Independent Collectors

Saint Georgina Slays The Dragon

A new collection on IC, see inside The Bennett Collection, which is focused on figurative realism, specifically the realistic, painted depiction of women by women.

HARMONIA ROSALES, The Creation of God
HARMONIA ROSALES, The Creation of God

The Bennett Collection of Women Realists in San Antonio, Texas, has been tightly established by Dr. Elaine Schmidt and Steven Bennett. To root their collecting activities, the pair are dedicated to propelling the career of women artists, ignited by the situation that women artists were underrepresented in museums and commercial art galleries– “We became convinced that by limiting ourselves to the work of women painters we could build an extraordinary collection while at the same aiding a group of working artists”.

The Bennett Collection is focused on figurative realism, specifically the realistic, painted depiction of women by women. This includes contemporary art and work by living artists, with the great bulk of the collection (probably 90%) by living women painters. The remainder are works by both modern, 20th century painters as well as historic painters. As a whole, the works amount to several hundred pieces and it is the collectors’ goal to get to know every woman whose work they collect. So, Elaine and Steven frequently have phone calls, email correspondence or studio visits with these artists.

While the settings are quite varied and the great majority of the works are not necessarily portraits per se, all of the works involve the realistic depiction of the human face or figure. As respects to “realism,” Elaine and Steven tend to be very broad minded. So, a very realistic portrait by an artist like Margaret Bowland or Katie O’Hagan can live happily right next to a more interpretative work by Alyssa Monks or Carrie Pearce. Whatever the case, they are of the opinion: if you are trying to move someone in spiritual or emotional terms, “realism” can take the viewer to a whole series of strange, mythical, and mystical places. That is what the best art does. Figurative realism—the realistic depiction of human beings—thus became the second thrust of our collecting efforts. When we combined our two interests—women painters and figurative realism—we found a whole generation of undiscovered artists with substantial things to say about human differences and commonalities such as race, gender, social status, and the plethora of issues, both global and personal, that confront humanity.

With a doctorate in Policy Studies and focus on Educational Policy, Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt shared with us, “My love of art emanates from what I believe was a fulsome liberal education. Frankly, everyone should receive a liberal education first and only then go on to specialise in professional or vocational subjects”.

In 2019 as a further engagement, Elaine and Steven founded The Bennett Prize for women figurative realist painters through The Pittsburgh Foundation in Pennsylvania. The prize is to sponsor the recipient over a two year period, thus far awarding Aneka Ingold.

With works installed domestically to enjoy, their future plans are for the collection to go to a public institution, preferably a museum that can display the work. In the meantime, Elaine and Steven will continue to make the works in the collection available online and through loans.

RACHEL MOSELEY, Double Bubble
RACHEL MOSELEY, Double Bubble
ANEKA INGOLD, Postpartum
ANEKA INGOLD, Postpartum
ANNA WYPYCH, Loading
ANNA WYPYCH, Loading
MONTSERRAT GUDIOL, Saint Georgina Slays The Dragon
MONTSERRAT GUDIOL, Saint Georgina Slays The Dragon
TRACEY HARRIS, Just Desserts
TRACEY HARRIS, Just Desserts
SUZANNE MITCHELL, Waiting (From the Silence of the Ordinary)
SUZANNE MITCHELL, Waiting (From the Silence of the Ordinary)
XENIA HAUSNER, Alles Walzer (Let's Dance)
XENIA HAUSNER, Alles Walzer (Let's Dance)
MIKA SHINAGAWA, Polyphony
MIKA SHINAGAWA, Polyphony
LEE PRICE, Tea Cup
LEE PRICE, Tea Cup
ARTEMESIA GENTILESCHI, Self Portrait Of Clio---Allegory Of Fame
ARTEMESIA GENTILESCHI, Self Portrait Of Clio---Allegory Of Fame
KATHRIN LONGHURST, Like The Wind
KATHRIN LONGHURST, Like The Wind
HARMONIA ROSALES, The Annunciation
HARMONIA ROSALES, The Annunciation
ZOEY FRANK, The Farewell
ZOEY FRANK, The Farewell
ANDREA KOWCH, Dream Chaser
ANDREA KOWCH, Dream Chaser
SUZANNE ANAN, Step Right Up
SUZANNE ANAN, Step Right Up
KATIE O'HAGAN, Alteration
KATIE O'HAGAN, Alteration
PEGGY BACON, Nude In The Living Room
PEGGY BACON, Nude In The Living Room
ALICIA BROWN, Her Majesty
ALICIA BROWN, Her Majesty
ELISABETTA SIRANI, Finding Of Moses
ELISABETTA SIRANI, Finding Of Moses
MARGARET BOWLAND, White Fives
MARGARET BOWLAND, White Fives
ALYSSA MONKS, Elpis
ALYSSA MONKS, Elpis
CARMEN CHAMI, Portrait of Aya Watanabe
CARMEN CHAMI, Portrait of Aya Watanabe
PATRICIA WATWOOD, Pandora 2012
PATRICIA WATWOOD, Pandora 2012
DIANNE GALL, Everybody Knows
DIANNE GALL, Everybody Knows
REBECCA LEVEILLE, Chere Amie
REBECCA LEVEILLE, Chere Amie
JULIE BELL, Pegasus Befriends The Muses
JULIE BELL, Pegasus Befriends The Muses

USA (55)

West Collection

Since 1996, Al & Paige West have been building an impressive collection, including works by artists such as Donald Judd, Martin Boyce, and Candice Breitz.

Valeria Napoleone

The Italian-born collector actively seeks out under­represented positions and therefore only acquires works by women artists.

Christine and Andrew Hall

Interview with the collectors behind Hall Art Foundation

Gary Yeh

IC talks to Gary Yeh.

de la Cruz Collection

Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz, the co-founders of the renowned collection that bears their name, are always quick to highlight the importance of education when discussing the role the De La Cruz Collection plays in the Miami community.

The Broad Collection

Walking down the Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, right by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), you can’t help but be struck by the angular construction of The Broad and its bright white honeycomb exterior.

Marciano Art Foundation

Maurice and Paul Marciano, founders of the GUESS jeans brand, in their five-thousand-square-meter exhibition space

The Mallin Collection

Nestled on 15 acres in the scenic town of Pound Ridge, New York, Buckhorn Sculpture Park features gardens, woodlands, a lake and an orchard.

Transformer Station

Fred and Laura Ruth Bidwell’s transformation of an electrical power station in Cleveland

The Goss-Michael Foundation

A place that grew out of a romantic connection between Kenny Goss and the late pop music legend, George Michael

Franks-Suss Collection

Initially focused on China, collectors Simon Franks and Robert Suss soon widened their purview

Mera & Donald Rubell

Five quick questions, five short answers by the famous couple behind the Rubell Family Collection

Thoma Foundation

Two intimate art spaces in Chicago and Santa Fe encourage dialogue between work and viewer

Martin Margulies

Interview with the collector behind the Margulies Collection

Seth Stolbun

The Houston native collector almost exclusively acquires works from artists that he has a personal relationship with

The Donum Collection

Wine tasting and Crouching Spider by Louise Bourgeois

March 8th 2022

The Stolbun Collection presents “March 8th 2022”, likely the only exhibition at Ferndale–Seth Stolbun’s rental home, as captured by his iPhone

Rubell Family Collection

Curator Joey Lico teams up with artist Alexis Diaz to visit the mighty Rubell Museum in Miami

Flippin The Script with Armand-Paul Family Collection

In “Flippin The Script” we warmly welcome the Armand-Paul Family Collection in New York to IC, with its focus on the African and Latin diasporas, and interest in performance.

Donna Huanca – Obsidian Ladder

Skin painting artist Donna Huanca participates in the current MAF project series, exploring gender and sexuality in contemporary life.

We Still Have Wild Birds Here

Overlooked American artist Gene Beery (b. 1937), declared and depicted reflections in his paintings with a relevant truth and irony that is no less today.

Life Cycle

The Marciano Art Foundation hosted Ai Weiwei for the third MAF Project in their Theatre Gallery.

The Wig Museum

LA's MAF was inaugurated in 2017 with a solo show of Jim Shaw, curated by Philipp Kaiser.

Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation

Delve into the digital art of the collection exhibited across two spaces.

Art Now, Art Forever: Damon Zucconi

As collectors dedicated to following artist careers in depth and breadth, Clayton Press and Gregory Linn describe their on-going relationship to the work of Damon Zucconi, whose works are frequently accessible online.

www.Simco Web Works

In context of exposing art digitally and exposing digital art, we wanted to present artworks that have only and always existed on the web, as URLs, here in the collection of Stefan Simchowitz.

Responding to Nature

Tucked away in the vineyard’s of San Francisco you’ll find the secret sculpture park of Nancy and Steve Oliver.

Go Figure / Alec Soth

This summer, the Pizzuti Collection will feature two exhibitions featuring works taken from the private collection of Ron and Ann Pizzuti.

John Morrissey

Discover is a keyword for the American attorney and art collector John Morrissey, who directs his focus towards emerging contemporary artists.

Roberto Toscano

It all started with the purchase of an etching by Richard Serra in 2011, which turned out to serve as the very foundation for Roberto Toscano’s art collection.

Stefan Simchowitz Collection

L.A.’s most controversial art collector opens up his private collection of contemporary painting.

Carole Server

The New York-based collectors with an enthusiasm for patronage and education.

Force and Form

The private collection studying contemporary visual culture.

Elayne & Marvin Mordes

The sun has just risen over the eaves when we meet on Park Avenue one peaceful January morning and Marvin and Elayne Mordes seem just the way we’d had hoped – warm, open and sympathetic.

Buckhorn Sculpture Park

Located in the scenic town of Pound Ridge, New York, you’ll find the private home of collector couple Sherry and Joel Mallin and their Buckhorn Sculpture Park.

Visions From India

The exhibition “Transforming Vision” includes some of the most prominent Indian artists working today, with all forty works coming from the Pizzuti Collection.

Clayton Press & Gregory Linn

Since 1980, Clayton Press and Gregory Linn – New Jersey collectors – have evolved from being energetic art aficionados to art market specialists.

Steve Shane

Manhattan-based collector Steve Shane is completely in love with art.

Soul Of A Nation: Art In The Age Of Black Power 1963-1983

HEAR this Online Exhibition, exclusively put together with an abundance of images, to view whilst listening to a curated playlist by Quincy Jones.

The Broad Survey Of Shirin Neshat

Downtown L.A.’s The Broad presents Shirin Neshat in an immersive survey.

PHANTASMAGORIA

Exhibition at the Stolen Collection

The Herskovic Collection

A fanatic collector of Abstract Expressionist Painting.

The Dikeou Collection — Part III

A variety of artworks by both established and emerging artists.

The Dikeou Collection — Part IV

A variety of artworks by both established and emerging artists.

The Dikeou Collection – Part II

Artworks by both established and emerging artists, ranging from installations, sculpture, photographs, videos, drawings, to painting.s.

The Dikeou Collection – Part I

Founded in 1998 by the siblings Pany and Devon Dikeou, the Dikeou Collection is located in downtown Denver.

Times of Change

New York-based collector Gregory Vinitsky has been dedicated to collecting contemporary since the 1970s.

Working Hard for Art

An art consultant and curator by day, the Brooklyn-based Collector is a self proclaimed “gutsy newcomer”, working with emerging artists to help her push her collection further.

Chaotic Contemporary

Chicago based collector Troy Klyber, is a contemporary art collector that loves to engage in a bit of chaos.

No Man’s Land

Just in time for the opening of Art Basel Miami Beach 2015, the Rubell Family Collection/Contemporary Arts Foundation has opened its new exhibition, “NO MAN’S LAND: Women Artists from the Rubell Family Collection”.

Letters to Pia

Having been given the chance to acquire intimate images of Morrisroe’s muse, Pia Howard, Boston-based collector Adam Larson speaks to IC about his relationship with the following photographs, and of course about Pia.

Select Works from the Stolbun Collection

The Stolbun Collection has turned its attention to featuring younger American artists

R F Jefferies – Don’t Postpone Joy

A look inside the collection of San Diego-based collector R F Jefferies.

THE OJIKUTU COLLECTION

Exquisite showcase of treasures of African art, culture, and history