The names are endless: Roy Lichtenstein, Anish Kapoor, Tom Wesselmann, Robert Rauschenberg and even a contemporary video installation piece by Jennifer Steinkamp. They represent the MacMillans’ relentless commitment to collecting art that they love and sharing it with the world. Visitors to the downstairs sculpture garden come upon Jim Dine’s colorful version of Venus and, near the entrance, Yoshitomo Nara’s Your Dog welcomes guests in its oversized, white porcelain, cartoon-like glory.
“This incredible gift has transformed the museum overnight,” says Executive Director Steve Nash. “The addition of these significant works represents a very fitting celebration of our latest physical renovations and indicates the increasing confidence of major collectors in the Palm Springs Art Museum.”
“In the 1990s, a gift from the Steve Chase estate greatly enhanced the collection of this museum by enriching our holdings with significant Californian and Western artists,” continues Nash. “The MacMillan gift redirects the course of the museum toward a collection that is more national and international in scope. Donna and Cargill MacMillan, Jr.’s goal is to continue to deepen our collection by encouraging other collectors to donate works to the museum and match the ambition of this collection.”
This infusion of art has catapulted the museum’s permanent collection into new realms of importance and quality and continues its evolution into a leading, nationally recognized art institution.