Annandale-on-Hudson, NY—The Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College (CCS Bard) is pleased to announce the gift of almost 200 contemporary artworks from New York art collectors Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg. The gift includes mostly works from the past fifteen years, close to the time Martin Eisenberg has been involved with the center as a board member and avid supporter of the graduate program, its students, and exhibitions. The Eisenbergs have supported the annual graduate exhibitions held each spring for the past eight years. In 2010, their collection was exhibited in the Hessel Museum of Art in At Home/Not At Home, curated by Matthew Higgs. Many of the artists shown in the Hessel Museum exhibition are represented in the new gift valued at approximately $2 million.
Encompassing painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, video and sound works, the Eisenberg gift provides a diverse group of artists and media with works by almost 90 artists including Ricci Albenda, Trisha Baga, Uta Barth, John Bock, Matthew Brannon, Patty Chang, Phil Collins, Anne Collier, Martin Creed, Aaron Curry, Moyra Davey, Verne Dawson, Marlene Dumas, Roe Etheridge, Karl Haendel, Rachel Harrison, Richard Hawkins, Karen Kilimnik, Michael Krebber, Friedrich Kunath, Jim Lambie, Sharon Lockhart, Charles Long, Manfred Pernice, Paul Pfeiffer, Gedi Sibony, Spencer Sweeney, Henry Taylor, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Sue Williams, among many others.
Tom Eccles, Executive Director of the Center for Curatorial Studies and the Hessel Museum states: “The Eisenbergs have been an integral and important part of the life of CCS Bard for many years. Their passion for art is equally matched by their commitment to education and supporting future generations of both artists and curators. This remarkable gift provides the greatest resource of all for young curators, that of being able to work directly with primary artworks. Having seen first-hand almost every student-curated exhibition of the past fifteen years, Marty has carefully selected the works in this gift with our graduate students in mind.”
Martin Eisenberg states: “ Rebecca and I have been strongly committed to the school of curatorial studies at Bard for over 15 years. This gift is a way of showing our appreciation for all of the accomplishments achieved by both the students and our wonderful faculty. Our students are changing the landscape of contemporary art throughout the world. We hope that our gift can inspire other supporters to become involved with this adventurous program in the years to come.” About Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg
Martin Eisenberg has been a board member of the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College since 2003. In 2006 he and his wife, Rebecca, established the Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg Graduate Exhibition Fund to support student-curated exhibitions. Rebecca and Martin Eisenberg have been collecting contemporary art for over 25 years. Their collection features major works by artists including Peter Doig, Marlene Dumas, David Hammons, Rachel Harrison, Mary Heilman, Rashid Johnson, Chris Ofili, Manfred Pernice, Cindy Sherman, and Henry Taylor.
The Eisenbergs are avid supporters of public art institutions and non-profit organizations in and around New York City. Marty is a member of the Acquisition Committee at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Committee for Drawings and Prints and the Committee for Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, and serves on the boards of White Columns and the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. Rebecca serves on the Board of Directors of My Sister’s Place, and together they are actively involved with the I Have a Dream Foundation.