Syracuse University Art Museum Acquires Major Contemporary Art Collection from Nancy Delman Portnoy

The Syracuse University Art Museum has obtained a substantial donation of contemporary artworks from collector Nancy Delman Portnoy. This acquisition includes over 25 pieces created by 16 different artists, significantly enhancing the museum's collection. Delman Portnoy, a New York-based collector, gallerist, and educator, has assembled works that engage with political and social themes across various media. She has served on the boards of several prominent institutions, including the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School. The donation was arranged by Syracuse University graduate Liz Tenenbaum, class of 1998. This gift substantially expands the museum's holdings in photography and other lens-based media while also strengthening its representation in painting and contemporary artistic perspectives. Notable artists featured in the donation include Rashid Johnson, John Waters, Shimon Attie, David Goldblatt, and Abel Barroso. Among the works is Johnson's 2009 photograph titled 'Green Belt,' which depicts the artist's father wearing a recently earned taekwondo belt while seated before a bookshelf containing a CB radio. This acquisition represents a meaningful enhancement to the museum's contemporary art collection and its ability to present works addressing significant social and political issues.