The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC, acquired 314 works in 2025, bringing its collection to over 13,000 pieces. The acquisitions, announced in conjunction with the museum's 50th anniversary, include major works by Lorna Simpson, Sarah Sze, Mickalene Thomas, and Adam Pendleton, as well as photographs by Graciela Iturbide, Danny Lyon, Ezra Stoller, and Joel-Peter Witkin. The museum also received 176 works by Adam Pendleton as part of a multiyear gift from collectors Doug and Toni Gordon.
These acquisitions matter because they reflect a deliberate strategy to deepen the Hirshhorn's holdings in photography, mixed media, and contemporary American visual culture, areas the museum has prioritized in recent years. The 50th-anniversary momentum allowed these priorities to converge, significantly expanding the collection and establishing a dedicated archive for Adam Pendleton's works on paper. The additions position the Hirshhorn as a more comprehensive repository of modern and contemporary art, particularly in underrepresented media and by artists defining American visual culture.