“Driving Forces is a celebration of the Pizzuti Collection building and programming joining the Columbus Museum of Art family,” said Nannette V. Maciejunes, executive director of CMA. “It is the first exhibition to span both our locations, and with more than 100 works, it is the largest exhibition of work ever shown from the private collection of Ann and Ron Pizzuti. This stunning exhibition features work by artists that have, and will continue to, shape contemporary culture.”
As an artist-centric collection, the Pizzuti Collection is uniquely positioned to provide commentary on the role artists play in society. With work by more than 75 artists from more than 20 different countries, Driving Forces features a wide-range of work by artists who have influenced the direction of 20th-century art, such as Frank Stella and Susan Rothenberg, with others who are helping to define what art means in the 21st century, including Nick Cave, Deana Lawson, Zanele Muholi and Zhang Huan, among many others. With an array of intergenerational and international artists, the exhibition opens up a range of conversations around contemporary artistic and cultural issues.
Ann and Ron Pizzuti acquired their first work of art, Circus People by Karel Appel, in 1972. This marked the start of their journey as collectors, and the beginning of a renowned collection of global contemporary art. In 2013 the Pizzuti Collection opened its doors to share the collection with the Columbus community. Five years later, Ann and Ron Pizzuti announced the gift of the Pizzuti Collection building, as well as40works of art, to the Columbus Museum of Art. Driving Forces is the first exhibition to span across both the Columbus Museum of Art’s Broad Street location and the Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art’s Park Street location. The exhibition is organized by Guest Curator Rebecca Ibel with Tyler Cann, CMA Pizzuti Family curator of contemporary art. An illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
