At its annual meeting in late March, the Collectors Committee of the National Gallery of Art made possible the acquisition of Black Plank (1967) by John McCracken (b. 1934), a rare black early plank in pristine condition, and Ommah (2005) by Nam June Paik (1932–2006), a moving reflection on his Korean heritage and his last work of video sculpture. These selections bring the Gallery two important firsts: its first work of video art by Nam June Paik, one of the founders of that medium, and its first work of sculpture by John McCracken, one of the leading figures of minimal art. Both works will be on view in the East Building’s Concourse galleries by the end of May. Concurrently, the Gallery accepted one additional gift from Victoria and Roger Sant: Untitled Composition (1929) by Joaquín Torres-García (1874–1949), an important work of Latin American modernism that will be on view in the East Building’s Upper Level galleries beginning Tuesday, April 20.

 

The Collectors Committee discretionary fund for photographs, drawings, and prints supported the acquisition of three photographs by Francesca Woodman (1958–1981): Caryatid, New York (Study for Temple Project), New York (1980); Untitled, Rome (1977–1978); and Untitled, Providence, Rhode Island (1975–1978); two drawings by Al Taylor (1948–1999): Untitled (Can Study) (1994) and Untitled (Floaters) (1998); a set of ten lithographs by Glenn Ligon (b. 1960): Runaways (1993); and a photolithograph on newsprint by Robert Gober (b. 1954): Untitled (1991).

 

For full details on the works acquired and to order images, please visit http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/collectors_2010.shtm.

 

Deborah Ziska

Chief of Press and Public Information

National Gallery of Art

E-mail: ds-ziska@nga.gov

Web site: www.nga.gov/press

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