The Phillips Collection Receives Prestigious Northern Trust Purchase Prize at EXPO CHICAGO
WASHINGTON, DC—The Phillips Collection is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the Northern Trust Purchase Prize at EXPO CHICAGO 2026, one of the nation’s leading contemporary and modern art fairs. Through the award, the museum will acquire Untitled (Heads No. 36) (1991) by Paul Gardère, presented by Magenta Plains (New York), and Indo buscar Sá Rainha (Going to Fetch Sá Rainha) (2026) by Diego Mouro, presented by Mitre Galeria (Belo Horizonte, São Paulo).
Presented by Northern Trust and EXPO CHICAGO, the Purchase Prize supports the acquisition of artworks from the fair’s Focus section, highlighting emerging galleries and artistic practices, for inclusion in the permanent collections of leading US museums. This year, four institutions were selected, including The Phillips Collection.
WHERE: EXPO CHICAGO 2026, Northern Trust Exchange Stage, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
The award underscores The Phillips Collection’s continued commitment to expanding its collection with works by contemporary artists and advancing its mission as a “living museum,” where new voices and perspectives are actively integrated into the collection.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to receive a Northern Trust Purchase Prize supporting the acquisition of works by Paul Gardère and Diego Mouro from this year’s Focus section at EXPO CHICAGO,” said Elsa Smithgall, Chief Curator of The Phillips Collection. “This exciting gift furthers the Phillips’s longstanding commitment to acquiring art by pioneering voices in contemporary art. In keeping with our founder Duncan Phillips’s legacy, these acquisitions spark new connections and vitality in the collection.”
The acquisition made possible through the prize will further strengthen the museum’s holdings of contemporary art and support its ongoing efforts to present innovative, artist-driven programming. Northern Trust is also a valued supporter of The Phillips Collection, including as a sponsor of the exhibition Miró and the United States.
High-resolution press images are available upon request. Please contact lcantrell@phillipscollection.org.
IMAGE: Image by Casey Kelbaugh/CKA. Photo Courtesy EXPO CHICAGO.
ABOUT THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
The Phillips Collection, America’s first museum of modern art, was founded in 1921. The museum houses one of the world’s most celebrated Impressionist and American modern art collections and continues to grow its collection with important contemporary voices. Its distinctive building combines extensive new galleries with the former home of its founder, Duncan Phillips. The Phillips’s impact spreads nationally and internationally through its diverse and experimental special exhibitions and events, including its award-winning education programs for educators, students, and adults; renowned Phillips Music series; and dynamic art and wellness and Phillips after 5 events. The Phillips Collection’s extensive community partnerships include Phillips@THEARC, the museum’s satellite campus in Southeast DC. The Phillips Collection is a private, non-government museum, supported primarily by donations.
ABOUT NORTHERN TRUST
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 24 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 22 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. For more than 135 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit us on northerntrust.com. Follow us on Instagram @northerntrustcompany or Northern Trust on LinkedIn.
ABOUT EXPO CHICAGO
EXPO CHICAGO showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries each April at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, alongside a diverse and inventive program of talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives. Inaugurated in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community. In 2023, EXPO CHICAGO was acquired by Frieze, the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art. For more information on EXPO CHICAGO, visit expochicago.com.