"New York has always been the center of contemporary art."
It's a bold statement, but one Carol Schuster feels confident in making after decades living abroad. The senior vice president of marketing at Lafayette 148, a New York-based womenswear brand, has filled her Tribeca loft with works both new and old, miniaturized and towering. "The dynamism, diversity, and rawness of the city make it the perfect epicenter for new talent from around the world," she argues of her adopted hometown.
Schuster's collection began with a piece from figurative painter Jaroslaw Modzelewski, bought around the time the Berlin Wall came down while Schuster was living abroad in Poland. The piece was "fresh and jarring"—a fitting shorthand for the collector's taste at large, having now acquired pieces from artists including Sol LeWitt, Charles Long, Meredith Monk, and Ricci Albenda.
The formula the discerning collector uses when picking which pieces to welcome into her eclectically adorned home is simple. Here, she reveals the steps, and more, exclusively to CULTURED.
Where does the story of your personal collection begin?
I fell in love with art as a young girl growing up in Chicago. On my first visit to the Art Institute, seeing the Monets changed my world. During my university and graduate school years, I lived and studied abroad in Europe and China, and ultimately worked in Europe for 15 years. It was this exposure to art and artists from around the world that gave me the historical perspective that is critical for understanding contemporary art as we know it today.
What is the first piece you ever bought?
I acquired my first original painting by Polish artist Jaroslaw Modzelewski when I was working in Warsaw, just after the Berlin Wall came down. The painting was fresh and jarring at the same time, a view of the world from a different perspective.
Which work in your home provokes the most conversation from visitors?
I have a sculpture by German artist Thomas Scheibitz who represented Germany at the Venice Biennale in 2005. When the sculpture arrived from Berlin, the men who delivered the piece asked, “Lady, are you sure this is what you ordered?” I think that says it best!
Which artist are you currently most excited about and why?
I am most excited about Sol LeWitt. I never tire of his work and while he is no longer with us, his work has a timelessness and modernity that is always fresh and relevant.
What factors do you consider when expanding your collection?
For me there are three factors when considering the acquisition of an art piece. Do I love it? Can I live with it? Can I afford it? It’s that straightforward.
How do you see the exchange between fashion and art in your own life? In the industries at large?
Art and fashion have always had a long history of interplay. In my own life, I get inspiration in art for fashion and in fashion for art. It’s never a linear process. So much of the beauty in the world we see today finds its way into other industries and vice versa. Technology and the Internet have made that even more possible.
What was your biggest influence in fostering your passion for art?
After living in Europe for so many years, I moved to New York. When I arrived in my apartment with all my crates of paintings, my neighbor, Ethel Shein, showed up at my door and introduced herself. She has since passed away, but at the time had worked at the MoMA. She introduced me to the Contemporary Arts Council, which in turn opened a whole new world of art and collecting that was beyond my comprehension. As a consequence, I came to learn from some of the most incredible collectors and experts in the world. That’s what I call luck!
How has your collection changed as your home and space have changed?
Once I was exposed to the level of sophistication and innovation that is uniquely New York, I not only moved apartments but also began to build a whole different art collection. I bought a loft downtown where I could create a living art gallery, a place where I could surround myself with paintings, sculptures, and objects. I then started to collect art that would not normally be found in a home as it stretched the imagination in terms of scale and proportion. I also focused more on some of the minimalist artists like Sol LeWitt, together with more contemporary artists like Charles Long, Jenny Holzer, and Ricci Albenda. I love the juxtaposition of different mediums and styles, and to find the interconnection that exists despite the differences.
What are the three must-see shows this month?
My A-listers for this month include Leon Golub at Hauser & Wirth, Naudline Pierre at James Cohan, and Robert Frank at MoMA.
