David Roberts (art collector)

David Roberts is a multi-^[1] millionaire commercial property developer^[2] and is considered as one of the UK's most important art collectors.^[3]

Early life

David Ian Roberts came from a family who worked in shipbuilding in Greenock, Scotland.^[2] He studied for a degree in land economy and then became a commercial property developer.^[2]

Art Collector

Roberts's collection began about 15 years ago, but has been seriously built up over the past 5 years.^[2] It now consists of more than 3,000 works, including pieces by Damien Hirst,^[3], Philip Harris, Tracey Emin,^[2] Mona Hatoum, Grayson Perry, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Sir Peter Blake, Louise Bourgeois, Stuckists Stella Vine and Charles Thomson,^[4] Gary Hume, Stuart Semple,^[5] Anselm Kiefer and Marc Quinn.^[3]

David Roberts Foundation

In 2008, Roberts launched the first part of the David Roberts Arts Foundation to benefit young curators and artists, situated at 111 Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia. Talking to the Evening Standard, Roberts said he had realised during the construction period that the space would be too small: "There's a piece by Mona Hatoum I would like to have shown but we physically couldn't get it in."^[2] He therefore acquired a 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m²) warehouse in Camden which he is transforming into a second gallery space and head quarters for his new philanthropic Foundation, to benefit curators and artists.

Notes and references

1. ^ www.timesonline.co.uk/richlist/.../0,,2007-1-13,00.htm
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "A new buyer on the scene", The Evening Standard (London), 16 October 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Campbell-Johnston, Rachel. "The secrets of successful art collectors", The Times, 6 November 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
4. ^ Gleadell, Colin. "Art sales: galleries chase a new face in the collector crowd", 7 February 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
5. ^ Hopkins, Alex. "Stuart Semple- The Happy House Interview", 12 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.

External links

• David Roberts Art Foundation official website

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