February 15, 2024

*Photos of Laura’s collection courtesy of Kait Miller.*

Laura's exploration into the art world was initially inspired by the dynamic art community of San Francisco, a passion ignited during her extensive tenure as a trustee at the San Francisco Art Institute. As her journey progressed, her collection expanded its horizons, embracing a diverse array of global treasures that transcend the Bay Area.

The art that Laura chooses to surround herself showcases her love for music, her equestrian background and her vibrant sense of humor and wit. A further distinction is her affinity for sculptural and three-dimensional pieces, adding unexpected layers and depth.

Laura's collection is a testament to her discerning eye, where the allure lies not only in art by renowned artists but also in the emerging works by students from the San Francisco Art Institute. These pieces bear witness to Laura's enduring dedication to fostering the growth of young artists.

Charles Gaines, Brian Rochefort, and Megumi Shinozaki

This deconstructed tree laid on a grid by Charles Gaines captures Laura’s appreciation for art with aesthetic beauty and conceptual interest. She has long admired Charles Gaines and his importance to the art ecosystem of her hometown of Los Angeles. Gaines created this special edition with the Bay Area’s historic printer Paulson Fontaine Press to produce this work.

Laura’s foyer sets the tone for her thought provoking collection. She loves the juxtaposition of Matthew Angelo Harrison’s African spear encased in resin next to a wall work made out of encyclopedia covers by the artist Samuel Levi Jones. These sewn encyclopedias invites us to question the structures of knowledge and power, in particular who has been left out of these narratives. Her love of sculpture was influenced by her parent’s art collection and their focus on 3 dimensional works, specifically her father’s African masks.

John Baldassari’s recessed green guitar captures another important motif in Laura’s collection, her love of music. Growing up in Los Angeles and attending UCLA; the Troubadour, Whiskey a-go-go and the Viper Room were touchstones for Laura during her time in the city of angels. Baldessari was an active and influential artist in the community, dedicated to educating the next generation at Cal Arts and later at Laura’s Alma mater, UCLA.

James Weeks was an important artist in the Bay Area Figurative Movement during 1950-1960s and Laura was introduced to his work during her long tenure as a trustee at the San Francisco Art Institute. Guests to her home are always surprised to learn that the Deborah Butterfield horse is made of bronze and not found driftwood. Laura was a competitive equestrian, dubbed the “horse whisperer” by her coaches, and is constantly drawn to artworks that feature her four legged friends.

Art collections should reflect the personality of the collector, and this commissioned pinball machine, designed by Bay Area legend William Wiley, matches Laura’s own joie de vivre. She purposely placed Wayne Thiebaud’s image of this arcade game next to the real thing by Wiley, showcasing two very important Bay Area artists.

KOAK, Brian Rochefort, Barry McGee, Meghann Riepenhoff, and Pae White

Laura’s cabinet of curiosities embody the eclectic and fun nature of her collection. A beautiful drawing by San Francisco artist Koak centers the installation. Ceramic popcorn by Pae White, a vase by Brian Rochefort, and a flask by Barry McGee are amongst the unique finds that line her shelves.

This meaningful installation brings together many of the themes in Laura’s art collection, from her love of horses, African sculpture, and music. The photograph capturing musician Grace Jones was a collaboration between Jones, Keith Haring, and the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Jones’ body was painted by artist Keith Haring with his characteristic pictograms and decorations. The ephemeral moment was then captured by Mapplethorpe.

Fortune favors the bold in Laura’s dining room. Here Lorna Simpson’s glass wishbones sit above the fireplace, an ethereal contrast to the bold patterns of Laeh Glenn’s monochromatic paintings. Once again global meets local in Laura’s collection, Laeh Glenn works with San Francisco gallery Altman Siegel, while Lorna Simpson is known the world over working with mega gallery Hauser & Wirth.

Here the colorful metal sculpture by John Chamberlain is paired with an elegant black and white photograph by Mexican artist Antonio Caballero. A native of Mexico City, Callabero’s photographs recreate the melodrama of telenovelas. Laura discovered his work on a curator led trip of Mexico City with SFMOMA. She has a longstanding family connection to Mexico, her father, a physician, founded a free clinic on the border of Mexico and California. Laura was deeply influenced by her childhood spent visiting the clinic and country, leading to a passion for philanthropy throughout her life.

Discover more images of the collection below:

Step Inside Laura’s Collection

LSS Art Advisory

Step Inside Laura’s Collection

LSSAA’s Art Inspired Gift Guide 2023

LSS Art Advisory