COURTESY THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
The Museum of Modern Art announced today that philanthropist David Geffen has presented the museum with a $100 million gift for the purpose of its upcoming renovation and expansion. It comes just four months after hedge-fund honcho Kenneth C. Griffin gave $40 million to the museum.
MoMA will honor this gift by christening three floors of new galleries, which are being built as part of the museum’s expansion into a nearby tower at 53 West 53rd Street, the David Geffen Wing. On top of that, a group of galleries on the fourth floor will be renamed the David Geffen Galleries this spring.
Providing 50,000 square feet of additional gallery space, MoMA’s Diller Scofidio + Renfro-designed building project will “allow the museum to reconceive the presentation of its collection and exhibitions, and will provide greater visitor accessibility through the enhancement of the museum’s public areas,” according to a press release.
In a statement, Geffen said,
“My passion for art began while visiting the Museum of Modern Art as a young man. Art has been an important part of my life ever since, so I am delighted to lend my support to this exciting effort to celebrate the museum’s history and contribute to its future.”
Geffen, a noted collector of postwar art, has loaned many paintings to MoMA for various exhibitions over the last 25 years. Last year, Geffen donated $100 million to Lincoln Center, and recently gave $25 million to the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A.