An Interview with David Repp, Owner of Rediscovered Paper
It is always a privilege to meet and get to know other mid-century modern art enthusiasts. David Repp and I have gotten to know each other over our shared appreciation for Raymond Loewy’s art and mid-century modern architectural pieces. Even though it was our mutual admiration of architectural art that connected us, his knowledge of the art world has been a tremendous help to me. As I am learning and growing in the art business, he has become somewhat of a mentor for which I am grateful. I believe you will appreciate getting to know him as much as I have.
Eric: Where did you grow up?
David: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Eric: What did your parents do for a living?
David: My dad was an Electrical Engineer and my mom was a Housewife.
Eric: How did you get started in the art business?
David: I started out collecting for fun. When I began to accumulate more than I needed, I began finding other collectors and sold off some of the inventory. Once I started selling at design shows, I found myself in the business of selling art.
Eric: What was the first piece of art you purchased?
David: A rendering of the Advertising Center Building in San Francisco at Bush & Montgomery Streets in downtown San Francisco by Douglas Dacre Stone.
Eric: Why did you start an art business?
David: I enjoyed finding new art and realized that passing some of it on to other collectors was a way to prune the collection and acquire the means to obtain new material, which is always exciting.
Eric: Did you encounter any obstacles in the creation of your business?
David: No major obstacles – I had a day job to cover my costs so this was a hobby that eventually evolved into a business.
Eric: How did you land on “architects, antiques and emerging/mid-career contemporary design”?
David: When I landed in San Francisco many years ago, I interviewed for a job with a regional movie theater circuit. On the wall behind the guy interviewing me was a stunning rendering of their flagship theater in Northern California – a wonderful streamline/deco design in charcoal and that made me aware of design art. Once I had some excess time on my hands, I knew what I what to start looking for.
Eric: Has your taste evolved over the years of being in business?
David: My eye and tastes evolved to appreciate more decades and styles of design, as well as entirely different fields of design and not to just look for the obvious pieces. I learned that a quick sketch can be just as desirable as a highly polished piece, even though it took much longer to execute. Eventually, I started looking for artwork by industrial and automotive designers. Just about everything that gets built or manufactured begins as a design on paper and, given enough time to age, will become desirable art.
Eric: What do you wish you had known when you started out?
David: The names of certain designers and architects who were still alive at that point in time.
Eric: Who inspires you the most in the art world?
David: A safe answer to this would be Frank Lloyd Wright. I never had an original work on paper by him but had several artifacts, fragments and the like that I never tired of looking at. I no longer own them but look forward to the next one that crosses my path.
Eric: What’s your go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant?
David: Toto’s Pizza in San Bruno on the El Camino Real – ¾ baked light cheese – extra tomato sauce.
Eric: What’s one thing you can’t stop talking about?
David: Art
If you would like to find out more about David and Rediscovered Paper, you can visit his website at www.rediscoveredpaper.com.
Expand Your Own Collection
If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin, or add to, your own art collection, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern pieces by Raymond Loewy, Vincent Raney, and others.
