Philip Johnson’s Fascination with Julian Schnabel

The Connecticut Post goes into some detail on Philip Johnson’s interest as a collector in Julian Schnabel’s work which explains how the Glass House in Connecticut ended up with eight Schnabels, six of which are currently on display:

Johnson and David Whitney, his partner in life and in art collecting, lived there until their deaths a few months apart in 2005. Most of their collection of more than 2,000 pieces went to the Museum of Modern Art, where Johnson founded the architecture department. But they left a small permanent collection at the Glass House, now a National Trust Historic Site. The most represented artist is Frank Stella, best known for his colorful, geometric abstractions. There are also eight Schnabels, and six of them are being displayed in the final phase of the rotating exhibit that closes Aug. 14. Irene Shum, the curator, says Johnson and Whitney bought their first Schnabel rather late, in 1990, but after that pursued him “with a fervor.” Why they did so is a question left open in the exhibit’s subtitle: “Paintings that I hope Philip and David would like.”

Julian Schnabel’s exuberant style on view at Glass House  (Connecticut Post)