When collecting photography becomes a family matter

From the Collection of Randi and Bob Fisher (until 28 February) provides the chance to view the impressive private collection of Bob Fisher in the generous space offered at the Pier 24 gallery, situated under San Francisco’s Bay Bridge. Bob Fisher, along with his wife Randi, has been buying photography consistently since 1981, and to date their collection includes around 1,400 works from 40 photographers.

The Fishers particularly admire 20th century American black-and-white photography, and they have focused their collection so as to create deep surveys of photographic greats like Walter Evans, Lee Friedlander and Robert Adams. The Pier 24 gallery has selected around 400 documentary-style photographs from the Fishers' collection, as well as some other gems by American surrealist Man Ray, and colour photographers William Eggleston, Richard Misrach and Andreas Gursky.

‘I was attracted to the creative mind of the artist. It was only by studying an artist in particular, and by going deep into their work, that I found that I could really understand what it was that they were about,' explains Fisher.

Art collecting clearly runs in the Fisher family; this show follows the success of Calder to Warhol: Introducing the Fisher Collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2010, an exhibition devoted to the impressive private collection of prominent American art collectors Donald and Doris Fisher, parents of Bob Fisher and co-founders of Gap Inc. 

Follow the link to Photo District Jakarta to hear Bob Fisher talk about his collection.