Stories Within The Pilloff Collection
"The artists...are very connected to their pieces. The spirituality and the mindfulness and the intent are there within the piece and when it speaks to you, if you listen, you say, ‘that’s something that I want to live with.’” - Francine Pilloff, Contemporary Glass and Art Collector
Spend a moment with Francine Pilloff and discover the stories behind her and her husband, Benson's, contemporary art collection. Their collecting journey began on an unscheduled Sunday afternoon in the 1970s, which brought them to the Riley Galleries in Cleveland Ohio. There they were drawn to the work of William Morris, so much so that they bought their first piece, a petroglyph vessel. It was a turning point for the Pilloffs. They fell in love with American Contemporary Glass and have been collecting together for decades.
From this visit grew meaningful and long-lasting friendships with artists such as Dale Chihuly, Nick Cave, Richard Jolley, Howard Ben Tré, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtová, Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora Mace, Joyce J. Scott, Richard Marquis, and so many others. Francine immersed herself in the world of glass, she founded the Cleveland Art Alliance, was the President of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (1995-1997), was an advisory chairman for glass exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art, was actively involved with the North Carolina Museum of Art, counseled on the Pilchuck Glass School’s Board, served as a member on the Friends Board for both the Nasher Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of Art, and has participated in several art panels and interviews.
“I hope that you find something that sparks your spirit, sparks your aesthetic, and that you will live with the joy that we have had.” - Francine Pilloff
Explore this wold-class catalogue. The Contemporary Art Collection of Francine & Benson Pilloff, Chapel Hill, NC will open for live-online bidding on Thursday, January 16th, at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.
From this visit grew meaningful and long-lasting friendships with artists such as Dale Chihuly, Nick Cave, Richard Jolley, Howard Ben Tré, Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtová, Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora Mace, Joyce J. Scott, Richard Marquis, and so many others. Francine immersed herself in the world of glass, she founded the Cleveland Art Alliance, was the President of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (1995-1997), was an advisory chairman for glass exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art, was actively involved with the North Carolina Museum of Art, counseled on the Pilchuck Glass School’s Board, served as a member on the Friends Board for both the Nasher Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of Art, and has participated in several art panels and interviews.
“I hope that you find something that sparks your spirit, sparks your aesthetic, and that you will live with the joy that we have had.” - Francine Pilloff
Explore this wold-class catalogue. The Contemporary Art Collection of Francine & Benson Pilloff, Chapel Hill, NC will open for live-online bidding on Thursday, January 16th, at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.
"I hope when you see our collection you will see the possibilities, you'll see the creativity, and the wonder, and the skill that it takes to control glass, this substance, because it has a mind of its own."
- Francine Pilloff
The Contemporary Art Collection of Francine & Benson Pilloff, Chapel Hill, NC
January 16th, 2025, at 10 am ET
