Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 5pm EST

Women of NYC: The Making of MoMA

Before New York became the center of the modern art world, three visionary women helped redefine what American museums could be. This lectures explores the lives and legacies of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, three of the patrons, collectors, and cultural pioneers whose vision transformed the city's artistic landscape.

As modern art struggled for acceptance, Rockefeller and Bliss helped establish the Museum of Modern Art, while Whitney founded the Whitney Museum to champion living American artists. Through their collecting, philanthropy, and leadership, these formidable women challenged convention and built rigorous institutions that continue to shape the global art world.