48 Calder works donated to Seattle Art Museum by Microsoft's Jon Shirley

Former Microsoft president Jon Shirley has donated 48 works by Alexander Calder to the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). The collection, valued at approximately $200 million, spans Calder's entire career from mobiles to works on paper. Shirley began collecting in 1988 with his late wife Mary and current wife Kim, amassing one of the world's most significant Calder holdings. The donation includes key pieces such as Squarish (1970), Dispersed Objects with Brass Gong (1948), Fish (1942), Gamma (1947), and Bougainvillier (1947). Shirley, who served as SAM board chair from 2000 to 2008 and remains a trustee, lives 15 minutes from the museum in Medina. The works will be exhibited in November 2023 as part of a celebratory show, supported by an additional $1 million from the Shirleys. The donation also includes a $10 million endowment and an annual commitment of $250,000–500,000 for Calder research. SAM director Amada Cruz stated the museum aims to be 'the definitive home of important local collections' and that the gift allows visitors to 'see the breadth of creativity and development of an artist throughout his career.' Shirley emphasized the local focus: 'Unlike New York, our museums don't exist for tourism but for local visitors.' The collection was previously known to experts like Alexander S. C. Rower, Calder's grandson and president of the Calder Foundation. Shirley has appeared on ARTnews' Top 200 Collectors list 22 times.