The Art Institute of Chicago announced today that it has received the largest single gift of art in the iconic museum’s 136-year history. The 42-piece collection from former plastics manufacturer Stefan Edlis and his wife, Gael Neeson, includes works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jasper Johns.
“We are so grateful to Stefan and Gael for the extraordinary gift of the very best works from their collection of contemporary art, which cements the status of our already strong contemporary holdings. Against the backdrop of our encyclopedic collection, the Edlis/Neeson gift allows us to build one of the richest narratives of art under one roof,” Douglas Druick, President and Eloise W. Martin Director at the museum, said in a statement.
“I join Chicago's cultural community in applauding this generous gift of artwork from Stefan and Gael,” Madeleine Grynsztejn, Pritzker Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, added.
The collection includes some incredible pieces of contemporary art. The most interesting pieces are nine works by WArhol, including his 1964 and 1966 self portraits. Other WArhol pieces include Twelve Jackies, Mona Lisa Four Times and Big Electric Chair.
Three Johns paintings - Target, Figure 4 and Alphabet - are included. Two late Lichtenstein paintings - Artist’s Studio “Foot Medication” and Woman III - are also part of the collection.
Work by more recent artists, including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Richard Prince, are also part of the collection.
Other artists represented include Gerhard Richter, Cy Twombly, Brice Marden, Eric Fischl, Charles Ray, Takashi Murakami, Katharina Fritsch, Cindy Sherman and John Currin.
According to the Chicago Tribune, which estimates that the collection is worth at least $400 million combined, will put the collection on display in the Modern Wing for the next 50 years, beginning in January. Edlis, 89, insisted that the work be put on display, instead of just put in another warehouse.