L.A. Couple Acquires Beswick Collection

In a move that helps resolve a legal entanglement and merges two of America’s largest and most adventurous private collections of contemporary art--both based in Los Angeles--Peter and Eileen Norton announced Monday their purchase of the collection of Clyde and Karen Beswick.

The acquisition adds about 700 works to the Nortons’ 1,600-piece holding. Terms of the agreement prohibit disclosure of the purchase price, but sources close to the collectors estimate that the Nortons paid about $1.5 million for the collection. The deal was brokered by the West Hollywood art gallery Regen Projects.

Peter Norton would not confirm the price, but said Monday, “I would not denounce” that figure, adding that acquiring the works individually would have cost “well over twice” that amount.

The Beswick collection has been tied up in court since March 1997, when Brody Smythe Direct Inc., a Pasadena-based direct-mail company co-founded by Clyde Beswick, charged him with embezzling company funds to buy artworks. Beswick was convicted of embezzlement in 1997, served 11 months in prison and now resides in a halfway house in Los Angeles.

Beswick’s wife, Karen, sued for divorce May 31, 1996. Clyde Beswick said Monday that the divorce has been final for a year and a half, but the financial settlement is still pending. Some proceeds from the art sale will go toward the settlement.

Although Clyde Beswick was the force behind the Beswick collection, which was formed in the 1980s and ‘90s, parts of the holding are jointly owned either by Karen Beswick or Brody Smythe. The court-approved sale will allow Clyde Beswick to make restitution to his former wife and business partner.

The Norton and the Beswick collections are similar in focus, and include works by some of the same artists. The Beswick collection includes works by about 300 artists. Among those best represented are: Nayland Blake (six works), Karen Carson (12), Mike Kelley (six), Paul McCarthy (six), Catherine Opie (18), Lari Pittman (six) and Jim Shaw (eight).

“There is an awful lot of parallelism,” Peter Norton said in an interview Monday. “He has a number of artists we admired, but had not collected. The collection just has a stellar reputation. It was an amazing opportunity.”

The Nortons plan to keep a selected group of works from the Beswick holdings, either for “sentimental value” or because they fit well into their existing collection, although they might sell some works. Norton said he and his wife also plan to donate about 700 works to museums, in groups of 25 to 50 pieces, from both their own holdings and the Beswick additions. The target recipients would be up-and-coming regional museums. “We decided to donate to some of the very good but lesser regional museums around the country, who are doing very interesting things, but have almost no acquisition funds,” Norton said.

The Nortons began collecting in the early 1980s and soon became known for their interest in young Southern California artists. Their collection now has an international scope, but it has retained a political, experimental edge.

Peter Norton made his fortune with Peter Norton Computing Inc. In 1990 he merged the company with Symantec Corp. and became more involved in art collecting and philanthropy. The Norton Family Foundation, established in 1989, gives grants to social service and medical and educational organizations, funds art exhibitions and provides funds for museum curators to acquire contemporary art.

Clyde Beswick said selling the collection to the Nortons, who are also friends, is, “from my standpoint, the best possible situation. It fits in with their collection, and it’s quite appropriate for everybody.

“I’ve had the experience of living with the art, and appreciating it; most of the artists have been the best of friends to me, even when I was in prison. In fact, yesterday, six of the artists were down here [at the halfway house] to visit me. I couldn’t think of a better thing to happen.”