Bellevue art expert is curator for Governor’s Mansion

Published 4:28 pm Thursday, April 9, 2009

Ever tour the Governor’s Mansion and wonder who chooses all the artwork?

That’s the job of Bellevue resident Beverly Graham, who for 20 years has served as art curator for the executive residence.

A governor can run the state, but apparently shouldn’t be trusted to distinguish a Renoir from a Van Gogh.

Graham, with her two art history degrees from Yale, has no such problem.

Her job is to oversee the purchase of new works for the executive home’s permanent collection, which now includes 30 pieces. She also organizes a yearly exhibition featuring Washington residents.

“I don’t get paid, but I feel a great deal of honor and satisfaction from the work,” Graham said.

Each piece of art in the home’s permanent collection is purchased and owned by the Governer’s Mansion Foundation, which furnishes and maintains all public areas of the building.

Taking care of the private quarters is left to whomever holds the executive post.

The Governor’s Mansion Foundation owns all furnishings and art at the house, which features 30 permanent pieces and 15 works on loan.

Graham oversees an annual budget of around $10,000 dedicated primarily to new purchases and exhibition costs.

The most expensive piece she ever bought for the mansion was a Rembrandt Peale portrait of George Washington, one of the few based off a live sitting with the president.

The painting cost $250,000, and Graham was in charge of raising the money through donations.

“That’s the most important piece in the collection,” she said. “In fact, it’s the most important picture of George Washington in the entire state of Washington.”

Graham claims she hasn’t learned much about the governors’ artistic tastes during her time as a curator.

“We don’t consult them when we buy art,” she said. “They’ve just always been very cooperative and appreciative. We’ve never had any complaints.”

First Gentleman Mike Gregoire did take a keen interest in helping Graham secure a model of the USS Olympia.

The flagship cruiser was commissioned during the Spanish-American War and World War I.

“First Mike is very interested in veterans affairs, and he was really interested in us getting this model for the mansion,” Graham said.

Graham moved from New York City to Bellevue in 1955 and started the Bellevue Designed Interiors architectural- and interior-design business in the former Ditty Building, located near what is now Lincoln Square.

She also created and sold her own artwork – mainly acrylic paintings.

Graham now practices what she calls “domestic art.”

“I paint for myself using a lot of friends and family as models,” she said. “I tend to like art that has people in it.”