Judy and Steven Gluckstern

On the last night in March, Judy and Steve graciously welcomed members of the MoMA Junior Associates into their home to view their collection. They spoke to the group answering questions and telling anecdotes about their ecclectic art collection which includes photos, chairs, tables, sculptures, paintings, folk art and much more. Their home itself is a minimal work of art with a metal staircase and huge glass windows that look out over Soho and Tribeca. Judy said that her architects wish the couple would have retained the sparse minimalist look, but they love color and art too much not to fill every space in order to create a vibrant and energetic environment in which to live.

They could have not have been more friendly and down to earth explaining that they love living with their art, appreciating it, and using it–not worrying about its fragility or preciousness as many collectors do. They told us that they view themselves as accidental collectors who started by collecting posters back when Judy was a graphic and book designer. In their collection is a table by John Chamberlain.

John Chamberlain, table

In fact, it is supposedly the only one he ever made and the Gluckstern’s got it for well below what it is worth now. Lucky them. In the living room a Dale Chihuly piece hangs from the ceiling while little pieces of the glass sculpture can be found in windowsills or tables throughout the space. Apparently the sculpture is configured for whatever space you would like it to go in and so there are inevitably extra pieces that are not used.

Dale Chihuly

In the dining room looms a huge self-portrait by Julian Schnabel. I am certain that I wouldn’t want to look at that artist as I eat my meals, but they happened upon it and couldn’t pass it up. My favorite works in their collection are 28 photos by a former LIFE magazine photographer named Dan Budnick. Many years ago he was commissioned to take photos of the country’s best artists in their studios. He did not print them for 30 years but Steven found someone to print them in Colorado and Judy and Steven got 28 of them all at once. Some of the artists included are Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Ad Reinhardt, Claes Oldenburg, and Georgia O’Keeffe.