Even curator Steve Hartman is amazed at the nearly three dozen pieces he collected for Out of the Crate: New Acquisitions, now on view at Contessa Gallery. It took him seven years to gather the works — including an Andy Warhol print of Teddy Roosevelt and Ansel Adams’ photo of the moon over New Mexico. “It’s a labor of love that highlights the artists I’m truly passionate about,” he says. “It’s an exciting show of strategic acquisitions.”

The exhibit puts the spotlight on such revered paintings as Robert Rauschenberg’s “Mexican Waterlilies” (which comes with a $100,000 price tag) and Warhol’s “Blackglama” (which is worth $40,000). “Not a lot of collectors have the space or desire to have the whole suite,” says Hartman. “This gives them the opportunity to cherry-pick which ones they want.” The collection also includes works by Belgian sculptor Hanneke Beaumont, abstract-impressionist Helen Frankenthaler, and photographer Horst P. Horst. Of course, you don’t have to have deep pockets to enjoy the art. Just stop by the gallery and take a gander. “It’s a show of some of the best and most iconic images,” says Hartman. “We’ve been after these pieces for a very long time.”
Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sundays, 12-7 p.m. Starts: Aug. 20. Continues through Sept. 9

This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2007.