Agnes Gund, Art Philanthropist and Collector, Dies at 87 - Galerie Magazine

Galerie Magazine reports on the passing of renowned art philanthropist and collector Agnes Gund at age 87 in her Manhattan home. Gund, who served as president of the Museum of Modern Art for over a decade, was a transformative figure in the art world who championed contemporary artists and social justice causes. Her most notable act of philanthropy came in 2017 when she sold Roy Lichtenstein's "Masterpiece" for $165 million, dedicating $100 million to establish the Art for Justice Fund supporting criminal justice reform.

• Served as MoMA president for 11 years and oversaw the museum's ambitious $858 million expansion that doubled exhibition space
• Created the groundbreaking Art for Justice Fund in 2017 using proceeds from selling her Lichtenstein masterpiece
• Championed contemporary art integration at MoMA and helped orchestrate the 1999 merger with P.S. 1 Center for Contemporary Art
• Built an impressive collection featuring works by Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko, and Roy Lichtenstein while maintaining a constant presence in New York's art scene