In 2022, the D.Daskalopoulos Collection gifted a remarkable body of more than one hundred artworks to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA).
The collection was founded in 1994 by the Greek entrepreneur Dimitris Daskalopoulos, whose far-reaching philanthropic activities reflect his belief that experiencing art can expand the collective imagination and address issues fundamental to contemporary life. It features works by some of the most influential figures of the postwar period, with a special emphasis on pieces created in the 1990s and early 2000s. The D.Daskalopoulos Collection Gift represents a selection of key works from these extensive holdings. Encompassing 61 artists and artist groups working in a wide range of media, the gift focuses on themes critical to Daskalopoulos’s founding collection, particularly the tension between wonder and struggle that characterizes the human condition.
This joint donation initiates an innovative collaboration between the Guggenheim and the MCA, facilitating the exchange of curatorial ideas and technical knowledge. The gifted works will be shown alongside the existing permanent collections of both museums, significantly expanding the narratives of contemporary art that can unfold for audiences in New York and Chicago. The D.Daskalopoulos Collection also donated 110 artworks to Tate, United Kingdom, and 140 artworks to The National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST), Greece.