Behind every exhibit in any museum is a story of acquisition. Pieces in each collection on display may have been borrowed from an artist or institution. They may have been donated by a private donor, an artist or another organization. The exhibition could be curated, or selected and organized, from the permanent collection of the museum. It may also be a traveling exhibit that will be on display temporarily before moving on to its next temporary home.

Earlier this year, the Blanton Museum of Art formed a Texas consortium of museums to receive 500 unrestricted gifts of art. The IMAS was selected to be a part of this consortium and received over 30 contemporary works of art during a draft-pick held in Austin, Texas, last May.

IMAS President & Executive Director, Serena Pandos states, “In support of our mission to expand our permanent collections, we gladly accepted the invitation to participate in the Texas consortium of museums organized by the Blanton Museum of Art last May. The IMAS was one of seventeen museums selected to receive the gifts which originated from the Contemporary Austin. When the Contemporary Austin changed its mission toward becoming an outdoor museum, the indoor work was distributed to the Blanton Museum of Art, and then to us. When the Blanton Museum of Art contacted us last Spring to receive a portion of this work, in the spirit of strengthening Texas’ museums, we were delighted to participate. Some of these gifts, comprised of contemporary art works by regional artists, are included in the exhibit. We are all very happy to be able to share these gifts with our respective communities. It’s an outstanding opportunity to learn more about contemporary art and its role in shaping perceptions about contemporary society, from the perspective of the artist.”

A portion of these gifts and others from the IMAS permanent collection will be presented in Recent Acquisitions, on display in the Cardenas Gallery of the International Museum of Art & Science.

This exhibit is free for members and included with regular admission.