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"I could not imagine a life without paintings. I look at my paintings every day. At night I will go into the living room and look at the Dubuffet because I love it so much. Then to the drawing room, to look at the Picasso, the de Kooning, the Diebenkorn. I could not imagine a room without art." - Andy Williams
Andy Williams (1927-2012) is fondly remembered as one of the most talented, beloved and successful American performers of his time. His big break came in the form of Steve Allen's 1953 Tonight show. In 1962, Andy became the star of his own weekly television show, the Andy Williams Show, which enthralled audiences with legendary duets sung between himself and such phenomenal talents as Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, and Peggy Lee.
Andy made a lucrative label change to Columbia Records with whom he produced, among many others, such hits as Can't Get Used to Losing You as well as a collaboration with Henry Mancini that inspired Andy's signature tune, Moon River. Andy's time with Columbia Records was extremely prolific- he at one point held more golden albums than any other singer, except Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Johnny Mathis. His passion for singing, dancing and entertaining was equaled by his passion for building an exceptional art collection. Andy was a husband and a father, with a grueling travel and work schedule throughout his career, with seemingly little time to devote to art collecting. But once Andy fell in love with art, he pursued it with a single-minded passion that led to the creation of one of the most singular collections of Post-War art in the country.
Andy Williams rests among some of the most important collectors of the 20th century with an appreciation for African art - its formal qualities and powerful abstraction.
These ideologies were at the genesis of the Modern Art movement, and it is a dialogue that is still fresh and alive today in the realm of Contemporary Art.
An intelligent collector, his African art consists of few, but well-chosen, sculptures which created some 'aha' moments with the collection.
For instance, the Igbo Couple, stately and regal, but with sinewy lines creating elegant movement, were a welcome surprise as one turned the corner to be greeted by these six-foot-tall sentries.
Andy Williams also gravitated to more classical forms in African art as seen in the important Kota Reliquary figure. This abstract form, covered with repouss metal has been celebrated over the last century by artists such as Leger, Stieglitz and, later, Arman. The Williams Kota has an illustrious provenance having been owned by the 1930's taste-maker and creator of Vanity Fair magazine, Frank Crowninshield.
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