The National Gallery of Art Washington acquired Historical and Contemporary Works

The acquisitions, spanning rare examples of devotional art, historical paintings, contemporary print multiples, and a noteworthy photography collection, showcase major artistic movements and innovative uses of materials across centuries.

Notable among the additions to the collection are a suite of woodblock prints by T.C. Cannon; a 17th-century crucifix painting by María Josefa Sánchez; a major work by Wifredo Lam, completed after his return to Cuba in the early 1940s; and a painting by Christina Quarles, one of the only finished works in her Altadena studio to survive the 2025 Eaton Fire in Southern California. Many of the acquisitions introduce important artists to the nation’s collection for the first time, including Marie Bracquemond, LaToya Hobbs, Stacey Kranitz, and Lorraine O’Grady. Others deepen the National Gallery’s existing collection, such as the first painting by social realist artist Ben Shahn and a major bronze sculpture by Fritz Scholder that reveals a new facet of the celebrated artist’s practice.

“Spanning over five centuries, our latest acquisitions provide new opportunities to engage with major artistic innovations by offering new points of entry into the practices of both established and lesser-known artists. The historical breadth of these works reflects our commitment to expanding the scope of our collection by showcasing artistic excellence across time periods,” said Kaywin Feldman, director of the National Gallery of Art. “These new additions further expand key areas of our collection, reflecting the vibrancy of artistic creation across centuries and geographies.”

These historical and contemporary works represent various artistic approaches to form and medium, including hard-edge abstraction and mixed media works that blur boundaries between art forms. Reflecting a depth in the medium of painting, the acquisitions encompass works from colonial Latin American painting on copper to a contemporary diptych rendered on barkcloth, illuminating key developments in the history and evolution of a medium central to global art history.

“These newly acquired works reflect the kaleidoscopic breadth of art of the Americas and beyond. We are thrilled to introduce to our collection this series of significant works that collectively demonstrates innovative historical developments and ongoing contemporary practices,” said E. Carmen Ramos, the National Gallery’s chief curatorial and conservation officer. “This group of acquisitions expands many facets of our growing collection, particularly in the fields of modern art, contemporary painting, and colonial Latin American art.”

Main Image: Wifredo Lam, L'esprit veillant (The Watchful Spirit), 1944 oil on canvas National Gallery of Art, Patrons' Permanent Fund and Gift of Funds from Leonard A. Lauder, 2026.23.1