ART COLLECTING 101: DOROTHY and HERBERT VOGEL ‘A MODEL FOR COLLECTING CONTEMPORARY ART’

“To collect art is to safeguard culture. A collection can serve as a visual autobiography, reflecting the identity and values of its owner while sustaining the careers of artists.”

Dorothy and Herbert Vogel were a New York couple of modest means who became legendary collectors of minimalist and conceptual art. Herbert, a postal worker, and Dorothy, a librarian, devoted their modest civil servant salaries to building a collection of more than 4,000 works over 50 years. They lived frugally, bought directly from emerging artists, favored small-scale works they could carry home, and often paid in installments. Their story shows that great collections are built on passion, discipline, and vision—not wealth.

Read Full OPINION in the WINTER issue.

Street Date: Tuesday December 9th 2025