Contemporary Artists
Contemporary Artists
The museum's collection has always included current works by living artists. Duncan Phillips formed close bonds through letters and studio visits with a wide range of artists—among them, for example, Pierre Bonnard, who helped assign dates to many of his paintings at The Phillips Collection.
As a patron and collector, Duncan Phillips provided crucial aid and encouragement to many artists who are well represented in the collection. Shortly before he died, Arthur Dove, who was largely supported by Phillips's purchases, wrote to him, "After fighting for an idea all your life I realize that your backing has saved it for me and I want to thank you with all my heart and soul for what you have done."
The Phillips continues to engage with and acquire works by contemporary artists through selective purchases and gifts, including some from the artists themselves. In recent years, the museum has added works by such figures as Elizabeth Murray, Susan Rothenberg, Sean Scully, Howard Hodgkin, and David Bates, among others.
William Christenberry, Southern Monument, XI, 1983. © William Christenberry
Susan Rothenberg, Three Masks, 2006. © 2008 Susan Rothenberg / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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