Recent Gifts to the Permanent Collection: Part I

This exhibition features work that was gifted to the museum throughout 2023 from both first-time and continuing donors. Pieces range in styles and subject matters, from Abstract Expressionism to digital photography to the iconic Provincetown woodblock print.

One of the rooms in this exhibition focuses on female artists. Some, such as the work of Alicia Henry, Mira Schor, and Sky Power, may look familiar, as they were exhibited in solo shows at PAAM throughout 2023. First-time acquisitions by PAAM include the work of Libbie Mark, an Abstract Expressionist artist who studied with Hans Hofmann in Provincetown, and Jess Dugan, a contemporary photographer who explores issues of gender and identity through portraiture. Also featured in this gallery is a collection of jewelry by mid-century female metalsmiths Phyllis Sklar and Estelle Byrne Livingston, along with pieces produced by Atelier Janiye, a Boston jewelry workshop founded by Miye Matsukata, Naomi Katz Harris, and Janice Whipple Williams. PAAM is proud of the opportunities to acquire and exhibit both historic and contemporary female artists who have made such significant impacts on Provincetown art history.

THE PERMANENT COLLECTION

The permanent collection is an important measure of any museum’s value. At PAAM, the holdings of local and regional art is extensive and dynamic, comprising more than 4,000 works by over 900 artists who have worked in Provincetown and on Cape Cod. The PAAM collection weaves together at least three major art movements—each a significant strand of American art history—and creates perspectives that uniquely position the Provincetown Art Colony as a pertinent fixture to the larger art world.

Each year, PAAM presents at least two exhibitions showcasing some of the recent gifts donated to our permanent collection. As an actively collecting museum, PAAM receives on average nearly 100 new works each year, and these exhibitions allow us to proudly display a selection of those works, some of which represent our first works by an artist in our permanent collection. We extend our deepest gratitude to our new and continuing donors.

Another measure of a museum is how well it uses its collection. The PAAM collection serves as a foundation for many of our educational programs and exhibitions. Programs for both youth and adults in our Lillian Orlowsky and William Freed Museum School use collection works to stimulate creativity. The Museum School courses take advantage of gallery exhibitions to clarify principles and techniques. Additionally, major museums and galleries borrow exemplary works for exhibitions around the country.