The Patton Collection: A Gift to North Carolina
This exhibition features an exceptional gift to the NCMA from the private collection of Jim and Mary Patton. Amassed over a lifetime, the collection includes seminal works by masters of mid- to late-20th-century art: Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn, Jackie Ferrara, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Hans Hofmann, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Motherwell, David Park, Sean Scully, Frank Stella, Wayne Thiebaud, and many others. This transformative gift significantly expands the scope of the Museum鈥檚 permanent collection, both augmenting works by artists currently in the collection and adding works by artists previously not represented, enabling the Museum to present a comprehensive picture of the significant movements in modern and contemporary art.
The Pattons have had long-standing ties to North Carolina. Jim Patton was born and raised in Durham and graduated with honors from UNC鈥揅hapel Hill; Mary Patton (1929鈥�2014) grew up in Durham and attended the Woman鈥檚 College (now UNC鈥揋reensboro). The Pattons鈥� passion for art started with Mary Patton鈥檚 lifelong interest in painting as an accomplished artist in her own right. Their enthusiasm for collecting was founded in a great passion for working with artists and a deep commitment to stewardship.
When asked why they would want to give their collection away, Mary Patton said, 鈥淢y generation and the generations before it felt that it was our duty. If you loved and lived with works of art, then you want to share them with others.鈥� In Jim Patton鈥檚 words, 鈥淚 am thankful we were able to collect this art and give it back to the world.鈥�
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This exhibition features an exceptional gift to the NCMA from the private collection of Jim and Mary Patton. Amassed over a lifetime, the collection includes seminal works by masters of mid- to late-20th-century art: Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn, Jackie Ferrara, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Hans Hofmann, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Motherwell, David Park, Sean Scully, Frank Stella, Wayne Thiebaud, and many others. This transformative gift significantly expands the scope of the Museum鈥檚 permanent collection, both augmenting works by artists currently in the collection and adding works by artists previously not represented, enabling the Museum to present a comprehensive picture of the significant movements in modern and contemporary art.
The Pattons have had long-standing ties to North Carolina. Jim Patton was born and raised in Durham and graduated with honors from UNC鈥揅hapel Hill; Mary Patton (1929鈥�2014) grew up in Durham and attended the Woman鈥檚 College (now UNC鈥揋reensboro). The Pattons鈥� passion for art started with Mary Patton鈥檚 lifelong interest in painting as an accomplished artist in her own right. Their enthusiasm for collecting was founded in a great passion for working with artists and a deep commitment to stewardship.
When asked why they would want to give their collection away, Mary Patton said, 鈥淢y generation and the generations before it felt that it was our duty. If you loved and lived with works of art, then you want to share them with others.鈥� In Jim Patton鈥檚 words, 鈥淚 am thankful we were able to collect this art and give it back to the world.鈥�
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