Herb and Dorothy

You will be enchanted by Herb and Dorothy Vogel. And even more enchanting is the art collection they have amassed since their first purchase in the early 1960s. A labor of love, the collected works now number thousands of pieces (enough to fill over five moving vans when transported to Washington D.C.'s National Gallery of Art in 1992) and are, perhaps, the most comprehensive representation of New York-generated modern and contemporary art in the world, especially when you consider their limited means. Herb was a postal worker and sometimes art student and painter; Dorothy worked as a librarian. Both are self-proclaimed “wannabe artists.” In 1960 they met at a dance and were married shortly after. On their honeymoon in Washington, they took a trip to the National Gallery and learned about art. From there, that love- of art and each other- blossomed and the collecting began. From the first piece- a 1962 untitled work by John Chamberlain- to the last, each is lovingly treated like a child. HERB AND DOROTHY is a gem of a personal tour and an impressive narrative of the New York City art scene from the 1960s to present day. – C.C.P.