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printJul 31, 2007
Firm's first-ever international exhibit of modern and contemporary art
Press Release
New York, July 31, 2007 – JPMorgan announces a collaborative partnership with the Suna and Inan Kiraç Foundation's Pera Museum in Istanbul, Turkey to present master artworks from the firm's JPMorgan Chase Art Collection as a special exhibition. The exhibition, entitled: Collected Visions, will feature 70 modern and contemporary works by leading artists of the 20th century in three floors of the Pera galleries.
Begun nearly 50 years ago by David Rockefeller when he was head of Chase Manhattan Bank, the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection is one of the oldest and most extensive corporate collections in the world. The exhibition at the Pera Museum - on view October 26, 2007 through to January 6, 2008 - marks the first time the firm has displayed many museum-quality pieces in its modern and contemporary collection for an international audience. It marks the start of a tour in which Collected Visions will travel to other international cities where JPMorgan has a presence.
"Collected Visions will be a unique opportunity to view many of the distinguished artworks from the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection," said Murad Megalli, Senior Country Officer for JPMorgan in Turkey. "We are delighted that this rare, modern and contemporary art exhibition will travel to Turkey, where JPMorgan has done business for more than 100 years. As a leading financial institution, we are committed to enriching the communities and culture of the areas where we operate around the world."
Commenting on the upcoming art show, Özalp Birol, General Manager of the Suna and Inan Kiraç Foundation Culture and Arts Enterprises said, "The Collected Visions exhibition at the Pera Museum helps demonstrate the value of a corporate art collection and acts as an incentive in guiding Turkish private sector corporations and institutions towards collecting. We are proud to be working with JPMorgan and honoring their cultural leadership on this project."
The Collected Visions exhibit will feature painting, sculpture, photography and works on paper from 41 Americans and 18 international artists. The selected works date back to 1959, when the firm's corporate art program was started, and includes recent acquisitions representing today's art.
The exhibition will feature works by leading artists, including Josef Albers, Milton Avery, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Romare Bearden , Jean Dubuffet, Dan Flavin, Roy Lichtenstein and Cindy Sherman. Several pieces are included because of their association with American pop culture, including Andy Warhol's silkscreened images of Marilyn Monroe. Contemporary abstract oils by Turkish painter Canan Tolon will also be exhibited.
"We are thrilled to be able to share many of the leading works in the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, normally viewed by a limited audience, with a broader set of clients, employees and communities," said Lisa K. Erf, Director, JPMorgan Chase Art Collection.
The JPMorgan Chase Art Collection reflects the firm's historic roots and a legacy of philanthropy going back to two of its founders, David Rockefeller and J. Pierpont Morgan. The collection represents the holdings of more than a dozen heritage firms. The roots of the collection and philosophy of art in the workplace began with the building of the One Chase Manhattan Plaza building in New York's lower Manhattan financial district. The firm embraced a modern building design that incorporated contemporary art in the workplace. Since that time, JPMorgan Chase has included arts and culture in its philanthropic programs and integrated art in its corporate locations around the globe including offices in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Singapore, Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo. It is now recognized as a leader in the field of corporate collections and credited with a model that has been emulated across the world.
Educational programs for children, university students and adults will be organized for community participation, and a fully illustrated catalogue will be published on the occasion of the exhibition.
Images from the JPMorgan Collected Visions exhibition are available upon request.