more about Gund's home here.
