'I am very decisive': designer Jennifer Gilbert on what she collects and why

"Once open, Lumana will support new generations of artists, designers and the institutions that champion them," Gilbert says. "It felt fitting that the work of the great Modernist artists I deeply admire could continue to uplift those following in their footsteps." Ahead of this week's fairs and auctions, we asked Gilbert about her latest acquisitions and her approach to collecting."

"Now, Gilbert is working towards opening her own culture space in Little Village, Lumana, and to support those efforts she is offering select works from her collections of contemporary art at auction this month, and design objects next month, at Sotheby's in New York. Prized works crossing the auction block this week include Joan Mitchell's cerulean 1976 canvas Loom II (est $5m-$7m) and Kenneth Noland's glowing Circle from 1958 (est $4m-$6m), both on 14 May."

"On 15 May, Orenary (Space Churn Theme), a kinetic sculpture from 1955 by George Rickey, will follow (est $50,000-$70,000); and on 11 June, an untitled wire construction by Harry Bertoia from around 1950 will be offered in Sotheby's Important Design auction (est $80,000-$120,000)."

"This past winter, works from her collection were featured in Seen/Scene, an exhibition at the Shepherd art space in Detroit's Little Village neighbourhood, including works by Barkley L. Hendricks, Mickalene Thomas, Jeffrey Gibson, Kerry James Marshall, Henry Taylor and Ewa Juszkiewicz."

Jennifer Gilbert is a Detroit-based designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector. She founded the Pophouse design studio and serves as creative director. She contributes to Detroit’s cultural ecosystem through board roles at BasBlue and at Cranbrook Academy of Art and its Cranbrook Art Museum. Her collection has been featured in the Detroit exhibition Seen/Scene at the Shepherd art space in Little Village, with works by major contemporary artists. She is preparing to open Lumana, a culture space in Little Village, and is offering select contemporary art and design objects from her collections at Sotheby’s in New York to support the launch. Notable works include paintings and sculptures by Joan Mitchell, Kenneth Noland, George Rickey, and Harry Bertoia.

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