Chehebar & Katz: Collecting Art, Building Community
In the world of contemporary art collecting, some collectors stand out not only for their discerning eye but for their deep commitment to fostering relationships with the artists whose work they acquire. Alberto Chehebar and Jocelyne Katz represent this rare breed of collectors who have built their collection on a foundation of genuine connection, artist friendships, and a passion that spans more than two decades.
A Love Story Rooted in Art
The couple’s journey began at a mutual friend’s dinner party, where Chilean former model and journalist Jocelyne Katz met art collector Alberto Chehebar. After an instant connection and several years of dating, they moved in together and have been partners in both life and collecting for over 20 years. In early 2025, they officially married at their artist friend Brigitte D’Annibale’s sculptural home in Malibu’s Point Dume, surrounded by close friends, family, and the art that has defined their shared life.
The Beginning: Keith Haring and the 1980s New York Scene
Alberto Chehebar’s collecting journey began in New York in the mid-1980s, where he was studying and found himself captivated by Keith Haring’s ubiquitous presence in the city. He frequented Haring’s Pop Shop in SoHo, spending his pocket money on posters for his college dorm. His first significant acquisition came at age 19: a Keith Haring subway drawing purchased from Alberto Mugrabi, which he still owns and displays in his Los Angeles home.
This early exposure to the vibrant downtown New York art scene of the 1980s—with Haring, Warhol, Basquiat, and Lichtenstein all making their mark—shaped Chehebar’s collecting philosophy. It wasn’t just about acquiring objects; it was about being part of a living, breathing creative community.
Building a Colombian Connection
After his time in New York, Chehebar returned to Colombia to work and immediately began supporting artists in the national scene around him. Born in Bogotá, he founded Stilotex, S.A., a textile distribution company, but his heart remained deeply connected to the art world. This dual life—businessman and passionate collector—has allowed him to build a collection that reflects both international contemporary art movements and his Colombian roots.
A Philosophy of Artist Relationships
What distinguishes Chehebar and Katz from many collectors is their artist-centric approach. Living in Los Angeles, Chehebar has built his community and friendships primarily with artists rather than other collectors. He conducts five to seven studio visits per week, approaching each encounter without the expectation of purchasing work. This commitment to genuine engagement has resulted in a collection that tells stories of personal relationships and artistic development.
Chehebar has also embraced social media as a tool for discovery and connection. He was among the first collectors to actively photograph and share art-filled spaces on Instagram, using the platform not just to showcase his collection but to celebrate the work of artists he admires. His Instagram profile has become a curated visual diary of his collecting journey and the contemporary art he encounters.
The Neutra House: Where Modernism Meets Contemporary Art
In 2015, Chehebar and Katz purchased one of Los Angeles’s architectural treasures: the 1949 Wirin House, designed by legendary modernist architect Richard Neutra. As just the third owners of the house, they approached their stewardship with reverence, making minimal changes with the help of restoration expert Mark Haddawy.
The couple has transformed the home into a dialogue between mid-century modernism and contemporary art. Works by George Condo, KAWS, Jonas Wood, Henry Taylor, Anna Weyant, Claire Tabouret, and Rita Ackermann hang throughout the light-filled space, complemented by vintage furniture from Gio Ponti, Eero Saarinen, and George Nelson. The dining room features salon-style hangings that Katz regularly recurates, treating the arrangement of artworks like a puzzle to be solved and resolved.
In a particularly meaningful touch, they converted the home’s 2,200-square-foot garage into an office space, where Chehebar’s original Keith Haring subway drawing—his first major purchase from the 1980s—hangs alongside their workspace, a full-circle moment connecting his collecting origins to his present life.
Following the Art to Los Angeles
The couple’s move to Los Angeles five years ago was deliberate and significant. They relocated to follow the art rather than other collectors, recognizing Los Angeles as what Chehebar calls the creative capital of the world. This decision reflects their priorities: proximity to artists, access to studios, and immersion in a thriving creative ecosystem.
Before settling in Los Angeles, the couple lived in Miami, where Art Basel Miami Beach played a crucial role in refining Chehebar’s collecting eye. They also maintain residences in New York and Madrid, allowing them to stay connected to multiple art markets and communities.
A Collecting Philosophy Without Rules
When asked about his approach to collecting, Chehebar emphasizes flexibility and openness. He discovers artists through various channels—studio visits, gallery exhibitions, art fairs, and Instagram—and remains open to unexpected encounters. His collection reflects a broad range of contemporary art, from established blue-chip artists to emerging voices, all united by a common thread: personal connection and authentic appreciation.
The couple’s philosophy extends beyond acquisition to genuine stewardship. Whether it’s their careful preservation of the Neutra house or their ongoing support of artists’ careers through studio visits and acquisitions, Chehebar and Katz approach collecting as a form of cultural participation rather than mere ownership.
Legacy and Community
As Alberto Chehebar and Jocelyne Katz continue to build their collection and strengthen their ties to the Los Angeles art community, they represent a model of collecting that prioritizes relationships over transactions, artists over assets, and genuine passion over market trends. Their journey from that first Keith Haring poster to their current role as stewards of both architectural and artistic heritage demonstrates how collecting, at its best, is about building bridges—between past and present, artist and patron, and art and life itself.
In an art world often dominated by speculation and investment, Chehebar and Katz offer a refreshing reminder that collecting can be, first and foremost, about love: love for art, love for artists, and love for the creative spirit that brings them all together.
