Peter Brant Receives the 21st Annual American Art Award from the Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum’s American Art Award is given each year for sustained commitment to the artistic and cultural heritage of the arts in America. The Award is an original artwork commissioned from an American artist in the Museum’s permanent collection and presented to the honorees at the gala dinner.

This year’s American Art Award dinner will include a preview of artwork donated by leading contemporary artists to the Whitney’s Art Party (an annual event that will be held this year on June 6^th).  Guests will be able to purchase the artwork on view.  Proceeds from sales will benefit the Museum’s Independent Study Program and other Whitney educational initiatives.  Donating artists include James Casebere, Pae White, Sarah Sze, Jason Middlebrook, R.H. Quaytman, Ellen Harvey, Beth Campbell, Jacqueline Humphries, and David Altmejd.

Honorees: Peter M. Brant, The Henry Luce Foundation (award to be accepted by Dr. Michael Gilligan), and Ogilvy & Mather (award to be accepted by John Seifert, Chairman and CEO).

This year’s honorees have made a significant impact on the Whitney’s permanent collection. They include Peter M. Brant, The Henry Luce Foundation and Ogilvy & Mather. The award is created by artist Nicole Eisenman, who is prominently featured in the 2012 Whitney Biennial, currently on view through May.

Peter M. Brant, a supporter of the Whitney Museum since 1973, has donated works by Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, and Joseph Kosuth to the Whitney’s permanent collection, and has significantly aided the museum in acquiring seminal objects by Dan Flavin and Frank Stella. Mr. Brant has also recently pledged to donate a major early installation by the artist Karen Kilimnik.

The Henry Luce Foundation has provided generous support for the study, care, conservation and exhibition of the Whitney’s extraordinary permanent collection over many years.  This commitment will continue as they will be supporting the re-hanging of the Museum’s permanent collection when the Whitney opens their new building in the Meatpacking District in 2015.

Ogilvy & Mather has been a longtime corporate member and supporter of the Whitney.  In 2011, they provided support in preparation for the museum’s groundbreaking by helping to produce a video, which showcased pieces from the permanent collection.