Other staff editors included Alexandra Anderson, Manuela Hoelterhoff, Denise Martin, Isolde McNichol, and Carter Wiseman.

The first issue was published in April, 1979,[1][2] with articles by Hilton Kramer, Charles Moffett, and Colin Eisler.

"Portfolio addresses people like me who are collectors, not scholars," a subscriber, Malcolm Forbes, told The New York Times.

"[3] Contributing editors included Paul Goldberger, Linda Nochlin, Robert Rosenblum, and Vincent Scully.

Other contributors included Kenneth Clark, Michael Coe, Owen Edwards, H. W. Janson, Hilton Kramer, Ben Lifson, Barbara Novak, Carter Ratcliff, John Russell, Kirk Varnedoe, and John Wilmerding.