Acquisitions

Nancy Holt’s archives head to Smithsonian, opening the door for more land art works

From astronomical observations to personal photographs, the 50,000-piece collection includes documentation of unrealised works that the artist's foundation hopes to one day complete

National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC announces gift of exceptional photographs dating from the 19th to 21st centuries

Stephen G. Stein’s donation includes notable examples of images by Gustave Le Gray, William Eggleston, Brassaï, Robert Frank, Sally Mann and others

Original 1978 rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker acquired by San Francisco’s GLBT Historical Society

The banner, thought lost for more than 40 years, was recently authenticated by a vexillographer who had worked with the artist

Anti-racism posters, Nike trainers and Kim Kardashian's selfies go on show in Victoria and Albert Museum's new gallery of contemporary design

London institution unveils refurbished Design 1900-Now space for its Rapid Response collection of objects that reveal "truths about how we live"

A Degas bought by the Van Gogh Museum sparks off an ethical debate: are female nudes OK?

The controversial pastel stars in a show of new acquisitions in Amsterdam

a blog by Martin Bailey

After disputed sale at Sotheby’s, Thomas Cole’s The Arch of Nero will go on view at Philadelphia Museum of Art

Institution says the work is being lent by the foundation that swooped in to rescue it when it was deaccessioned by the Newark Museum of Art

Adding to a robust trove, High Museum in Atlanta fields a gift of works by self-taught artists

Local couple donates 47 paintings, drawings and sculptures by Southerners and African Americans

Mass Moca breathes new life into Taryn Simon's mourning sculptures

The Pipes were originally made for performances dealing with death and mourning but will now serve less specific purposes

Getty acquires a striking painting by Artemisia Gentileschi of the Roman heroine Lucretia

The museum, which did not disclose the price, says the work reflects a shift to a more idealised style

Rose Art Museum, once on the brink of closure, celebrates 60th anniversary with gift of 86 works

After a proposed shutdown and sell-off in 2009, Brandeis University has repaired trust with donors, its director says

Dr Fauci’s 3-D printed coronavirus model given to Smithsonian

The educational aide will be part of a forthcoming exhibition at the National Museum of American History

A gift of blue-chip Modern art comes to the Seattle Art Museum

The Friday Foundation, run by the heirs of collectors Jane Lang Davis and Richard E. Lang, has donated 19 works by artists including Bacon, Rothko, Krasner, Pollock, Frankenthaler, Kline and de Kooning

Aga Khan Museum acquires massive Lego sculpture of an ancient African metropolis

The conceptual work by the Ghanian-Canadian artist Ekow Nimako addresses the cultural impact of Kumbi Saleh, the centre of the trans-Saharan trade route

Pérez Art Museum Miami renames endowment fund for Black art to reflect the wider diaspora

The announcement coincides with acquisitions of works by Gordon Parks, Kwame Brathwaite and Tunji Adeniyi-Jones

Acquisitions round-up: flag and sledge from British polar expedition saved from leaving UK

Our pick of the latest gifts and purchases to enter international museum collections

Photo collector and ophthalmologist William Tsiaras gives 500 works to Colby College Museum of Art in Maine

The Greek-American started acquiring photography for museums through his personal friendships with artists such as Lucas Samaras, Aaron Siskind and Harry Callahan

When everything turned upside down: Georg Baselitz donates six pathbreaking paintings to the Met

Portraits date from 1969, a pivotal point for an artist departing from conventional motifs

Arte Povera sculptor Giuseppe Penone donates more than 200 works on paper to Castello di Rivoli

Archival materials relate to significant sculptures and installations around Piedmontese region in Italy

Trove of Surrealist publications and paintings donated to Dutch museum

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen's gift from collectors Laurens Vancrevel and Frida de Jong “opens up new horizons on surrealist activities”, says expert

'Consigned to history': Trump Baby blimp donated to Museum of London collection

Creators of inflatable effigy hope work serves as a "reminder of the fight against the politics of hate" that took place during Trump's presidency

Treats for Van Gogh fans in 2021: exhibitions, museum openings and books

We look ahead at the events to enjoy this year—assuming coronavirus doesn't scupper them

a blog by Martin Bailey

A 'milestone' moment—US National Gallery of Art acquires 40 works by Black Southern artists

Works were purchased from Souls Grown Deep Foundation in a move that could ‘alter the canon of American art'

Acquisitions round-up—Fondation Beyeler gets a frosty Fischli/Weiss snowman

Our pick of the latest gifts and purchases to enter international museum collections

Why US museums are quietly buying art—and downplaying their acquisitions—in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic

Though many institutions are suffering from serious reductions in revenue, collections expanded via restricted acquisition funds