Walking into an art gallery decades ago, Rebecca Cooper felt an immediate connection. It was a pivotal moment that led to an impactful 40-year career. As the previous owner of The Gallery in Sag Harbor, Rebecca Cooper Fine Art Tours, and Gallery Rebecca Cooper, she has enriched lives through her work.
An Eye for Talent
Cooper helped introduce a groundbreaking visual artist into mainstream society. Decades ago, graffiti art shook up New York. “That’s how I got involved with Jean-Michel Basquiat,” she says. “He used to work with Andy Warhol.”
Cooper saw Basquiat’s potential early and began selling his work to major corporations. “He just hit big,” she says. As the best-selling painter in the world, his name still carries weight.
Cooper attributes her success with Basquiat and other artists to one intangible gift. “Instinct,” she says. “I just went with it.” Since then, she has discovered and supported art in all its forms.
The Art of Inspiration
Cooper started her career in Washington, D.C.’s art scene as the owner of Gallery Rebecca Cooper. In the capital, women either started or owned most galleries, which was in stark contrast to New York, where it was a male-dominated art scene. However, she broke that norm, owning The Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York, from 2005 to 2010.
Before representing artists, Cooper graduated from New York University with a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts. Additionally, she’s a certified appraiser.
Walter Hopps is someone who inspired Cooper to enter the art scene. As the curator of The National Collection of Fine Arts, he held a show called “Fantasy Realism.” The event made such an impression on her that she opened a gallery representing California-based fantasy realism artists. Along the way, she built relationships with collectors and creators that she treasures.
The Charitable Side of Business
Art is more than just a business for Cooper. The art connoisseur’s approach is to blend commerce with the community. As a former gallery and tour company owner, she took collectors into artist studios, curated private tours, and hosted lunches where paintings found new homes. She still plans and hosts gatherings today, and they often involve supporting charitable causes.
Philanthropy runs parallel to her work and art. “That’s another thing that I do in my life, to help people, to put together these charitable events,” Cooper says. One charity event is the American Heritage Foundation in Battery Park City at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The occasion aims to support Holocaust survivors.
Life Beyond the Gallery Walls
Cooper has held an artful life outside her professional endeavors. For instance, she has memberships with institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim. This organizational involvement reflects her lifelong commitment to the arts.
Recognition has followed Cooper’s contributions. The title of Lady Rebecca of Hougun Manor in Cumbria, England, was bestowed upon her. “It may have come from the Princess Grace Foundation, which I was a member of years ago,” she says. She was also recently honored by Marquis Who’s Who with inclusion in their prestigious biographical listings.
A Relentless Drive
Trends shift and markets fluctuate, but Cooper’s approach remains steady. Relationships have been built over decades from the backbone of her work. While she has primarily represented a select group of artists, now and then, something new catches her eye. If the piece speaks to her, she will try to bring the work into the right collection.
In the meantime, slowing down isn’t part of the plan. “I go, go, go and I don’t stop,” Cooper says. Whether curating exclusive art experiences, orchestrating charitable events, or playing bridge, she moves with energy. As the work continues, so does her passion.
