The Collections Campaign

Growing an Extraordinary Collection

Initiated in January 2009 in conjunction with SFMOMA’s 75th anniversary, the Collections Campaign went public in February 2011 with the announcement of 195 promised gifts of art from nine leading Bay Area collectors, who are spearheading the effort to strengthen the museum's collection.

The pledges received in 2011 encompass major works by artists including Diane Arbus, Joseph Beuys, Robert Gober, Eva Hesse, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Bruce Nauman, Jackson Pollock, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, and David Smith and span all media, from modern and contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and design to new media and conceptual works. These exceptional works of art add depth to the collection in key areas, including photography and postwar German art, and enhance its representation of artists and movements that SFMOMA has long championed.

In 2012 the museum received promised gifts of 473 photographs from three collectors. A pledge of 26 photographs by Diane Arbus doubles SFMOMA's holdings of work by the artist, and two additional gifts strengthen the museum's collection of works by Japanese photographers, cementing SFMOMA's standing as home to the largest collection of Japanese photography in the United States. The gifts also include photographs by Robert Adams, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, Nan Goldin, Andreas Gursky, Irving Penn, and Garry Winogrand.

The Collections Campaign will continue through the opening of our expanded facility in 2016. The campaign is spearheaded by a committee chaired by longtime patrons Helen Schwab and Robin Wright, with members including Trustees Carla Emil, Bob Fisher, Mimi Haas, David Mahoney, Chara Schreyer, Norman Stone, and Pat Wilson.

Thanks to the remarkable commitment of our donors, the expanded SFMOMA will be able to provide a fuller, more textured view of the art of our time.

Highlights from the Collections Campaign

Jackson Pollock, Black and White (Number 6), 1951; enamel on canvas; 56 x 45 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Jackson Pollock, Black and White (Number 6), 1951; enamel on canvas; 56 x 45 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Shomei Tomatsu, Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970; dye transfer print; 10 3/8 in. x 15 1/2 in.; Promised gift of Randi and Bob Fisher; © Shomei Tomatsu Shomei Tomatsu, Japan World Exposition, Osaka, 1970; dye transfer print; 10 3/8 in. x 15 1/2 in.; Promised gift of Randi and Bob Fisher; © Shomei Tomatsu
Joseph Beuys, Untitled (Vitrine with Four Objects/Plateau Central), 1962-1983; mixed media in painted wood, steel, and glass vitrine; 81 1/8 in. x 19 11/16 in. x 86 5/8 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Norah and Norman Stone; © 2011 © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Germany Joseph Beuys, Untitled (Vitrine with Four Objects/Plateau Central), 1962-1983; mixed media in painted wood, steel, and glass vitrine; 81 1/8 in. x 19 11/16 in. x 86 5/8 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Norah and Norman Stone; © 2011 © Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Germany
Rineke Dijkstra, Montemor, Portugal, May 1, 1994, B, 1994, printed 1999; chromogenic print; 37 in. x 29 1/2 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Robin Wright and Ian Reeves; © Rineke Dijkstra Rineke Dijkstra, Montemor, Portugal, May 1, 1994, B, 1994, printed 1999; chromogenic print; 37 in. x 29 1/2 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Robin Wright and Ian Reeves; © Rineke Dijkstra
Timothy H. O'Sullivan and William Bell, Wheeler Survey Album, 1870 – 1874; album of 50 albumen prints; 8 1/8 in. x 10 7/8 in.; Promised Gift of David Mahoney and Winn Ellis Timothy H. O'Sullivan and William Bell, Wheeler Survey Album, 1870 – 1874; album of 50 albumen prints; 8 1/8 in. x 10 7/8 in.; Promised Gift of David Mahoney and Winn Ellis
Jeff Koons, Two-Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J. Silver Series, Wilson Aggressor); 1985; glass, steel, sodium chloride reagent, distilled water, and basketballs; 63 in. x 36 13/16 in. x 12 13/16 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Norah and Norman Stone in memory of John Caldwell; © Jeff Koons Jeff Koons, Two-Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J. Silver Series, Wilson Aggressor); 1985; glass, steel, sodium chloride reagent, distilled water, and basketballs; 63 in. x 36 13/16 in. x 12 13/16 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional and promised gift of Norah and Norman Stone in memory of John Caldwell; © Jeff Koons
Brice Marden, The Propitious Garden of Plane Image, First Version, 2000 – 2005; oil on linen; 42 in. x 144 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Brice Marden / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Image Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York Brice Marden, The Propitious Garden of Plane Image, First Version, 2000 – 2005; oil on linen; 42 in. x 144 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Brice Marden / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Image Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Roy McMakin, Untitled (A Chest of Drawers and a Daybed That Fit Together), 2004; wood, enamel paint, and upholstery; 52 in. x 34 in. x 40 in.; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein; © Roy McMakin / Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York; photographer: Mark Woods Roy McMakin, Untitled (A Chest of Drawers and a Daybed That Fit Together), 2004; wood, enamel paint, and upholstery; 52 in. x 34 in. x 40 in.; Collection SFMOMA, gift of Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein; © Roy McMakin / Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York; photographer: Mark Woods
Sigmar Polke, Untitled, 1971; mixed media on paper mounted on canvas; 91 in. x 69 in.; Promised gift of Pat and Bill Wilson; © 2011 Estate of Sigmar Polke / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Germany Sigmar Polke, Untitled, 1971; mixed media on paper mounted on canvas; 91 in. x 69 in.; Promised gift of Pat and Bill Wilson; © 2011 Estate of Sigmar Polke / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst Bonn, Germany
Jackson Pollock, Square Pouring, 1948; oil on masonite; 24 x 24 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Jackson Pollock, Square Pouring, 1948; oil on masonite; 24 x 24 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Ed Ruscha, Evil, 1973; artist's blood on red silk over wood stretcher; 20 in. x 24 in.; Promised gift of Robin Wright and Ian Reeves; © Ed Ruscha Ed Ruscha, Evil, 1973; artist's blood on red silk over wood stretcher; 20 in. x 24 in.; Promised gift of Robin Wright and Ian Reeves; © Ed Ruscha
David Smith, Voltri XII, 1962; steel; 86 3/4 in. x 49 3/4 in. x 13 1/2 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © Estate of David Smith / Licensed by VAGA, New York David Smith, Voltri XII, 1962; steel; 86 3/4 in. x 49 3/4 in. x 13 1/2 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © Estate of David Smith / Licensed by VAGA, New York
Paul Strand, Untitled (Still Life of Cigarette Boxes with Bowl and Bottle), 1917; vintage platinum or satista print; 9 3/8 in. x 13 in.; Promised gift of Randi and Bob Fisher; © Aperture Foundation, Inc., Paul Strand Archive Paul Strand, Untitled (Still Life of Cigarette Boxes with Bowl and Bottle), 1917; vintage platinum or satista print; 9 3/8 in. x 13 in.; Promised gift of Randi and Bob Fisher; © Aperture Foundation, Inc., Paul Strand Archive
Francis Bacon, Figure with Two Owls, Study for Velazquez, 1963; oil on canvas; 78 x 75 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Estate of Francis Bacon / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Francis Bacon, Figure with Two Owls, Study for Velazquez, 1963; oil on canvas; 78 x 75 in.; Collection SFMOMA, fractional gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Estate of Francis Bacon / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Christopher Wool, Untitled, 2007; enamel on linen; 126 in. x 96 in.; Promised gift of Chara Schreyer; © Christopher Wool Christopher Wool, Untitled, 2007; enamel on linen; 126 in. x 96 in.; Promised gift of Chara Schreyer; © Christopher Wool
Robert Rauschenberg, Untitled (Black Painting with Portal Form), 1952-1953; oil and newspaper on canvas; 51 1/8 in. x 54 1/4 in.; Promised gift of an anonymous donor; © Estate of Robert Rauschenberg / Licensed by VAGA, New York Robert Rauschenberg, Untitled (Black Painting with Portal Form), 1952-1953; oil and newspaper on canvas; 51 1/8 in. x 54 1/4 in.; Promised gift of an anonymous donor; © Estate of Robert Rauschenberg / Licensed by VAGA, New York
Yves Klein, Blue Sponge Relief (RE 29), 1957; pure pigment with synthetic resin, natural sponges and pebbles on board; 39 3/8 in. x 40 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris Yves Klein, Blue Sponge Relief (RE 29), 1957; pure pigment with synthetic resin, natural sponges and pebbles on board; 39 3/8 in. x 40 in.; Promised gift of Helen and Charles Schwab; © 2011 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris