Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art

Exhibitions

John Sloan (American, 1871–1951), Mountains, Santa Fe (detail), 1920.

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Overview

  • November 7, 2025–February 15, 2026

  • Herzfeld Center for Photography and Media Arts

  • Free for Members

  • Included with admission

Looking Forward: New Gifts of Art is an exhibition celebrating the generosity that is shaping the future of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Fifty years after Mrs. Harry Lynde “Peg” Bradley’s transformational gift, a new wave of donors is strengthening the collection with extraordinary works of art to build on the past, enrich the present, and invest in the future of the arts in Milwaukee.

A wide range of recent and promised gifts are featured in this exhibition, inviting visitors to experience the Museum’s collection as it grows, diversifies, and evolves into one that is both locally significant and globally relevant. Donated by supporters through a strategic initiative, these works span multiple collecting areas and reflect the Museum’s commitment to expanding representation and bringing new voices and narratives into the galleries.

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.

Selected artworks

Augustus Wilson (American, 1864–1950), Pair of Whistler Decoys, ca. 1920.

Carved and painted wood. White Decoy: 8 9/16 × 16 1/8 × 7 3/16 in. (21.7 × 41 × 18.2 cm); Brown Decoy: 7 11/16 × 15 1/2 × 8 5/16 in. (19.5 × 39.3 × 21.1 cm). Gift of Gene and Linda Kangas M2025.9a,b

Rashid Johnson (American, b. 1977), Bruise Painting “Young Americans”, 2021.

Oil on linen. 48 1/4 × 46 × 2 in. (122.56 × 116.84 × 5.08 cm). Gift of The Lasry Family M2023.233. © Rashid Johnson. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth

Augustus Wilson (American, 1864–1950), Pair of Whistler Decoys, ca. 1920.

Carved and painted wood. White Decoy: 8 9/16 × 16 1/8 × 7 3/16 in. (21.7 × 41 × 18.2 cm); Brown Decoy: 7 11/16 × 15 1/2 × 8 5/16 in. (19.5 × 39.3 × 21.1 cm). Gift of Gene and Linda Kangas M2025.9a,b

Sabina Elliot Wells (American, 1876–1943), Newcomb Pottery (New Orleans, Louisiana, 1894–1940), Newcomb Pottery Vase, ca. 1905.

Glazed earthenware. Height: 10 in. (25.4 cm). Gift of Jody and Dick Goisman M2022.37

Jonas Wood, Kiki with Leopard in My Studio, 2020.

Oil and acrylic on canvas. 65 × 65 in. (165.1 × 165.1 cm). Promised gift of Christine A. Symchych and James P. McNulty PG2021.3. © Gagosian

Thomas Struth (German, b. 1954), Hot Rolling Mill, ThyssenKrupp Steel, Duisburg, 2010.

Chromogenic print. Image and sheet: 67 11/16 × 79 7/8 in. (171.93 × 202.88 cm); framed: 74 3/4 × 84 1/2 × 2 3/8 in., 90 lb. (189.87 × 214.63 × 6.03 cm, 40.82 kg). Gift of Andy Nunemaker M2024.11. © Thomas Struth

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Support

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.

  • 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