At the Federal Reserve Board from May 24 through August 19, 2005

This exhibit honors thirty years of collecting art by the Federal Reserve Board. The works selected represent the best work from each year of the program.

Collecting began in 1975 under Chairman Arthur F. Burns in response to a 1971 White House Memorandum that encouraged all federal agencies to find ways to assist, and be assisted by, the arts and artists. This historic initiative was drafted by Nancy Hanks, first chairperson for the new National Endowment for the Arts, for President Richard Nixon. Mindful of the enriching presence of fine art in European central banks, Burns recognized the opportunity to enhance the working environment at the Board and to introduce its many foreign visitors to American artists and artistic values.

Since its inception, the collection has grown to more than 335 pieces focusing on American art from the early nineteenth century to the present. It consists of works by eminently recognizable artists and artists deserving more attention. Represented in this anniversary exhibition are fine examples of American still life painting (James Henry Wright), the Hudson River School (William Trost Richards), the American expatriate painters (William De Leftwich Dodge), Social Realism (Minna Citron), Abstract Expressionism (Lee Krasner), Color Field Painting (Sam Gilliam), and the multiplicity of styles practiced at the end of the 20th century.

Among the thirty pictures in this exhibit is Jean Helion's Abstraction-Verte chosen for the collection in honor of Dr. Burns. It reflects his preference for northern European artists such as Miro, Kandinsky, and Klee.