Spotlight

Princeton Collects

Abstract oil painting with vigorous brushwork in various shades of orange, red, yellow, green, and white.

Gerhard Richter (born 1932, Dresden, Germany; active Cologne, Germany), Abstract Painting (613-3), 1986. Oil on canvas; 260.7 × 203 × 4.1 cm. Promised gift of Preston H. Haskell, Class of 1960 (L.2014.28.16)

Extraordinary Gifts for a new Museum

When construction began in 2021 to build the new Princeton University Art Museum, a building effort of another sort quickly followed. The Museum’s leadership and curators joined with visionary Museum supporters, embarking on an ambitious effort to secure transformative and strategic gifts of art with which to fill the expansive spaces planned for the new Museum for Princeton. Dubbed a “campaign for art,” this initiative to acquire gifts and promised gifts of art continued throughout the entirety of the construction process. The Museum’s community answered this call in spectacular fashion. At its conclusion, the effort resulted in more than 2,000 works of art given by over 200 donors on the occasion of the Museum’s opening on October 31, 2025. Approximately 150 of these works are presented in the new building’s special exhibitions galleries in an exhibition titled Princeton Collects, on view through March 26, 2026.

The acquisition of artworks of the highest caliber supports the evolution of the Museum’s gallery display, research, and teaching capacities while filling key gaps and amplifying the collections’ existing strengths.

Eskimo Leader , 1972 , by Pitaloosie Saila, Inuit, 1942–2021; active, born, and died Kinngait [Cape Dorset], Canada , object number 2022-347

Eskimo Leader ,
1972

Pitaloosie Saila, Inuit, 1942–2021; active, born, and died Kinngait [Cape Dorset], Canada

2022-347

Untitled , 1939 , by Armin Landeck, 1905–1984; born Crandon, WI; died East Cornwall, CT; active Cornwall and New York, NY , object number 2022-459

Untitled ,
1939

Armin Landeck, 1905–1984; born Crandon, WI; died East Cornwall, CT; active Cornwall and New York, NY

2022-459

The World’s Fair: street scene with the World Tour Panorama, the German Marine Merchant, and the Creusot pavilion, Paris , 1900 , by Émile Zola, 1840–1902; born and died Paris, France; active Upper Norwood, United Kingdom, and Paris , object number 2024-397

The World’s Fair: street scene with the World Tour Panorama, the German Marine Merchant, and the Creusot pavilion, Paris ,
1900

Émile Zola, 1840–1902; born and died Paris, France; active Upper Norwood, United Kingdom, and Paris

2024-397

Paperweight vase , early 20th century , by Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848–1933; born and died New York, NYTiffany Studios, active 1892–1930, New York, NY , object number 2022-293

Paperweight vase ,
early 20th century

Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848–1933; born and died New York, NY
Tiffany Studios, active 1892–1930, New York, NY

2022-293

Flower form vase , early 20th century , by Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848–1933; born and died New York, NYTiffany Studios, active 1892–1930, New York, NY , object number 2022-296

Flower form vase ,
early 20th century

Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1848–1933; born and died New York, NY
Tiffany Studios, active 1892–1930, New York, NY

2022-296

Monday Morning, 990-PF Nonexempt Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation, Phoenix-Seneca Growth Fund, Gray Sweatpants, 2003 , 2021 , by Buck Ellison, born 1987, Los Angeles, CA; active Los Angeles , object number 2024-512

Monday Morning, 990-PF Nonexempt Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation, Phoenix-Seneca Growth Fund, Gray Sweatpants, 2003 ,
2021

Buck Ellison, born 1987, Los Angeles, CA; active Los Angeles

2024-512

Knitting Needle , 1985 , by Hamaguchi Yōzō 浜口陽三, 1909–2000; born Hirogawa, Japan; died Tokyo, Japan , object number 2024-498

Knitting Needle ,
1985

Hamaguchi Yōzō 浜口陽三, 1909–2000; born Hirogawa, Japan; died Tokyo, Japan

2024-498

Say it in Flowers , early 20th century , by Annie French, 1872–1965; born Glasgow, Scotland; died Jersey Island, Bailiwick of Jersey , object number L.2025.22.9

Say it in Flowers ,
early 20th century

Annie French, 1872–1965; born Glasgow, Scotland; died Jersey Island, Bailiwick of Jersey

L.2025.22.9

Three people at the Lewis Institute , 1926 , by Photographer unidentified , object number 2024-230

Three people at the Lewis Institute ,
1926

Photographer unidentified

2024-230

Les Aveaux Indiscrets (The Indiscreet Confessions) , 18th century , by after Pierre Filloeul, 1696–1754; born Abbeville, France; died Paris, Franceafter Jean-Baptiste Pater, 1695–1736; born Valenciennes, France; died Paris, France; active Paris and Valenciennes , object number 2024-339

Les Aveaux Indiscrets (The Indiscreet Confessions) ,
18th century

after Pierre Filloeul, 1696–1754; born Abbeville, France; died Paris, France
after Jean-Baptiste Pater, 1695–1736; born Valenciennes, France; died Paris, France; active Paris and Valenciennes

2024-339

Flower vase of Uzukumaru-type , late 20th century , by Raku Kichizaemon XV 十五代楽吉左衛門, born 1949, Japan; active Kyoto, Japan, and Kuta, Japan , object number 2024-418

Flower vase of Uzukumaru-type ,
late 20th century

Raku Kichizaemon XV 十五代楽吉左衛門, born 1949, Japan; active Kyoto, Japan, and Kuta, Japan Japanese , Shōwa era, 1926–1989

2024-418

Miniature jar , late 20th or early 21st century , by Diane Lewis-Garcia, Haak'u (Acoma), born 1959, Haak'u (Acoma) Pueblo, NMMarilyn Henderson Ray, Haak’u (Acoma), Yellow Corn Clan, born 1954, Haak'u (Acoma) Pueblo, NM , object number 2023-247

Miniature jar ,
late 20th or early 21st century

Diane Lewis-Garcia, Haak'u (Acoma), born 1959, Haak'u (Acoma) Pueblo, NM
Marilyn Henderson Ray, Haak’u (Acoma), Yellow Corn Clan, born 1954, Haak'u (Acoma) Pueblo, NM

2023-247