Luchita Hurtado, “Untitled” (c. 1951) (© Luchita Hurtado, photo courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth)
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) announced the addition of eight new acquisitions during the museum’s 33rd annual Collectors Committee fundraiser. The annual Collectors Committee Weekend—led for the 10th year by LACMA trustee, Collectors Committee Chair, and Acquisitions Committee Chair Ann Colgin—was a two-day affair, which included curator-led art presentations, private dinners at the homes of major LACMA supporters, and a gala dinner where members voted on artworks to add to the museum’s permanent collection. This year, the 81 voting members raised over $2.4 million. The 2019 event was generously sponsored by Cartier for the second year in a row.
“I’m so thrilled by the success of this year’s Collectors Committee,” said Ann Colgin.
“Collectors Committee is one of our most exciting fundraising events of the year, because all proceeds benefit the growth of LACMA’s permanent collection,” said LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director Michael Govan. “With a collection that is global in scope, LACMA strives to present a multitude of art histories from a variety of viewpoints. In that spirit, we are pleased that all proposed acquisitions this year were by female artists ranging from the 15th century to today.”
Since 1986, Collectors Committee Weekend has been one of the museum’s most significant fundraising events of the year and continues to play an essential role in acquiring important works of art for every area of its encyclopedic collection.
Throughout its 33-year history, the event has acquired 236 artworks through donations totaling more than $45 million.
Festivities began this year on the evening of Friday, April 12, with members attending one of seven dinners (details below) hosted in the private homes of major LACMA supporters, prepared in person by a celebrity chef and with wines from notable vineyards.
On the morning of Saturday, April 13, members gathered at LACMA to attend curator presentations and view the artworks proposed for addition to the permanent collection. During a break between presentations and before the evening voting began, Luchita Hurtado’s Untitled (c. 1951) was acquired through a generous gift from LACMA trustee Janet Dreisen Rappaport and her husband Herb Rappaport. At the Collectors Committee gala later that evening, emceed by LACMA trustee Ann Colgin and LACMA trustee Ryan Seacrest, 81 members voted to select which artworks to acquire, while enjoying a special dinner prepared by Joachim Splichal (Patina Catering) with wine supplied by Christian Navarro at Wally’s, and Champagne generously provided by Krug Champagne.
Funds for the artwork acquisitions were raised by Collectors Committee membership dues, with additional funds provided by individual members. Adding to the pool for acquisition funds was a short live auction, chaired by LACMA trustee Viveca Paulin- Ferrell, which raised $725,000.
In addition, each year, an artist whose work is in LACMA’s collection makes an edition for Collectors Committee members who donate at the highest level. This year, artist Betye Saar created Mystic Hand with Eye.
