Contemporary Art
The Contemporary Art collection, housed in the galleries created out of the estate’s original garage and stables, is small but of high quality, including paintings by Larry Rivers, Andy Warhol, Robert Ryman, and Red Grooms. Additionally, 7 small galleries were created in the old horse stable stalls to enable the Museum to display installation art (rarely exhibited in the Southeast). Recent acquisitions include a Holzer bench and an illusionist installation by Irish artist Cathy Prendergast.
The Woodland Sculpture Trail extends the contemporary art collection into nature, focusing on a kind of intimate, outdoor art not commonly found in American museums. 15 sculptures - by regional, national, and international artists - were acquired or commissioned for the trail. Some are extremely unusual, site-specific pieces such as a gateway of water, cloud, and fire by Eric Orr; a Native American environment by regional artist Yone Simor; and an underground “sky piece” by James Turrell. Other artists represented include Ulrich Ruckreim (Germany), Sophie Ryder (England), Ian Hamilton Finlay (Scotland), George Rickey, Doug Hollis, John Scott and two local artists along with an incredible glass bridge by Siah Armajani.


Larry Rivers (American, b. 1923)
THE DUTCH MASTERS I, 1963
oil on canvas
Purchased with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts
and matching donations from private individuals. 1974.5.2
Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987)
PORTRAIT OF JAMIE WYETH WITH TAN
BACKGROUND, 1976
acrylic and silkscreen