Acquisitions

This is a presentation of some of the works added to the Moderna Museet collection through purchases and donations in recent years.

The exhibition The Museum of Our Wishes came about in winter 1963-64 on the initiative of the Friends of Moderna Museet.

Pontus Hultén (1924-2006) was the director of Moderna Museet from 1960 to 1973.

The film series The Pleasure Dome. American Experimental Film in 1939-1979 took place at Moderna Museet in spring 1980.

From the start in 1953, the Friends of Moderna Museet has donated more than 250 works to the collection, including Robert Rauschenberg’s Monogram, which has become an emblem of the entire Museum.

Moderna Museet has a close tie with the American art scene. The American Friends of Moderna Museet helps the Museum aquire American modern and contemporary art.

Rolf de Maré (1888-1964), the creator and artistic director of the Ballets Suèdois, was introduced to the French art scene by his close friend, the artist Nils Dardel.

In 2006, Moderna Museet announced its vision of The Second Museum of Our Wishes, in a debate article written by its then director, Lars Nittve.

The Helmer Bäckström Photography Collection was purchased by the Swedish government in 1965 with funding from the Kungafonden foundation.

Gustaf VI Adolf (1882-1973), King of Sweden from 1950 to 1973, had a particular interest in archaeology and history. He was an avid collector of Chinese art, drawings and prints.

The New York Collection for Stockholm was Pontus Hultén’s last major contribution to Moderna Museet – and his parting gift.

The Helmut Gernsheim Duplicate Collection consists of more than 600 vintage prints from the second half of the 19th century.

Moderna Museet should stand out as a natural centre for Swedish and Nordic art. In 2011, the Museum’s director and co-director, Daniel Birnbaum and Ann-Sofi Noring, launched the Nordic Collection.

Gerard Bonnier (1917-1987), director of the Albert Bonnier publishing house in 1953-1978, bequeathed works from his collection to Moderna Museet in 1989.

No publicly financed museum in the world can afford to buy key works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois or Sigmar Polke, and that of course includes Moderna Museet.