![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Sargent-Countess-of-Essex-photo-251x300.jpg\")
John Singer Sargent, \u201cThe Countess of Essex,\u201d 1906-07, oil on canvas.<\/p>\nAUSTIN, Texas \u2014 The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin announces the upcoming exhibition, \u201cShaping the Future: Transformative Gifts to the Blanton Collection,\u201d opening in March 2027. This landmark presentation will feature significant works of art donated by alumni, Austinites and other collectors from across the country, celebrating their generosity and the enduring impact of their investment in the museum\u2019s future.<\/p>\n
These transformative gifts strengthen the Blanton\u2019s collection and advance its role as a vital cultural and educational resource for the University and community, reflecting the vision and commitment of the museum\u2019s passionate supporters. Following the renovation of the museum grounds, record-setting visitation and new levels of national recognition, the exhibition reflects the next moment of pivotal growth for the Blanton.<\/p>\n
\u201cShaping the Future\u201d will debut at the Blanton Gala on Saturday, March 6, 2027. The fundraising event will honor the donors whose visionary gifts have made this milestone possible and raise essential funds to support new exhibitions, programs and collection care. The exhibition will subsequently open to the public on Sunday, March 14, 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat universities, like The University of Texas at Austin, and great cities, like Austin, deserve great art collections,\u201d said\u00a0Blanton Director Simone Wicha. \u201cMy vision for\u00a0\u2018Shaping the Future\u2019\u00a0was to celebrate the impact of transformative artworks \u2014 investments that continue to elevate the Blanton as a cultural leader and affirm its place as a world-class museum for our community. We are deeply grateful to the donors who have entrusted the museum by gifting these artworks that they love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the Blanton\u2019s founding, its collection has grown through the continued generosity of individuals, including many longtime supporters. Today, the museum\u2019s holdings span centuries and geographies, with depth in modern and contemporary American and Latin American art, Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, and prints and drawings. The Blanton is committed to making its collection accessible through regular rotations in its galleries and by providing online resources that support research and scholarship. \u201cShaping the Future\u201d builds on this legacy by inviting singular gifts from individual collectors that strategically address gaps in the collection or expand existing strengths. These works will spark new research, support teaching, broaden perspectives for visitors and inspire future programming.<\/p>\n
John Singer Sargent, \u201cThe Countess of Essex,\u201d 1906-07, oil on canvas.<\/p>\n
From early 20th-century modernism to groundbreaking contemporary practices, the works in \u201cShaping the Future\u201d reflect the breadth of the Blanton\u2019s evolving collection. Donors who have already contributed to this exhibition include UT distinguished alumni and Latin American art collectors Judy and Charles Tate; UT distinguished alumnus and former Ford Foundation President Darren Walker; artist and Ellsworth Kelly Foundation President Jack Shear; and UT alumna and Houston philanthropist Kathryn Ketelsen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chose to support \u2018Shaping the Future\u2019 by including John Singer Sargent\u2019s \u2018The Countess of Essex\u2019 as a planned gift in my estate,\u201d said donor Kathryn Ketelsen. \u201cIt is a cherished work of art that will meaningfully expand the museum\u2019s collection of early 20th-century American artists. I am pleased to be an early contributor, as I believe this is the best way to strengthen the Blanton\u2019s collection. I hope others will join me in helping to shape the museum\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Presented in the Butler Gallery, the museum\u2019s principal space for large-scale exhibitions, \u201cShaping the Future\u201d will include historical and contemporary works across media. The exhibition will also extend into the Paper Vault galleries, with a special focus on works on paper \u2014 a strength of the Blanton\u2019s collection, used extensively in teaching and research. Selections there will range from European old masters and Japanese prints to modern and contemporary drawings and photographs.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery artwork in \u2018Shaping the Future\u2019 tells two stories: the artist\u2019s and the collector\u2019s,\u201d said Blanton Chief Curator Carter Foster. Together, these stunning works will expand the collection in new ways and honor the shared commitment that defines the Blanton\u2019s growth and legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Foster and Wicha have worked closely to spearhead the project and engage collectors. Foster has also worked with the Blanton\u2019s curatorial team to\u00a0identify collection areas to strengthen and to develop\u00a0a cohesive exhibition that tells the stories behind\u00a0both\u00a0the collectors and the artworks.<\/p>\n