Fine Art Magazine - Summer 2010

what new paint chips were being developed, carpet designs and decor ideas has enabled Ms. Goldberg to instantly visualize people’s needs for their space and get a handle on what kind of art people would want to look at.“We need to be soothed these days. People’s lives are so crazy because they’re working so hard. They need an image — a lifestyle — a home with floors walls and accessories they can relax with, feel proud of, entertain in and enjoy for even a few moments.

We found that people want to escape viscerally, through art and decor, into an elegant world which for many is gone. I’d love to go home and get dressed for a beautiful evening, chauffeured to a magnificent estate to sample vintage wines…but if I can’t go because I’m here creating programs, at least I can look at the art I love, enjoy what is on my walls and escape into it for a while.”

FINE ART: How did you get started, and develop your enterprises of art and real estate in the Hamptons, bringing them all together in a way nobody else did.

MARILYN GOLDBERG: We started out with Marigold Enterprises, evolved into Museum Masters International and out here in the Hamptons it’s The Villas Del Arte, Southampton Cottages, Master Builders and of late, Marilyn Monroe Enterprises.

FA: There are a couple of swell stories about your history. Can you elaborate?

MG: A great story is that my parents came here after the War, from Europe. When my father arrived in this country, he spoke several languages but not English. His American idol was Marilyn Monroes, his dream girl, and he decided if he had an American daughter, especially with blond hair, her name would be Marilyn and so I owe my name to him based on his love for Marilyn Monroe.

FA: Can you tell us about Marigold?

MG: In 1977, there were articles in the Wall Street Journal Marilyn’s parents, Dr. Nusyn Huberman and Georgette Huberman about Pablo Picasso leaving his paintings to his granddaughter Marina Picasso. Unfortunately, since there was no will and she had Picasso, the development of what I call the art brand took birth. to pay taxes, she owed four and a half million dollars to the French FA: So you were an originator of art branding…

Government. The idea came upon me to raise the investment financing MG: I was the Disney of the art world, meaning that artists for the taxes and develop what is now called art merchandising for and estates from Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Keith the right of reproduction of copyrights on everything from fine art Haring, Erté, Tamara Limpika and a host of others came to me for limited edition prints to all kinds copyright and trademark filing of museum products. Once the and securing international logos development of that took place, to brand the art which was highly a Russian artist from London recognizable. and Barbados via Paris named FA: So this is your magic.

Erté arrived for the first time in When you instill it into marketing this country (since 1923) and I you see plan and you can go for was hired to plan the marketing it. program for his work. I had many MG: I see a name. I see meetings with Erté and decided brand. I see how to get that to the at the time to go into a three consumer. I see how to market dimensional phase. We selected it to the public. I hand draw the a foundry Joel Meisner came to look. I took the P of one painting my office where we arranged for in Picasso, the “i”, the “c”…I the three dimensional casting would then graphically with of the historic Erté sculpture sumi-e ink re-draw it so it was collection. I travelled back and brandable and later on, in many Michael Rothbart with Marilyn, in Shanghai, where she was invited buy the forth to Barbados many times serious international litigations, Chinese Government to do a lecture on marketing to visit Erté, having coktails when other parties tried to make with Erté at his home, with my young son accompanying me. He claim to the trademark, they could never find a painting with a selected all the jewels for the tapestries we created, so it was a very signature because they were all mine. interesting time.

FA: That’s very interesting. The magic really works.

FA: To put it in perspective, this was a phenomenon. When MG: My partner, Michael Rothbart, inspired me to run and Erté became popular again, he was an icon amongst collectors. find my magic each time, like a key unlocking the vision that the His work was highly sought after internationally and was a huge public will recognize. I take the embryo of an idea and turn it into a marketing event. A wonderful man, also. whole beautiful body of visual understanding. This is what the style MG: It had a huge marketing plan, and ultimately with the of my life and the style of my home living and that which I bring merchandising and publications that went on with both he and to my clients is all about.

8 • Fine Art Magazine • Summer 2010