A gift of more than 100 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs by some of the 20th century's most important artists is headed to the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Scheduled to open in April 2010, a new gallery building will house much of the Patton collection of seminal artists including Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn, Jackie Ferrara, Helen Frankenthaler, Adolph Gottlieb, Hans Hofmann, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Motherwell, Sean Scully, Frank Stella and Donald Sultan.

The gift is being made by Jim and Mary Patton. Both having grown up in Durham, they traveled widely and began collecting art in the 1960s. Their love of art brought them together with Charles Millard III who became curator of the UNC Ackland Art Museum in 1986. Though Millard has since retired, the Patton’s long ties to UNC and the Ackland played a part in their decision to make the endowment; and the new NCMA gallery fits their timeline well.

Anthony Williams