David Webber and Ransom Baldasari’s Art Collection

October 20, 2010

David and Ransom’s home was one of the favorites on the 2009 AIA Homes Tour. The harmony of the architecture, materials, furnishings, and art is perfection. I came away wanting to have my own private art tour. So when I ran into David and Ransom on the 2010 AIA Homes Tour at the Webber + Studio remodel at Chimney Corners I asked for a private tour and was greeted with an enthusiastic and immediate “yes”.

David Webber is on the board of AMOA and they are Webber + Studio architecture. They started their home in 2006 and moved in 2008. Definitely check out the professional architectural photos of their home on their website Webber + Studio.

One of the most memorable vignettes in the home is the grouping of four Four Feet of Texas by Katie Maratta above the Herman Miller Nelson Bench. Each are their own unique pieces. The couple loved the photo transfer strips so much they picked their four favorite then hung them to make one landscape.

Ransom and David were the very first collectors of Phil Durst. Phil is a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin and also an artist. Ransom saw the paint chip piece that is now above their white credenza at Magnolia Café and eventually brokered the purchase with the manager. The obsessive, relentless use of the same type of material from paint chips to candy wrappers create rhythmic quilts/fields.

Ransom really likes pieces like Durst that have a process to them. He would also throw Gail Dawson and the Alesi’s into that category. They purchased the Gail Dawson’s Urban Birds - Brewer’s Blackbird at a 5 x 7 UT Graduate show years ago. She paints the image to look like a television still. The couple has three Stella and Leon Alesi photographs.

Many of the pieces in the collection are from people they have met along the way. The entry piece is by Sara, someone David knew from Deep Eddy. The sculptural piece next to the credenza with the Durst piece is by their friend JP Grumble’s father. Mr. Grumble had many random pecan turnings stacked in their barn that were decades old. David thought they were very beautiful and JP drove out to find one of the largest to bring to the couple for a house warming gift.

The Lucille Ball image above the upstairs sofa is by John O’Connor whom Ransom was friends with in Chicago. It is the exact 40 x 40 dimension and process Warhol used as O’Connor used to work with Warhol at The Factory in the 1980’s .

The drawing above the bed is by a client of Webber’s. The artist hired the architect when she was 84 years old and ended up with the Impluvian House. Good move! The clients home became her gallery. The couple seems to be early adopters. TheRoi James painting in the bedroom was purchased at a silent auction and was an abstract departure from his more realistic style which is now so popular.

Two of their favorite pieces are by Boberg and Lennie. The Museum of Contemporary Photography calls Oliver Boberg’s work “meticulously crafted illusions”. Webber and Baldasari have Boberg’s parking garage which is a photograph of a model made from a photograph. The Janaki Lennie piece greets them at the front door. Most of her graphite on paper pieces are larger but they purchased this pencil piece at a 5 x 7 red dot sale at Women & Their Work.

Other artists in their collection include Dan Sutherland, Joyce Rosner, and Paul Beck. From Wally Workman Gallery – Angie Renfro and several Will Klemm pieces. They started purchasing Will Klemm paintings when they were even more affordable.

David and Ransom have many more notable pieces and more artists that they would like to collect. It is no surprise that the couple would like their next house to have a long art hallway with built-ins for storage so they can rotate pieces. Webber and Baldasari’s recommendation on art purchasing is that if you like it then it doesn’t matter if an artist is well known. Thank you David and Ransom!