Above all, it is a matter of loving art, not understanding it.
Fernand Léger
Mimi Livingston’s journey as a connoisseur and collector is one rooted in heritage, passion, and a lifelong immersion in the arts. Her collection, particularly notable for its focus on modern and contemporary art, fine jewelry, and decorative objects, reflects not only her personal aesthetic but also the legacy of two families whose influence shaped her interests and values. Spanning decades and anchored by her deep knowledge of the arts, Mimi’s collection is a testament to her dedication to beauty and craftsmanship.
Spanning decades and anchored by her deep knowledge of the arts, Mimi’s collection is a testament to her dedication to beauty and craftsmanship.
Born on November 29, 1925, in New York City, Mimi Spector grew up surrounded by the elegance of her parents’ carefully curated lifestyle. Her parents, Samuel and Tess Spector, instilled in her an appreciation for fine art, jewelry, and antiques. The Spectors' New York City apartments were adorned with French-style furnishings, a mix of authentic antiques and commissioned reproductions. During their summer travels in Europe, the family expanded their collection, adding jewelry and paintings, including works attributed to Renoir and Mary Cassatt. These experiences laid the foundation for Mimi’s discerning eye and cultivated her passion for collecting.
Mimi graduated from Wellesley College in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Shortly thereafter, in 1948, she married Richard M. Livingston and began a family in Rye, New York. By 1959, the Livingstons had relocated to Scarsdale, where Mimi’s role as a mother and community volunteer flourished. While not professionally employed during these years, Mimi pursued her creative interests by earning an interior design certification (ASID) and completing coursework at the prestigious Winterthur Museum in Delaware. She became a skilled event designer for nonprofit organizations and immersed herself in New York's vibrant arts and culture scene.
Mimi’s involvement extended to museum volunteerism, notably as a docent at the Neuberger Museum of Art at SUNY Purchase. Her expertise eventually led her to teach courses on art and collectibles at the New School in New York City, solidifying her reputation as a knowledgeable and passionate advocate for the arts.
Mimi’s collecting transitioned from antique styles reminiscent of her childhood to a more modern and contemporary aesthetic by the late 1980s. This period marked the establishment of her business, Art-In-Action/Connoisseurship with Mimi Livingston. Through this venture, she organized exclusive tours for individuals and groups, providing access to museums, galleries, private collections, and artists across New York, New England, and beyond. Her ability to connect collectors with unique artistic experiences demonstrated her deep understanding of art and her commitment to fostering appreciation among others.
Her efforts expanded to South Florida, where she curated experiences for northern museum collector groups visiting the region. Mimi became a benefactor and active member of institutions such as the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City and the Boca Raton Museum of Art further cementing her legacy in the arts community.
Mimi Livingston’s collection transcends being a mere assortment of objects; it tells the story of a life steeped in art, family, and culture.
Mimi Livingston’s collection transcends being a mere assortment of objects; it tells the story of a life steeped in art, family, and culture. From her early exposure to French antiques to her formal education in the arts and her entrepreneurial ventures aimed at fostering appreciation for artistic expression, Mimi has made a lasting impact. Her collection not only illustrates her family’s rich artistic legacy but also establishes her own cultural imprint, inspiring future generations to cherish and celebrate the beauty and importance of art in its many forms.
Fernand Léger 1881–1955
Fernand Léger was born on February 4, 1881 in the small rural town of Argentan in northwestern France. Léger showed early talent as an artist and, at the age of nineteen, moved to Paris, where he supported himself as an architectural draftsman. While in Paris, he applied to the École des Beaux-Arts but was rejected and attended the Paris School of Decorative Arts instead. This proved to be a formative moment given the variety of media that Léger would use later in his artistic career.
In 1907, Léger had his first major exposure to the work of Paul Cézanne at the retrospective held at the Salon d'Automne. Cézanne's use of color and creation of three-dimensional shapes on canvas were major influences on Léger. The early Cubist works of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque also did much to shape Léger's burgeoning aesthetic. By 1911, Léger had developed his own form of Cubism that was distinguished by the use of cylindrical shapes. The art critic Louis Vauxcelles described Léger's unique style as "Tubism."
Léger served in the French Army in World War I from 1914 to 1917. This had a major impact on him artistically as his subject matter turned to "mechanical" figures and objects, including fellow soldiers, airplanes, and pieces of machinery. After World War I, Léger's oeuvre went beyond paintings and drawings into the realm of films, set designs, and murals. In the 1930s, Léger made his first trip to the United States. In 1935, he was the focus of a major exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City that also traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago. Following the onset of World War II, Léger moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1940 to teach at Yale University.
In the postwar years, Léger returned to France and worked as both an artist and teacher. During the 1950s, he created work in a variety media, including tapestry, ceramics, stained glass, and mosaics. Léger died in 1955 outside of Paris in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. Today Fernand Léger is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and a key progenitor of modern art. His works are in almost every major museum in the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Fernand Léger Museum in Biot, France.
Auction Results Fernand Léger
