The late Toronto collectors Morton and Carol Rapp have donated over 450 artworks by 203 artists to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) from their estates. The gift includes major Pop art works: 13 screen prints by Andy Warhol, including four Marilyn Monroe portraits (1967); works by Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg (including the sculptural print 'Teabag' from 1966), David Hockney, and Roy Lichtenstein; plus Barnett Newman's 1964 lithograph 'CANTO XVIII', marking the Abstract Expressionist's debut in the collection. The donation also features photography by Yinka Shonibare and Kara Walker. The couple, who began supporting the AGO in 1966, had previously donated 474 works, bringing their total contribution to nearly 1,000 pieces.
This gift significantly bolsters the AGO's Prints and Drawings Collection, enabling the museum to tell the full story of printmaking's renaissance from the late 1960s through the early 21st century. It arrives amid major renovations adding 40,000 square feet of gallery space, funded by a $35 million gift from Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss. The donation underscores the enduring role of private collectors in shaping major institutional collections and highlights Toronto's cultural philanthropy, with the Rapps' son-in-law Jay Smith continuing their legacy as an AGO trustee.