The Brant Foundation

Located in the picturesque town of Greenwich, Conn.—a short drive from the bustle and buzz of New York City—is The Brant Foundation, a private art foundation that was established in 1996 by art enthusiast, collector and publisher, Peter Brant. The Foundation, which is housed in a charming stone barn, is surrounded by sprawling green polo grounds, which are embellished by permanent sculptures created by Richard Serra. Other sculptures on display include Urs Fischer’s “Big Clay.”
 
Renowned for its long-term exhibitions, The Brant Foundation primarily curates from its own private collection and functions as a museum in that it borrows from other art institutions, and collections and also lends its contemporary works to more than a dozen exhibitions annually. What makes Brant’s collection so remarkable is that each artist that is featured is represented in depth, and the exhibits include works from the earliest period of an artist’s career through his or her most current works.
 
The star of the recent show, on view through September 2012, is artist Karen Kilimnik. Visitors are invited to explore Kilimnik’s glamorous, fantasy, femme-inspired world. She explores a wide range of themes—from the dark, mystery of witchcraft to set design, the wonder of the solar system and even magic.
 
Glamour and an ultra-feminine sensibility mingle rather artistically in a flowery room washed in pale blue walls. Chic, colorful fashion sketches adorn the walls, which are covered in whimsical wall paper. Oriental-style furniture and umbrellas are placed sparsely in the space and colorful decorative lanterns also dangle from the ceiling.
 
Another installation features a pristine, well-manicured garden of green. Impeccably tailored shrubbery adorns the English-style garden that boasts a decorative fountain as its focal point. A display of bold pink flowers adds a hint of unexpected color. Everything about this scene is clean and pure.
 
Free to the public Located at 941 North Street, Greenwich, Conn., The Brant Foundation is open Monday through Friday by appointment only, 203.869.0611.
 

Greenwich Day Tripper

You may want to venture out into the charming town of Greenwich, Conn., which is just a 15-minute drive from The Brant Foundation. There are plenty of chic, delectable eateries that are open for lunch, specifically Mediterraneo (zhospitalitygroup.com/mediterraneo/). If you’re looking for a sweet treat before your drive home, head to St. Moritz Pastry Shop (stmoritzpastryshop.com) and taste one of their Sarah Bernhards, which they’ve won top honors for.
 
If shopping is your passion, don’t miss Richards (mitchellstores.com)—an iconic Greenwich shopping institution that has been catering to the Greenwich community for three generations.
 
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Related Brant Foundation Video