Diana Zlotnik was a housewife from Southern California, who just happened to have a passion for modern art. She filled her home with pieces collected from young west coast based artists like Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, and Raymond Pettibon. 

Diana Zlotnik was a champoin of what she called, “California Avant-Garde Contemporary Art”. She would often take the art critics to task in her Newsletter on the Arts, which she self-published. She would address each point she disagreed with, offering her insightful review of the work in a context that showed a vast understanding of the art world at large. 

Diana Zlotnik had opinions about art, that were created through interacting with the art and knowing the artists. Her opinions were hard won, like her collection, and entirely personal. She was driven by a deep love of what art can do, and a genuine curiosity about the artist and their vision. A few more things I admire greatly about Diana Zlotnik:

She was in active dialogue with artists. 

She did not let her small budget define her collection. She was creative and resourceful. 

She and her family lived with the art she collected. It was everywhere in their home. Filling every available open space with ideas and imagery.

She understood the difference between being a patron of the arts and supporting working artists. 

She would create installations in her home, as a way to present not only the work of art, but also the connection between artists.