As a nightlife entrepreneur, New York-based Jon Neidich, 43, deals with debauchery for a living. As a collector (who also chairs the board of Creative Time), he’s looking to balance the scales with tranquility, order, and uplift.
What was the first work of art you ever bought?
The first pieces I bought were from the Robert Longo “Men in the Cities” series and a Tracey Emin neon, Trust Yourself. The Tracey piece spoke to me—so much of her neon messaging is quite provocative, and this one’s wholesome. My world at that time was built around nightlife, so this comforting message offered a nice counterpoint.
Did you family collect anything when you were growing up?
My mom, Brooke Garber Neidich, collected voraciously when we were young—mostly classic mid-century artists like Richard Tuttle, Donald Judd, and Ed Ruscha. She was also an early collector of contemporary artists like Kara Walker and Wade Guyton, some of whom are household names today.
Every collector has made a rookie mistake or two. What was your most memorable?
Buying art at charity auctions. But if it’s for charity, it’s not really a mistake.
Who do you credit with teaching you how to navigate the art world?
My mother. No question.
Tell us about the journey to a particularly hard-won acquisition.
When I was in college, Matthew Marks had an exhibition of Victor Moscoso and Lee Conklin rock ’n’ roll posters from the ’60s and ’70s. My mom asked me which one she should get, and my response was, “All of them!” She was cool about it, so it wasn’t much of a fight, but it was a huge victory for me at the time. They have been in my life ever since.
What work in your home have you spent the most time staring at?
Throwing Three Balls in the Air to Get a Straight Line, a set of John Baldessari prints, sits above a McIntosh stereo and a beautiful vintage sideboard between two huge, vintage speakers in my house. It’s all very classic California mid-century—maybe not the most heavy-hitting art, but it’s one of my favorite design vignettes in the house.
in your life?
