Forming the Collection
Notice the image credit that goes with each image. After listing the artist’s name, artwork title, year the artwork was created, materials, and dimensions, it shows when and how The Phillips Collection acquired the artwork. When you go to the museum, the label next to each artwork will also tell you this information.
The Phillips purchased these artworks in the past 15 years:
Alfonso Ossorio, Excelsior, 1960. Assemblage aka “congregation,” 56 x 12 in. The Dreier Fund for Acquisitions, 2008
Mequitta Ahuja, Xpect, study, 2018. Oil-based charcoal on Mylar, 32 ½ x 28 in. The Dreier Fund for Acquisitions, 2020
Lucy T. Pettway, Two-sided quilt: blocks and strips and “Bricklayer”, 1960s. Denim, corduroy, cotton, 81 x 73 in. Partial Gift, Partial Purchase* from Souls Grown Deep Foundation and The Dreier Fund for Acquisitions, 2019
*This artwork was acquired through a combination of two ways: Souls Grown Deep Foundation, which promotes Black artists from the South and supports their communities, gave it as a partial gift and The Phillips partially purchased it.
Museums continue to acquire relevant works of art to build upon and expand their existing collection.
-
Look closely at these artworks. What do you see that connects these artworks?
-
Why might the Phillips have purchased these artworks in the past several years?