Press Release  July 14, 2020

A Look Inside MoMA's Transformative New Photography Collection

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Author: chandra
museum of modern art, © 2020 Estate of Jan Groover

Jan Groover (American, 1943–2012), Untitled, c. 1979. Chromogenic color print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

NEW YORK, NY — The Museum of Modern Art has received a monumental gift of photographs from the Gayle Greenhill Collection, made in her memory by her husband Robert F. Greenhill. Gayle Greenhill (1936–2017) was deeply involved with the Department of Photography at MoMA from 1989 to 2013, serving as a member of the Committee on Photography for more than two decades. This transformative gift comprises more than 300 works by 103 photographers; it is Mr. Greenhill’s intention that a group of these will form the Gayle Greenhill Collection of photographs at the Museum, while the remainder of the works will be sold to establish the Gayle Greenhill Endowment Fund to support future MoMA photography exhibitions and acquisitions.

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Museum of Modern Art, © 2020 The Estate of Edward Steichen / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Edward Steichen photograph of a pond at night with the moon rising through trees behind it
Edward Steichen (American, born Luxembourg. 1879–1973), Moonrise–Mamaroneck, New York, 1904. Multiple gum bichromate print over platinum, 16 x 19 5/8” (40.7 x 49.9 cm). The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

The many rare and important works in this gift include iconic images by Edward Steichen, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Karl Blossfeldt, Chuck Close, William Eggleston, Robert Frank, Jan Groover, André Kertész, Robert Mapplethorpe, László Moholy-Nagy, Man Ray, Charles Sheeler, Cindy Sherman, JoAnn Verburg, and Edward Weston.

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Museum of Modern Art
Herbert George Ponting black and white photograph of a snowy mountain or iceberg
Herbert George Ponting (British, 1870–1935), The Ramparts of Mount Erebus, 1911. Gelatin silver print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

In addition to masterworks by established figures, the Greenhills collected a wide variety of documentary and press photography, much of it unattributed. These include many photographs taken during World War II—some by Steichen’s photography corps—and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The Greenhills had a keen interest in exploration, collecting extensively in the areas of early aviation, including photographs of the Wright Brothers’ foundational experiments (1903–1911), and the golden age of Antarctic exploration (1910–1915). Of particular note is a comprehensive set of prints by Herbert Ponting documenting Robert F. Scott’s expedition that began in 1910, a disastrous venture during which many, including Scott, perished.

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museum of modern art
Charles Sheeler black and white photography of a barn
Charles Sheeler (American, 1883–1965), Bucks County Barn with Chickens, c. 1917. Gelatin silver print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill © 2020 The Lane Collection.

Sarah Meister, Curator in the Robert B. Menschel Department of Photography at MoMA, remarked, “We are deeply honored that Mr. Greenhill has made this extraordinarily generous gift to memorialize Gayle in support of photography at the Museum. The collection is filled with singularly important treasures and lesser-known surprises that span the history of the medium, cumulatively suggesting the spirit of adventure and exploration that were at the heart of Gayle’s interests. No less significant, the collection’s strength and depth will provide generously for the future of photography at MoMA and its many audiences.”

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museum of modern art, © 2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
László Moholy-Nagy black and white photograph of a figure
László Moholy-Nagy (American, born Hungary. 1895–1946), Negative (Portrait), 1931. Gelatin silver print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

Robert Greenhill observed, “Gayle’s deep love of photography and her longstanding connection to MoMA led us to the decision that this gift would be a fitting way to honor her memory. We look forward to future generations being inspired by her example, encouraging a sense of curiosity and engagement that was a hallmark of her connection to the medium of photography and her belief in MoMA’s programs.”

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museum of modern art, © 2020 The Andrea Frank Foundation
Robert Frank black and white photograph of an arm holding a stack of paper in front of a marquee
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland. 1924–2019), New York City, 1951. Gelatin silver print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

In addition to this gift made in her memory, during her lifetime Gayle and Robert Greenhill generously supported numerous acquisitions in response to strategic priorities established by the Department of Photography, including 44 inventive and unique photographs, photo collages, and video works by Lucas Samaras, a number of rare, early Conceptual works by William Wegman, and 28 prints from Robert Frank’s landmark series The Americans. All of these are regularly featured in collection displays and temporary exhibitions, both at MoMA and on loan to other peer institutions.

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museum of modern art, © 2020 Estate of Imogen Cunningham
Imogen Cunningham black and white photograph of an unmade bed
Imogen Cunningham (American, 1883–1976), The Unmade Bed, 1957. Gelatin silver print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

In recognition of the extraordinary quality and scope of the works in the Gayle Greenhill Collection, the Museum intends to organize an exhibition of its highlights—as well as other important works previously gifted by the Greenhills—and produce an accompanying publication in the future.

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museum of modern art, © 2020 Eggleston Artistic Trust
William Eggleston photograph of a bare lightbulb on a red ceiling in a red room
William Eggleston (American, born 1939), Greenwood, Mississippi, 1973. Dye transfer print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

About Gayle Greenhill
Gayle Greenhill began to collect photographs in the early 1980s, and during the decades that followed she assembled a body of work that spans the history of the medium. She was a trustee of the International Center of Photography from 1985 to 2016, serving as Chair of the Board from 2001 to 2008. At MoMA, she became a member of the Fellows of Photography in 1989, and served on the Committee on Photography from 1992 until 2013.

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museum of modern art, © 2020 Estate of Jan Groover
Jan Groover photograph of spoons, forks and green bell peppers on a pink tablecloth with reflected light
Jan Groover (American, 1943–2012), Untitled, c. 1979. Chromogenic color print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

Gayle was born in 1936 in San Antonio, Texas, and met her future husband, Robert F. Greenhill, while a student at Vassar College. They married in 1958, and went on to have three children and eight grandchildren. Gayle and Robert’s partnership embraced all aspects of their life together, including Gayle’s activities as a collector.

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museum of modern art, © 2020 Cindy Sherman, courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
Cindy Sherman close-up photograph of the artist's face wearing a false nose
Cindy Sherman (American, born 1954), Untitled, 1995. Silver dye bleach print. The Gayle Greenhill Collection. Gift of Robert F. Greenhill.

Since her death in 2017, Robert has cared for the collection, and has entrusted it to MoMA as a way of honoring her longstanding commitment to the institution, as well as her impact on the field of photography at large.

Tags
Jan Groover
Herbert George Ponting
photography
MoMA
Edward Steichen
Charles Sheeler
Maholy-Nagy
Robert Frank
acquisitions
Gayle Greenhill
Imogen Cunningham
William Eggleston
Cindy Sherman
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