Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 5pm EST

This lecture traces Peggy Guggenheim’s journey as collector, gallerist, and twentieth-century icon. Synonymous with one of the most extensive and exemplary private collections of European and American modernist art, she left an indelible mark on the history of twentieth-century art through her support and collection of key artists in pre- and post-war avant-garde movements. Beginning with her origins in New York City and following her on her travels to Paris to London and back again, we will her practices as not only a collector but also as a key support for emerging artists through her short-lived Guggenheim Jeune gallery in London and her innovative space called Art of This Century in New York. Finally, we will study her jewel-like white fortress and garden perched on the Grand Canal in Venice.

This talk will feature such masters as Jackson Pollock, Alexander Calder, Piet Mondrian, Rene Magritte, Max Ernst, Giorgio de Chirico. and more while revisiting the wonderful life and times of this energetic, fierce, and fun-loving art world tour-de-force! Ms. Guggenheim’s distinctive personality, dogged determination, and personal wealth positioned her to create a collection whose legacy remains an invaluable touchstone for modern art and collecting.