048 http://www.AmericanArtCollector.com
D
avid Halperin’s New York apartment
overlooks the East River and the 59th
Street Bridge in a prewar building designed
by Emery Roth who designed many of the
city’s iconic residential buildings. “I’ve
always lived in cities,” Halperin says.
“I love New York but my main home is Hong
Kong.” When I remark on his serene, light-
filled home he comments, “Full credit goes
to my interior designer Stephen James in
Hong Kong, architect Tim Greer in New
York and my contractor Mark Jameson.”
He continues, “I grew up in an all-glass
modern house in Brentwood, California. My
stepfather, with whom I lived, collected works
on paper, notably American woodblock
prints, as well as Native American baskets
and carpets. I was never drawn to his
collections and didn’t start collecting until
I moved to Hong Kong. As a naval officer
during Vietnam, I was in and out of Hong
Kong. After law school and working in New
York I had the opportunity to move to Hong
Cong joining Coudert Brothers.” He became
a partner in Coudert and he continues as a
partner in its successor firm, Orrick. During
his service he was special assistant to
Adm. E.R. Zumwalt, Commander of Naval
Forces, Vietnam, and later Chief of Naval
Operations.
“By way of background,” he says, “I have2
Above the sofa in the
living room is Skyscraper
LAX to MNL, by the
Philippine photographer
Jay Yao. The two Swiss
mountain scenes
are by an Australian
photographer,
purchased at an art fair
in Hong Kong. Above
the lamp is a small
bridge painting by
Nicholas Evans-Cato.
On the right are two
scenes of Brooklyn by
Brad Aldridge. To the
left of the lamp is Equus
Metallifer, a collage of
insect wings and parts of
toy animals, by English
artist Jane Edden.
3
On the left are two
cityscapes by Nicholas
Evans-Cato. The San
Francisco cityscape is
by Korean artist, Sung
Eun Kim. The painting
resting on the chest was
purchased at a London
art fair.23