The exterior of Sue and Lewis Nerman’s white contemporary house, with its broad planes, crisp lines, right angles, and curved windows, foretells the high ceilings and clear light of the rooms inside. The sculpture by the main entrance by Mark di Suvero is a hint, too, of the art that the Nermans collect with curiosity, consciousness, and care.
The house was designed by the late architect Theodore “Ted” Seligson, who was also a fine art professor, to house and highlight the Nermans’ art collection. The collection was not as large as it is now, but they knew it would grow.
“We knew that we wanted a lot of wall space, and we wanted them lined with wood, so they could accommodate large works,” Lewis Nerman says.
Nerman’s late father, Jerry, had a great eye for art. When the family had limited means early in Lewis Nerman’s life, Jerry would frame calendar art for their walls.
Jerry Nerman and his wife, Margaret, had a passion for art that would grow, culminating in an outstanding collection in their own home. In addition, they expanded the area’s art community in 2003 by providing a significant gift for the construction of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College, which opened in 2007.
Sue and Lewis Nerman have excellent eyes as well, and a passion for art that matches his parents.
The arched hallway that runs the length of the house introduces the home as a gallery. Before you reach the Yayoi Kusama sculpture at the end, you pass works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Marlene Dumas, Chuck Close, Charles Ray, and Anselm Kiefer, which are reflected in the gleaming black granite floors.
In addition to the breadth and depth of their collection, the most striking thing about the Nermans is the extent of both their knowledge and their passion about artists, their intent and their process. With each work, Lewis Nerman stops, directs the viewer’s attention to a detail of the piece, his finger hovering just above it, as he shares the artist’s story and recognition.
“Being collectors of contemporary art has been an enriching and inspiring experience,” Nerman says. “We try to have personal connection to the art and the artists if possible, and we are always considering how a piece is going to elevate the quality of the collection.”
Beyond the Nermans’ passion for art, they are energized by the art community, both the artists and the collectors.
“Contemporary art often reflects the spirit of our times, capturing the narratives of the society we live in. Art can stimulate you intellectually and open a person to interpretation and critical thinking. The social connection of being a collector can create opportunities to engage with other art enthusiasts by sharing in the exhibitions. Building relationships with artists, gallerists, auction houses, and fellow collectors can be rewarding and intellectually stimulating.
“My father always said, ‘The Nermans live by the three S’s—searching for the art, securing the art, and sharing the art.’ Art enriches our lives,” Nerman says. “We made a whole new set of friends in the art world, who we might not have met otherwise.”
