Agnes Gund, the influential American arts philanthropist and collector, has died at age 87. Gund was a transformative figure at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, serving on its board from 1976, as president from 1991 to 2002, and later as president emerita. She helped raise funds for MoMA's $858m expansion, donated around 100 works to the museum, and pushed for acquisitions of women and artists of color. Beyond MoMA, she founded Studio in a School in 1977 to bring art education to New York City public schools and co-chaired a Sotheby's auction to support Miss Porter's School. Her death was first reported by The New York Times; she is survived by four children.
Gund's death marks the loss of one of the art world's most consequential philanthropists and advocates for social change through art. Her five-decade relationship with MoMA helped shape the institution's commitment to accessibility, diversity, and contemporary art, while Studio in a School has reached thousands of children. Her legacy underscores the power of private philanthropy to drive institutional transformation and arts education, and her model of using art for criminal justice reform and educational equity continues to inspire. Her passing closes a chapter for a generation of museum leadership defined by visionary donors.