Bio
Beth Rudin DeWoody, daughter of the late real estate developer Lewis Rudin and the late Gladyce Begelman, is a native of New York. She is married to renowned photographer Firooz Zahedi, who recently published a photography book on Elizabeth Taylor titled "My Elizabeth". Ms. DeWoody studied at the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in anthropology and film studies, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the New School for Social Research in New York City.
She has worked in Africa as an Assistant Director of the TV series "Born Free" as well as Production Assistant for the films "Annie Hall", "The Front", and "Hair". She also served as co-producer of the musical production "Enter Juliet", as well as executive producer of the documentary "Who Gets To Call It Art", directed by Peter Rosen. After working at Rudin Management part time between film assignments, leasing apartments and working in the accounting department, she joined the company full time in 1982 as a managing agent. She then worked in the Commercial Department leasing retail space. Ms. DeWoody is now Chairman of The Rudin Family Foundations and Executive Vice President of Rudin Management Company.
Ms. DeWoody has curated shows for art galleries between New York City, New Orleans, London, and Vermont including "Inspired" at Steven Kasher Gallery, "Hunt & Chase" at Salomon Contemporary in East Hampton, "Pink Show" at Sarah Gavlak Gallery, "In Stitches" at Leila Heller Gallery, "I Won’t Grow Up" at Cheim & Read, "Just What Are They Saying" at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, "What’s Your Hobby" at Fireplace Project, "A House Is Not A Home" at Caren Golden Fine Art, "EBay Items" at Shelburne Museum, "Luxury Goods" and "It’ll Cost You" at Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts, "January White Sale" at the Loretta Howard Gallery, "Bad For You" at the Shirazu Gallery, "Look At Me" at Leila Heller Gallery, "Please Enter" at the Franklin Parrasch Gallery, and "Really?" at Wilding Cran Gallery.
There was a show of her collection of California art from the 1940s to 1980s at the Parrish Museum in Southampton called EST-3, curated by David Pagel. The Norton Museum of Art has organized exhibitions to showcase her work, "The Triumph of Love: Beth Rudin DeWoody Collects", and "Still/Moving: Photographs and Video Art from the DeWoody Collection". Ms. DeWoody has a private art space in West Palm Beach which displays works from her collection.
Ms. DeWoody’s board affiliations include Vice Chair of the Whitney Museum of American Art, The New School, Empowers Africa, Save A Child India, Inc., and The New York City Police Foundation. Ms. DeWoody serves on the advisory board for The Glass House in New Canaan and for New Yorkers for Children, Inc. She serves on the Photography Steering Committee at the Norton Museum in Florida and the Board of Overseers at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. She is also an Honorary Trustee at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her professional affiliations include being charter member of New York Women Executives in Real Estate.
Ms. DeWoody is Chairman of the Arts and Culture Committee of the Association for a Better New York and on the Council of Conservators of the New York Public Library, National Leadership Council at United States Artists, and the Library Association of MoMA.
She resides between New York City, Los Angeles, and West Palm Beach. Ms. DeWoody’s son Carlton is a graduate of the New School and now an art and and design director at Reunion Goods & Services. Her daughter, Kyle, is the founder of the art and design project shop Grey Area. She has two grandsons, Jackson and Graydon, and a granddaughter, Ginger.
Areas of Interest
- Deal Type
- Acquisition, Development, Ground Lease, Loan Purchase, Opportunity Zone, Partner Buyout, Pre-Development, Recapitalization, Refinance, Rehabilitation