Gifted works featured in new exhibit

“Richard Wagner,” ca. 1900, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919), lithograph printed in black ink on Arches paper, gift of Phil and Linda Cohen, Florida Institute of Technology 2021 transfer. [Photo courtesy Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida]

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Posted November 11, 2024 | Staff report

“Transformational Gifts: Recent Acquisitions (2019-2024)” is on view through early February at the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida.

More than 99% of the Appleton’s collection consists of gifts, including 6,000 works donated in the last five years. The gifts of art come from a variety of sources, beginning with Arthur I. Appleton and continuing through contributions from institutions, collectors and community members. The museum collection now exceeds 24,000 world-class works.

“Transformational Gifts” features approximately 200 recent additions. The works span 5,000 years, with notable names such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Charles Ephraim Burchfield, Ansel Adams, Jim Dine, Louise Nevelson, Käthe Kollwitz, Joan Miró, James Rosenquist, Genryusai Seiya and many others.

“Gifts make up the very fiber of the Appleton Museum of Art,” said Jason Steuber, Appleton director, in the news release. “The museum was established in 1982 with Arthur I. Appleton’s foundational collection of about 5,000 works, and the museum itself was built on 44 acres of land donated by the city of Ocala. Over the years, generous donations and acquisitions have grown the collection exponentially, and we’re excited to present these important works on view at the Appleton for the first time. We invite the community to explore how these gifts continue to enrich the present while shaping the future.”

The Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Regular admission fees apply, but admission is free on the first Saturday of each month.

For more information, call (352) 291-4455 or visit appletonmuseum.org