The Portland Art Museum (PAM) will open "Global Icons, Local Spotlight: Contemporary Art from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer" in September 2025, featuring over 75 works from the collections of Oregon collector Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation. The exhibition includes pieces by major 20th-century artists like Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler, and Robert Rauschenberg, as well as contemporary figures such as Nick Cave, Mickalene Thomas, and Jeffrey Gibson, many shown publicly for the first time. Highlights include Christopher Myers' installation "Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me," debuting at PAM after its 2022 Art Basel Miami premiere.
The exhibition matters because it brings world-class contemporary art to a regional audience in Portland, Oregon, without requiring travel to major art hubs like New York. It underscores Schnitzer's role as an ARTnews Top 200 collector and his foundation's mission to share art widely, while also amplifying underrepresented artists—including women, Native American, and Black artists—aligning with PAM's commitment to diversity and community engagement. The collaboration strengthens PAM's position as a vital cultural resource for the Pacific Northwest.