Building on a Family Legacy Through Contemporary Art
Kaleta Blaffer Johnson grew up surrounded by important works of art and an enduring family commitment to Houston’s cultural life. Although she retains a deep appreciation for the Old Masters, her own collection reflects an increasingly contemporary and international perspective.
As the great-granddaughter of Blaffer Art Museum founder Sarah Campbell Blaffer, Johnson is also helping carry that legacy forward by introducing new audiences to the museum and cultivating its next generation of supporters. Following the inaugural Cocktails in the Courtyard, she spoke with MUSED Houston about developing her own eye, the artworks that have shaped her collection and her hopes for the museum’s future.
How did growing up around art shape your eye, and how would you describe your taste today?
Growing up around beautiful works of art, I learned from a young age to appreciate, admire and care for important pieces. My taste today leans more contemporary, but I retain a deep appreciation for the Old Masters. At the Blaffer Art Museum, we strive to present contemporary artists early in their careers and introduce their work to Houston audiences.
What was the first artwork you purchased independently, and what made you want to own it?
My first independent art purchase was a photograph from Russian artist Anton Ginzburg’s Hyperborea series. My cousin John and a former Blaffer director discovered Anton’s work at the 2011 Venice Biennale and brought it to Houston for a 2014 exhibition at the Blaffer Art Museum. My particular piece depicts a stunning scene Anton photographed in front of the Imperial Palace in Saint Petersburg.
What is a recent acquisition that feels especially meaningful to you, and what does it reveal about how your collecting style has evolved?
I recently acquired a work by Chinese neo-realist painter Liu Xiaodong from his Borders series. Liu spent eight weeks traveling and documenting communities along the Rio Grande in South Texas and Mexico. I found it fascinating to see life along the border depicted through the eyes of this restless traveler. It is the first work by a Chinese artist to enter my collection.
Does carrying the Blaffer name come with a sense of responsibility? How have you decided which parts of that legacy to continue and which to make your own?
Yes, absolutely! My great-grandmother founded the Blaffer Art Museum with the goal of promoting contemporary art in Houston and bringing University of Houston students into close contact with world-class art. I feel a deep responsibility to continue her mission and to bring first-time visitors into the museum to discover its wonderful offerings.
In 2023, I co-chaired the museum’s 50th-anniversary gala, and we commissioned a fantastic book, Two Front Doors: 50 Years at the Blaffer Art Museum, chronicling every exhibition presented between 1973 and 2023. It is a fascinating read!
Following the inaugural Cocktails in the Courtyard, what do you hope your involvement will help make possible for the Blaffer Art Museum and its next generation of supporters?
My dream is for Cocktails in the Courtyard to become an annual Blaffer Art Museum tradition—one that draws people back to the museum each fall while putting a spotlight on its fall programming. We are already discussing dates and themes for next year, so stay tuned!