The Porter Art Gallery in West Hollywood, CA owned by Bette Porter was credited with launching the careers of dozens of local artists through emerging artist showcases which featured a new artist every six months; Marcus Allenwood, Sean Heaney, Valerie Simmons, and Jean Paul Chamois to name of few. The Porter Art Gallery was also the only gallery in the world to exhibit and sell Leigh Ostin’s one of a kind glass sculptures and Shane McCutheon’s black and white photographic collection.

Being a top art consultant to private collectors and operating the gallery for over a decade was enjoyable and fulfilling but now Bette was ready to broaden her horizons and actualize her vision of doing something that afforded far more prominence in Southern California’s prestigious art world. At age 35 she was the youngest person to be named as the Executive Chairperson presiding over the Board of Directors at the California Arts Center (CAC) in Santa Monica, CA replacing Franklin Phillips who recently retired from the position that he’d held for the past 20 years.

As Bette was embarking on this new venture in her professional life her adoptive mother and mentor Peggy Peabody shared that she too was starting a new endeavor of her own. Bette and the eccentric billionaires were extremely close. A bond between them over a shared interest in the arts quickly developed into a mutual affection that more resembled a mother and daughter relationship than that of art consultant and client. They were family in every sense of the word and cared for each other very deeply which was apparent to anyone that knew them.

Peggy lived in New York City predominantly but she had several homes around the country and abroad including a mansion in Malibu, CA. She’d been in California for several months but soon she would be leaving the country for a much deserved sabbatical. Peggy visited Bette in her new offices at the CAC a couple of weeks before her departure.

“Bette I can’t begin to express how proud I am of you; to be named Executive Chair is quite an accomplishment especially at your young age but then you never seize to amaze me.” Peggy beamed proudly.