The designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector Jennifer Gilbert is based in and deeply committed to Detroit. Pophouse, the design studio she founded and where she serves as creative director, is based there. She serves on the board of the Midtown Detroit non-profit BasBlue and the board of governors of the renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art and its Cranbrook Art Museum, among other organisations. This past winter, works from her collection were featured in Seen/Scene, an exhibition at the Shepherd art space in Detroit’s Little Village neighbourhood, including works by Barkley L. Hendricks, Mickalene Thomas, Jeffrey Gibson, Kerry James Marshall, Henry Taylor and Ewa Juszkiewicz.
Now, Gilbert is working towards opening her own culture space in Little Village, Lumana, and to support those efforts she is offering select works from her collections of contemporary art at auction this month, and design objects next month, at Sotheby’s in New York. Prized works crossing the auction block this week include Joan Mitchell’s cerulean 1976 canvas Loom II (est $5m-$7m) and Kenneth Noland’s glowing Circle from 1958 (est $4m-$6m), both on 14 May. On 15 May, Orenary (Space Churn Theme), a kinetic sculpture from 1955 by George Rickey, will follow (est $50,000-$70,000); and on 11 June, an untitled wire construction by Harry Bertoia from around 1950 will be offered in Sotheby’s Important Design auction (est $80,000-$120,000).
“Once open, Lumana will support new generations of artists, designers and the institutions that champion them,” Gilbert says. “It felt fitting that the work of the great Modernist artists I deeply admire could continue to uplift those following in their footsteps.” Ahead of this week’s fairs and auctions, we asked Gilbert about her latest acquisitions and her approach to collecting.
Works from Jennifer Gilbert’s collection recently featured in the exhibition Seen/Scene, curated by Nick Cave and Laura Mott, at the Shepherd art space in Detroit Photo: Joseph Tiano
The Art Newspaper: What was the first work you ever bought?
Jennifer Gilbert: The first work that I purchased was Gifts of the Spirit (2001) by Bo Bartlett, from David Klein Gallery in Detroit.
What was the most recent work you bought?
I recently acquired new works by McArthur Binion, an artist with strong ties to Detroit and who was already represented in my collection, through the Detroit gallery Library Street Collective. I also recently purchased a piece by Tavares Strachan, whose recent major exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art drew my attention. I purchased both works at the same time.
How quickly do you decide to buy a work of art?
I am very decisive when it comes to purchasing art. I usually know right away if a piece resonates, though I might wait a day or two before finalising the purchase.
What do you regret not buying when you had the chance?
A Gerhard Richter diptych painting from his “squeegee” series from the 1990s.
If you could have any work from any museum in the world, what would it be?
Girl with a Pearl Earring (around 1665) by the great Dutch master Johannes Vermeer from the Mauritshuis.
What are you most looking forward to seeing during the exhibitions and fairs in New York this spring?
I enjoy discovering work by artists who are new to me, as well as seeing new pieces from artists I already know and collect.
Where do you like to eat and drink in or near Chelsea and Hudson Yards?
Cucina Alba in Chelsea and Milos Hudson Yards.