Smithsonian National Museum of African Art Receives Jack Faxon Bequest of 100 African Works and $2 Million
The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art has received a remarkable donation from the late Jack Faxon (1936–2020), a former senator from Michigan. This contribution includes over $2 million in endowment funds alongside a collection of 100 African artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries that Faxon curated throughout his life. The museum's permanent collection now features the Jack Faxon Collection of African Art, with the endowment aimed at ensuring its ongoing care and development. This gift is considered one of the most significant in the museum's history. John K. Lapiana, the museum's director, praised Faxon for his leadership in arts and education, emphasizing the importance of these fields in public life.
Key facts
- The Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art announced a bequest from former Michigan senator Jack Faxon (1936–2020)
- The donation comprises 100 19th- and 20th-century African artworks acquired by Faxon over his lifetime
- More than $2 million in endowment funds accompanies the collection
- The endowment is intended to support care and development of the museum's permanent collection
- The permanent collection now includes the Jack Faxon Collection of African Art
- The museum describes the donation as one of the most significant in its history
- Director John K. Lapiana thanked Faxon and cited his leadership in the arts and education
- Lapiana said the museum will honor Faxon's legacy by sharing his collection
Entities
Artists
- Jack Faxon
- John K. Lapiana
Institutions
- Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art
- Smithsonian Institution
- Michigan Senate
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Michigan