Both in their early 40s, the Bakers may be the most innovative collectors in town. Richard, the son of the Guggenheim trustee Richard C. Baker, is the president and COO of his father’s company, National Realty and Development Corp., and the board chairman of Lord & Taylor department stores. He and his wife, an avid buyer of photography, have focused lately on commissioned artworks. “In the process of commissioning you can do something that is more interesting for the artist,” says Walter Smith, director of their foundation, Baker International Exhibitions. In the thick woods in back of their house in Conyers Farm, the installation artist Robert Whitman hitched to a tree a glowing globe that perfectly re-creates the moon’s phases. James Turrell designed the couple’s swimming pool, equipping it with lights that slowly change color while Gregorian chants play over a speaker system.

These days the Bakers are experimenting with commissions from younger artists, such as Anakin Koenig, two of whose large inflatable structures are currently installed in the barnlike guest house. Through their foundation, the couple are also considering opening a 40,000-square-foot exhibition space in the Greenwich area.

"Lisa and Richard A. Baker" originally appeared in the July 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's July 2008 Table of Contents.