Art museum unveils nearly 100 gifted works of art
Rasuchenberg, Opal Gospel v1 | Photo courtesy of Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is celebrating an influential gift of art with A Shared Vision: The Glen W. Johnson and Thomas P. Merchant Collection, an exhibition on view in the Museum’s Level 1 Galleries through Feb. 7, 2027.
Drawn from gifts and promised gifts to GRAM's permanent collection, the exhibition brings together prints, photographs, and multiples spanning roughly 1960 to 2015. Visitors will encounter works by Kara Walker, Lorna Simpson, John Baldessari, Robert Rauschenberg, Jenny Holzer, Alex Katz, Robert Motherwell, Andy Warhol, David Salle, and Michigan artist Michael Pfleghaar, among others. Together, the works reflect the collectors' keen eye for visual language, tracing the places where images, texts, and ideas intersect across movements from Modern and Conceptual art to contemporary photography and abstraction.
The collection of nearly 100 works was gifted to the museum by Thomas P. Merchant following the death of Glen W. Johnson in 2022. Glen, remembered for his intellect, humor, and unwavering advocacy, believed that purposeful giving would be his legacy. He and Tom shared the conviction that personal art collections should be gifted for the enjoyment of others.
“The Grand Rapids Art Museum gratefully acknowledges Glen and Tom for their vision and incredible generosity in sharing this artwork with our community,” said Jennifer Wcisel, the Dean and Helga Toriello Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at GRAM. “Their generosity strengthens GRAM’s collection, expands educational opportunities, and ensures that future generations encounter art that inspires curiosity, dialogue, and belonging.”
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