Larry Aldrich
Encyclopedia
Larry Aldrich was an American fashion design, art collector, and founder of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut
.
He began collecting art in 1937, though initially it was just a circumstantial act and not from any great interest. He was married in 1940 and he and his wife bought a weekend home in Ridgefield, Connecticut. His wife had an interest in painting and, concerned about her boredom during the week while he was in New York, he began bringing home literature about art, which he himself began to read. When World War II
ended, air travel to Paris resumed. Aldrich had already concluded he would like to acquire some art and in 1947, he and his wife flew to Paris with the intention of buying a Utrillo
.
His collection grew to be substantial. On his way out to buy cigarettes one day, he spied a building for sale. Seeing that it had high ceilings, he thought it would work well as a place to house his extensive art collection. After investing a substantial sum to renovate, he turned it into a museum, initially called the "Old Hundred", after the name of the building. He soon changed it, however, because the name did not indicate the contemporary character of the contents.
He founded the Larry Aldrich Museum in 1964. The Museum awards an annual Larry Aldrich Award.
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
.
Life
Aldrich began working in the fashion trade in 1924. He began producing garments under his own label in the 1940s. He was president of the New York Couture Group.He began collecting art in 1937, though initially it was just a circumstantial act and not from any great interest. He was married in 1940 and he and his wife bought a weekend home in Ridgefield, Connecticut. His wife had an interest in painting and, concerned about her boredom during the week while he was in New York, he began bringing home literature about art, which he himself began to read. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended, air travel to Paris resumed. Aldrich had already concluded he would like to acquire some art and in 1947, he and his wife flew to Paris with the intention of buying a Utrillo
Maurice Utrillo
Maurice Utrillo, , born Maurice Valadon, was a French painter who specialized in cityscapes. Born in the Montmartre quarter of Paris, France, Utrillo is one of the few famous painters of Montmartre who were born there....
.
His collection grew to be substantial. On his way out to buy cigarettes one day, he spied a building for sale. Seeing that it had high ceilings, he thought it would work well as a place to house his extensive art collection. After investing a substantial sum to renovate, he turned it into a museum, initially called the "Old Hundred", after the name of the building. He soon changed it, however, because the name did not indicate the contemporary character of the contents.
He founded the Larry Aldrich Museum in 1964. The Museum awards an annual Larry Aldrich Award.
External links
- "Mission & History", The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
- Larry Aldrich News - The New York Times