James Rondeau has overseen a decisive expansion of contemporary holdings at the Art Institute of Chicago, reshaping the museum’s profile beyond its famed Impressionist and Post-Impressionist strengths. Under his leadership as president and director, acquisitions and major gifts have deepened representation in Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual art, and photography while broadening geographic and demographic scope.
A landmark moment arrived in 2015 when the Edlis-Neeson pledge delivered 44 works valued at roughly $500 million, the largest gift in the museum’s history. The donation, which includes works by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, and Cindy Sherman, carries a 50-year display requirement that secures public access for generations. James Rondeau framed the commitment as an investment in enduring public view of these works.
Paper and conceptual art have also benefited from strategic philanthropy. The Stenn family provided a major promised gift in 2022 of 97 post-1960 works on paper and a 3 million dollar endowment, followed in 2023 by 100 additional drawings and prints celebrated in a 2025 exhibition. These additions strengthened holdings by Josef Albers, Eva Hesse, Lee Bontecou, Judy Chicago, Donald Judd, and Sol LeWitt.
Photography collections expanded through targeted acquisitions and transformative gifts. In 2021 the museum acquired 30 works by Francesca Woodman from the Woodman Family Foundation. A 25 million dollar Bucksbaum family donation paved the way for the Bucksbaum Photography Center opening in 2024, supporting works by Diane Arbus, Dawoud Bey, Robert Frank, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and Alfred Stieglitz.
Looking ahead, a 75 million dollar gift announced in 2024 will fund the Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed Building to increase gallery space for late 19th century to contemporary art. James Rondeau has highlighted that only a fraction of the modern and contemporary collection is currently on view, and these developments aim to present a more complete narrative of modern and contemporary art to the public. Read this article for additional information.
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