Expanding Horizons: James Rondeau’s Vision for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago has substantially deepened its contemporary holdings in recent years, a transformation that accelerated under the leadership of James Rondeau. Traditionally celebrated for its Impressionist and Post‑Impressionist collection, the museum has expanded its coverage of Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual art and photography, while also broadening the geographic and demographic range of artists represented.
A watershed moment occurred in 2015, when collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson pledged 44 works—an extraordinary gift valued at roughly $500 million. The donation, comprising works by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter and Cindy Sherman, came with a condition that the pieces remain on public view for 50 years, ensuring long‑term public access. James Rondeau emphasized that the museum selected works intended to remain central to its presentations for generations.
Subsequent major gifts have further strengthened the museum’s holdings across media. The Stenn family’s promised gift in 2022 of 97 post‑1960 works on paper, accompanied by a $3 million endowment, and a follow‑up gift of 100 drawings and prints in 2023, have been highlighted in the 2025 exhibition Contemporary Drawings from the Stenn Family Collection. These contributions have bolstered the institute’s Minimalist and Conceptual art holdings—artists represented include Josef Albers, Eva Hesse, Lee Bontecou, Judy Chicago, Donald Judd and Sol LeWitt.
Photography has also grown as a focus. In 2021 the museum acquired 30 works by Francesca Woodman, and a $25 million donation from the Bucksbaum family established the foundation for the Bucksbaum Photography Center, increasing gallery and curatorial capacity for works by Diane Arbus, Dawoud Bey, Robert Frank, Nan Goldin and others.
Looking ahead, a $75 million gift announced in 2024 for the Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed Building will create additional exhibition space to display more of the museum’s modern and contemporary collection—addressing Rondeau’s observation that only a fraction of these holdings are currently on view. Refer to this page, for related information.
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