Generosity Takes Center Stage in Major Fall Exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art highlights new and promised gifts of art that help the Museum build a stronger collection for the future.

MILWAUKEE, WI—October 10, 2025—This fall, the Milwaukee Art Museum will debut Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art, a special exhibition celebrating the generosity that is shaping the future of one of Milwaukee’s most beloved cultural institutions. Opening November 7, 2025, the exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Harry Lynde “Peg” Bradley’s transformational gift of modern art—an act of civic pride that forever changed the Museum’s identity—and honors a new generation of donors who are continuing that legacy.

The Museum is excited to unveil a selection of recent and promised gifts of art from over 500 works that have been donated outright or promised by supporters as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen the collection. Highlights include Kiki with Leopard in My Studio (2020) by Jonas Wood and Bruise Painting “Young Americans” (2021) by Rashid Johnson which build on the Museum’s growing focus on contemporary painting by leading artists today. Another key addition is Mountains, Santa Fe (1920) by John Sloan, a significant addition to the institution’s cornerstone holdings of the Ashcan School and The Eight. The gifts of art vary across collecting areas, medium, and subject matter, supporting the Museum’s curatorial priorities to expand representation and bring new voices and narratives into the galleries.

“The Milwaukee Art Museum’s legacy has been profoundly shaped by the generosity of collectors who have donated extraordinary works of art for the benefit of the public. Many were inspired by Peg Bradley—a visionary patron who collected with a clear purpose: to share the power of art with future generations,” said Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director. “Art is a gift of imagination—it challenges us to see the world through new perspectives and inspires lifelong learning about ourselves and others. These collectors, through their passion and generosity, have made an enduring impact on our cultural landscape—and their gifts are a lasting legacy to the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin.”

In addition to the paintings mentioned above, the exhibition includes remarkable works of art that underscore the impact of this initiative. Examples include:

• Moon Blanket (ca. 1990) by Truman Lowe is a powerful wall sculpture rooted in Ho-Chunk traditions and natural cycles, contributing to the Museum’s efforts to amplify Indigenous perspectives.
• Newcomb Pottery Vase (ca. 1905) by Sabina Elliott Wells is a rare work of Arts and Crafts design by a pioneering woman artist, strengthening the Museum’s collection of decorative arts and objects created at artist colonies.
• Benson James, drifter, Route 66, Gallup, New Mexico, 1979 (1979) by Richard Avedon is an iconic image from his In the American West series, expanding the Museum’s holdings in American portraiture and documentary photography.
• Hot Rolling Mill, ThyssenKrupp Steel, Duisburg (2010) by Thomas Struth is a monumental photograph that continues the Museum’s legacy of collecting major contemporary photography with a global lens.
• Untitled (Self-Portrait) (ca. 1990/91) by Darrel Ellis is an expressive, experimental drawing by a groundbreaking African American artist whose work is gaining long-overdue recognition. Acquired in connection with Darrel Ellis: Regeneration, this work affirms the Museum’s commitment to collecting works by artists whose voices are elevated through its exhibitions.
• Pair of Whistler Decoys (ca. 1920) by Augustus Wilson are elegantly carved examples of American folk art by a master carver, enriching a regionally relevant collection rooted in the Michael and Julie Hall Collection.

Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art invites visitors to experience the collection as it grows, diversifies, and evolves into one that is both locally significant and globally relevant. Presented in the Herzfeld Center for Photography and Media Arts, the exhibition will complement and be on view concurrently with The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee in the Baker/Rowland Galleries. Together, the two exhibitions offer a rare and meaningful opportunity to reflect on the Museum’s evolution through the lens of generosity.

“This exhibition is deeply personal for our institution and our city,” said Elizabeth Siegel, Chief of Curatorial Affairs. “It’s a public thank you to the people who are making the future of the Museum possible, as well as an invitation to all of Milwaukee to take pride in that future.”

This exhibition was made possible by the generosity of the following donors.

Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art opens November 7, 2025, and will be on view through February 15, 2026.

Connect with art and fellow art enthusiasts at programs dedicated to the exhibition:

• Expert Series: Philanthropy and the Arts Ecosystem, Jan 15, 2026: Join us for a dynamic conversation on how philanthropy shapes culture, funding, and the future of artists, institutions, and the communities they serve.
• Gallery Talks, Nov 21, Dec 18 and Jan 30, 2026: Join curators and scholars for an in-depth exploration of themes and topics in Looking Forward.

For more information about the exhibition, its programming, or to access low-res imagery and captions, visit mam.org/looking-forward.

Exhibitions in the Herzfeld Center for Photography and Media Arts are sponsored by
Herzfeld Foundation

The Milwaukee Art Museum extends its sincere thanks to the Visionaries whose leadership support makes all exhibitions possible.
Mark and Debbie Attanasio
Donna and Donald Baumgartner
Murph Burke
Bill and Sandy Haack
The Helmerich Trust
Kenneth and Alice Kayser
Joan Lubar and John Crouch
Joel and Caran Quadracci
Jeff and Gail Yabuki

Media Contact

For more information or to request hi-res images, please contact:

Cortney Heimerl
Milwaukee Art Museum
communications@mam.org
414-940-0490