Engaging Artists as Part of Art Conservation
An experienced investment professional, Bruce Randall “Randy” Watts Jr. is the former Senior Managing Director of The Boston Company. Mr. Watts is a graduate in American Studies from the University of Virginia. Beyond his professional activities, Brice Randall Watts Jr. sits on the Film and Video Committee at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Whitney Museum showcases both 20th-century and contemporary American art. Its Conservation Department is tasked with preserving the museum’s collections. Through the Artists Documentation Program (ADP), conservators interview various artists, accompanied by their works, to gain a better understanding of their artistic process. Conceived by conservator Carol Mancusi-Ungaro, the program addresses challenges faced by conservators in collecting key information about art works, especially after an artist’s death. The goal is to gather information about the artist’s materials, techniques, and intention by direct engagement and consultation with the artist where possible. The ADP creates an information library detailing how artists perceive restoration and exhibition of their work, which can serve as their “living will.”













