Victor and Sally Ganz: Discovering Eva Hesse

1999 / 27 min. / color
Directed by Michael Blackwood
Featuring: Sally Ganz, Victor Ganz

Victor and Sally Ganz: Discovering Eva Hesse documents an intimate visit to the couple’s famous art collection in their New York City home. The Ganz’s describe how they began to collect art in the 1940’s, citing Picasso as their first passion. The couple soon became infatuated with more contemporary artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Frank Stella. On a serendipitous Saturday afternoon in 1968, Victor Ganz came upon the work of Eva Hesse in New York’s Fischbach Gallery. He was immediately attracted by its freshness and spirit, and together Victor and Sally not only became major collectors, but also soon thereafter close friends of the artist. While recalling the chaotic comfort of Hesse’s studio, Sally states, “In her mind, there was certainly no clutter. She knew exactly what she was after. And god knows she achieved it.” (Sally Ganz). After the artist’s untimely death, Sally and Victor Ganz became instrumental in placing Hesse’s key works in significant international museums.