Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

I am the CEO of an international real estate investment firm that I founded over fifty years ago. I also spend 40% of my time working in the not-for-profit world, specifically in the areas of Art, Education, and Criminal and Civil Justice Reform. I founded the upstate arts institution Art Omi, and the upcoming Art Omi Pavilions, and I recently published a book called Autobiography of Skyscraper, which tells the story of the 1000M building on Michigan Avenue.

How long have you been collecting art?

I bought my first painting when I was 14, so for over sixty years.

Do you remember the first piece you purchased and what led you there?

Yes, it was a circular realist painting of an elevated subway station, which still hangs in my office at work to this day. I look at it almost every day and never tire of it. It reminds me of the subway I used to ride with my dad on my way to his office.

How often do you seek out new artists and where do you find new work?

I meet with artists and gallerists usually at least once or twice a week. My curator and I meet once a week and we discuss works or artists that she thinks I should be aware of or possibly acquire. I have many artist friends who are constantly sending me digital images of their new works. I also travel a lot and typically spend time on my trips meeting with artists and gallerists and touring museums.

 Is there a phrase, an idea, or a notion that feels central to your multi-faceted work?

I am drawn to what others may overlook, whether in art, real estate, or culture. I enjoy collaboration whether it is over a real estate project, writing a book, or running an arts center.

My recent book, Autobiography of a Skyscraper, written in partnership with Rebecca Paley, and is essentially all about the collaboration that goes into building a skyscraper, how hundreds of people come together to create a miracle of modern engineering and architecture.

When was the last time you found inspiration in an unexpected place or at an unexpected time?

Last week, I was in Brazil and spent all my time meeting artists and cultural leaders. I toured many museums, art centers, and architectural icons. Over New Year’s, I was in Zimbabwe for a wedding but discovered their Shona stone sculptural tradition and brought several large pieces back to the US.

What was the last show you saw that stuck out to you?

Last week I saw a jaw-dropping collection of indigenous and contemporary art in Sao Paulo at the home of one of Brazil’s most important gallerists, Alva, who had also been a passionate collector of art objects throughout her life.

Who do you think is making important work right now?

The world of creativity seems to overcome whatever the local challenges might be. I saw amazing creative energy in both Brazil, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to take nothing away from the rest of the world. At the international residency program I founded in upstate New York called Art Omi, we have had artists from over 120 countries, often representing the best and the brightest of their generation. At my new museum complex called Art Omi Pavilions, we will represent some of the best and the brightest artists of our generation. Brilliant collectors will share with us their decades of curatorial choices as represented in the personal world class collections in addition to legacy exhibitions devoted to single artists.

Who would you ideally like to collaborate with?

People who are passionate, clear minded, and confident in their individual choices.

 Can you speak a little about the role of architecture in terms of displaying artworks, how much do you consider the environment a work will be displayed when collecting?

Context is very important can greatly enhance the viewers experience. However, exceptional art will standout wherever it is placed. At Art Omi Pavilions, artists and collectors will choose the architect and architecture that they think best compliments the art works they want to represent.

How have you seen art bring people together?

Yes, I think art transcends regional and ethnic differences and can often create bonds when political differences divide.

Top 3 favorite or most visited websites and why?

I tend to gravitate toward art-related websites. It is a great way to get to know artists and museums that you have heard about but not yet visited. One of my personal favorites is my publisher, or the book’s website where I recently read a biography of Duchamp they are about to publish and loved it. You can read about it on their website.

Are there any areas you’re interested in exploring further in your work?

I am interested in finding a comfortable context to exhibit work which is difficult to present in a public context.

What are some recent, upcoming, or current projects you are working on?

First, is helping to launch “Autobiography of a Skyscraper” which was just published on my birthday, February 13. Next, the Greenburger Justice Center, known as the Hope House, will open later this spring in the Bronx. It is a first in the nation alternative to incarceration center for Justice involved individuals with serious mental illness. This project has been over a decade in the making. In my real estate life, we are also about to begin construction on a new 900-unit apartment complex in Boynton Beach, Florida. And, of course, I am in the process of building the Art Omi Pavilions, a museum complex in the Hudson Valley of NYC which will include 19 separate museum buildings each one devoted to the legacy of a single artist or collector.