Could you please tell us about the specific theme and particular artists that your collection follows?

Our collection is very eclectic and cannot be easily defined. We prefer to collect an artist’s work in depth with a view to making exhibitions that tell a story.

How did you arrive at the decision to share your personally owned art within the realm of the public view?

Showing our works to the public became an obvious decision once we owned more than we could live with at any one time. It is gratifying to ‘share’.

This later even led to your search for a second location to present your collection. Please tell us about that location.

We were thinking of building a space to show our collection in the US when the opportunity to purchase Schloss Derneburg arose following a studio visit there with Georg Baselitz.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the processes with both locations?

Derneburg is such a special place that we decided to go ahead with the project despite the obvious challenges. Managing a renovation project in Germany from the United States is not ideal and we needed to work through tax issues with both countries. The new German cultural heritage law has created another complication that is still unresolved.

Is there an artwork that you love but can’t live with due to size, medium, or value?

Our large scale Anselm Kiefer works, currently on a long-term loan to MASS MoCA need to be shown in an institution and neither our spaces in Vermont or Derneburg have been suitable.

Are you traveling frequently for the purpose of following the art world?

We do travel frequently to look at art, but actually prefer not to follow anyone.

How has the attitude to collecting changed since you began?

Our collecting has become more serious and focused with our ability to put on our own shows in our spaces.

Which publicly accessible private collection would you recommend visiting?

We were just blown away with the Kiefer installation in the Pirelli Hangar in Milan but there are so many wonderful places that we still need to visit.