IMA Gifted 125 Significant Works of Art in Celebration of its 125th Anniversary

Written by rubin Wednesday, 25 March 2009 08:19

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indianapolis Museum of Art announced  the successful completion of its goal to secure 125 gifts to the permanent collection in honor of the Museum’s 125th anniversary. Ranging from old masters to contemporary works, the gifts include paintings, textiles, sculpture, prints and design arts, enriching each of the IMA’s collecting areas. From El Greco to El Anatsui, donated works range from Old Master paintings to 21^st-century African textiles.

“No single factor is more important to the Museum’s legacy than the continued, robust and imaginative growth of our permanent collection,” said Maxwell L. Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the IMA. “The generosity of those patrons who have donated these 125 works honors the IMA’s past, marks a milestone in the Museum’s history, and sets an auspicious tone for its future.”

In an effort spearheaded by Ellen W. Lee, the Wood-Pulliam Distinguished Senior Curator at the IMA, Museum curators carefully targeted and sought strategic additions to the collection through a 16-month campaign to honor the IMA’s landmark anniversary. Many of the 125 works are already in the care of the IMA, and some are currently on view in the galleries. Other works will enter the Museum collection at future dates as donor commitments are fulfilled.

“I cannot imagine a more tangible sign of a museum’s vigor than the acquisition of important works of art,” said Lee. “Some of the pieces had been coveted by our curators for years; others were exciting surprises. Many IMA friends responded enthusiastically to our campaign, making commitments that surpassed our ambitious objective.”

For more than a century, the generosity of IMA patrons has spurred the growth of the Museum’s permanent collection, which today consists of more than 54,000 objects that span the globe and 5,000 years of artistic expression. Approximately 90 percent of these works have come through gift or bequest, enabling the Museum to bring treasured works of art once held in the private sector to public awareness, and to preserve them for future generations.

The IMA began its year-long anniversary celebration on October 11, 2008, with a fundraising gala that raised $650,000 to support IMA annual programming. Guests of the event included prominent contemporary artists from across the United States. The evening included a live auction conducted by Christie’s of works produced by the artists in attendance. The night’s festivities also included the unveiling of one of the 125 gifts to the Museum, a commissioned work by internationally renowned sculptor Robert Irwin. The $1 million permanent installation inside Pulliam Great Hall, titled Light and Space III, was made possible through a combination of art purchase funds and a gift from Ann M. and Chris Stack. The event was chaired by IMA board member Wayne Zink.

The IMA website features highlights of the anniversary gifts. Visit : www.imamuseum.org/125years/125-gifts.
Located at 4000 Michigan Road, the IMA and Lilly House are open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The IMA is closed Mondays and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. For more information, call 317-923-1331 or visit www.imamuseum.org

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