Figge receives 20th, 21st century art collection donation

Pieces from the collection will be shown this summer in the Linda and J. Randolph Lewis Wing on the second floor, the museum announced Tuesday, after the Lewises donated 44 art pieces to the museum. In total, the art in the donation is valued over $14 million, the museum said. 

The Lewises, of Davenport, have been long-time art collectors. Their collection has pieces from artists like Romare Bearden, Milton Avery, Marsden Hartley, Helen Frankenthaler and Alice Neel.

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Randy and Linda Lewis for their visionary contribution,” Melissa Mohr, interim executive director at the Figge, said in the announcement. “The impact of this gift on our museum and community cannot be overstated.

“The Linda and J. Randolph Lewis Wing will stand as a cornerstone of the Figge’s mission to bring art and people together.” 

The museum said the artwork will fill “crucial gaps” in the Figge galleries. 

Joshua Johnson and Vanessa Sage, co-senior curators at the Figge, said in the announcement that, while the museum already has a wide array of regionalist, Spanish colonial and Haitian art, this donation will help expand on the museum’s collection of influential 20th and 21st century American artists. 

The Lewises were raised in Ontario, Canada, and have lived in Davenport for 36 years. They have long been supporters of the museum.

In a statement in the release, the Lewises said they hope the donation will encourage others to consider using their art collections to benefit the community. 

“It just seems easy to do this, and to know that people will enjoy it, and that it will be here for a long time,” they said. “When you are nearing the end of your life — and we are — you start to think about what you’re leaving behind, what of value you have to leave future generations.

“It makes us feel good to give back to the community.”