The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., announced today the acquisition of hundreds of works to its permanent collection, spanning from the 17th century to today.
This round of acquisitions shows some of the museum’s current priorities in terms of shoring up its holdings, including early photography and recent large-scale works. Among these is a trove of 35 Civil War photographs by the likes of Alexander Gardner, George N. Barnard, and Andrew Joseph Russell, alongside pieces by Dan Flavin, Barbara Kruger, Claire Fontaine, and Pepón Osorio.
“As stewards of the nation’s collection, we are honored to continue expanding our holdings with significant works that tell new stories and deepen our collection across mediums, highlighting artistic developments throughout history and uplifting ongoing innovation by contemporary artists,” chief curatorial and conservation officer E. Carmen Ramos said in a statement. “This group of acquisitions unites works of profound historical relevance with work by living artists continuing to shape artistic dialogues, expanding key areas of our collection, particularly in the fields of photography and sculpture.”
Several of the newly added works are the first by their respective artist to enter the National Gallery’s collection, including pieces by contemporary artists like, Fernández, Osorio, and Salman Toor, as well as 17th-century Italian engraver Teresa del Pò and 18th-century Swiss painter Anna Waser.
“Our latest acquisitions highlight the National Gallery’s commitment to showcasing artistic excellence by deepening our collection holdings, with the aim of providing nuanced explorations of art history over many centuries,” NGA director Kaywin Feldman said in a statement.
Below, a look at several of the National Gallery’s newly acquired masterpieces.
