The late Melva Bucksbaum was a philanthropist and a passionate patron of the arts, serving as a trustee of the Whitney Museum of American art for almost two decades before she passed away in 2015 at the age of 82.
The 51-acre estate that once belonged to Melva Bucksbaum is on the market
At the Whitney, she created the Bucksbaum Award in 2000, a generous US$100,000-grant given to an artist included in the Whitney Biennial. Among the award’s past recipients are Paul Pfeiffer (2000), Mark Bradford (2006), Zoe Leonard (2014), and Pope.L (2017).
The property features a unique addition: an art gallery that stored Bucksbaums renowned collection
It’s no wonder, then, that Bucksbaum’s estate comes with an art gallery — one that spans 14,000 square feet, making it even larger than the main house.
The wood-and-stone facade of the extension
The Granary Art Gallery located within the gated estate contains a library, apart from the gallery areas
Erected in 2009 as an addition to Bucksbaum’s home, the Granary Art Gallery is the crown jewel of the property. It was designed by architect Steven Learner and built by Structure Works, and spans four gallery spaces, a mezzanine level, and a library. Just as notable are the two vaults designed specifically to store art — these are accessed by a glass freight elevator, and feature a controlled geothermal heating and cooling system to ensure the ideal temperature for maintaining prized works of art, which Bucksbaum was known to collect.
The main house was built in the classic colonial style of the 18th century
To overlook the main house, pictured above, would be a mistake, however.
The spacious office looks out to the propertys lush surroundings
One of the homes living areas
Rustic charm meets opulence in the homes bathrooms, appointed in brick and marble
An attached greenhouse and potting area reveal the varied interests of its previous owner
The 9,000-square-foot main house has five bedrooms and six bathrooms, along with palatial public spaces that welcome large-scale entertaining. Terraces and open porches on both storeys maximise the homes bucolic setting.
Also on the grounds are three separate guest houses, a swimming pool, and a caretaker’s house
Located on 51 gated acres in Sharon, an idyllic town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, the estate is surrounded by nature, its beauty emphasised even more in the autumn season.
The home, art gallery, and acreage are priced at USD20 million. Listing agents are Graham, Peter and Carolyn Klemm of Klemm Real Estate, Washington, Connecticut.
Photography by Structure Works
