Like many, philanthropist and art collector Kimberly Bluhm and her husband, Neil, purchased a home in Palm Beach during the pandemic. They now divide their time jetting across the country, involving themselves with important art and charitable organizations wherever they go. Among their interests are the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Nothwestern, the Miami Dade Impact Collective, the Aspen Art Institute, for which Bluhm serves on the National Council.

Bluhm, a New Jersey native, made her debut at the Infirmary Ball in New York with Cornelia Guest, cementing a lifelong friendship. On December 11, the pair are co-hosting a luncheon at Carriage House with a group of equally committed Palm Beachers to discuss the causes they are passionate about. For Bluhm, it’s the A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a public high school in West Palm Beach that centers on students’ creative pursuits. PALMER sat down with her to learn more.

What is it about the Dreyfoos School that caught your interest? How did you get involved?
Art advisor Kim Heirston actually introduced me to the Dryfoos School. It’s a tuition free high school in West Palm Beach which provides academics and unique artistic opportunities by supplementing the school’s budget with private funds. It’s the students that I found so impressive. They’re amazing. They are singers, musicians, poets, actors. They all have a talent and need to audition and apply to be accepted to the school, so their level of talent is off the charts. But sadly, some are homeless, others come from broken homes, or are challenged financially in their lives. I’ve met with some of the students and their passion and talent just blew me away. It’s an incredible, incredible place, but they need our support.

Kimberly and Neil Bluhm with Bob Hurst and Adam Weinberg at the 2023 Whitney Gala in NYC.

You and your husband are art collectors. What type of art are you interested in?
My husband is a major collector of contemporary art. He has been on the board of the Whitney for many years, and was also on the board of the Art Institute of Chicago.

You also have your own personal collection of art. What can you tell us about it?
I have my own collection of lithographs…contemporary artists including Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Ellsworth Kelly, and an emerging artist named Sarah Meyohas, who went to Penn and Yale. I brought most of them to Palm Beach because they just work really well in our house here.

Tell us more about your home in Palm Beach! Did you decorate the house with your lithographs in mind?
This house was my Covid project. I was literally going online during Covid looking for art and furniture when I discovered Sarah Meyohas and purchased two of her works. Then I met her at the Whitney Gala and was so happy I did!

You and your husband are big on travel. Tell us about your adventures this past summer.
We had a wonderful summer traveling to Aspen, Spain, and Saint-Tropez. My husband is the most fun person in the world and loves boating, so we had our friends join us and had a lot of fun sailing around Spain.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Palm Beach?
I have been coming to Palm Beach for 35 years and just love it. While we are here we love to play golf, go on beach walks, shop, and enjoy the all the many al fresco restaurants including Le Bilboquet, Sant Ambroeus, Renato’s, and Pizza Al Fresco.

Where would you take friends visiting for the first time?
Worth Avenue so beautiful and unique. I love exploring the vias off it—Via Mizner, Via Parigi, Via Roma, Via Bice—it’s like you’re shopping in Capri. The fountains, architecture, shops and restaurants along the vias are one of Palm Beach’s best kept secrets.

What charity events are you most looking forward to this season?
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium; the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation that Amy and John Phelan and Nicola and Jeff Marcus are chairing, Safeguard Palm Beach; and The Cleveland Clinic’s Annual Florida Ball, because healthcare is important to all of us.