The AMAM has received an important bequest of more than 80 works from the estate of Christie Hawes Campbell ’52, who passed away in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 15, 2019. She and her husband, Parks ’52/’72, shared their passion for art, travel, and opera with a wide circle of friends, including many Oberlin alumni in the art world. Parks served on the AMAM’s Visiting Committee from 1993 until his death in 2011.

Donors of European Renaissance and baroque works to the amam during their lifetimes, the Campbells also collected modern and contemporary art and other works from around the world. Thanks to their generosity, the museum has received its first painting by Joseph Albers and its first work by Elaine de Kooning (above). Indian miniatures, European prints, works by Berenice Abbott and Käthe Kollwitz, and a set of six studies by Claes Oldenburg—made in 1970 when he was siting the first edition of Giant Three-Way Plug on the AMAM lawn—are among the other works received. The museum acknowledges with deep gratitude the couple’s tremendous support, over many years, in enhancing its collections and educational impact.

Author: Andria Derstine, John G.W. Cowles Director