On September 29, ARTnews celebrated the launch of the 37th edition of our annual Top 200 Collectors list at Summit New York 1 Vanderbilt, which featured impressive views of the New York skyline from the Chrysler Building to the JPMorgan Chase Tower to the Empire State Building.
The evening’s cohosts were Estrellita Brodsky, chair of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and cofounder of Another Space in Chelsea, and Becky Gochman, cofounder of the Gochman Family Collection, which will open Branchline, an exhibition space in Katonah, New York, next month.
During remarks, Gochman spoke about the central role artists play in the art world. “I would like to make a statement here tonight that we wouldn’t be here without the artists,” she said. “The artists, in our minds, are the most important, and to defer to the artists is one of the best things that we can do.”
Brodsky highlighted the role that collectors play in supporting artists. “I’ve been collecting for decades and trying, through my philanthropy, to promote an understanding of the artists from Latin America and its diaspora within a global context so that we’re not left out of discussion,” she said. “A very important part of our mission is to lend the works out.”
The launch party was presented in collaboration with The Balvenie, Reckoner Art Finance, and Cygnet. Throughout the evening, guests were invited to enjoy a series of cocktails and four different expressions of The Balvenie, which recently collaborated with artist Daniel Arsham on a special case for The 1931 Collection. Reckoner Art Finance CEO Laura Damême was on hand to speak to collectors about how they can use the art they already own to grow their collections through art-backed lending. A spirit born from the worlds of art and music, Cygnet offered bespoke cocktails, including The Collector’s Royale 22.
Click the slideshow above to see photos from the evening.