The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, announced an upcoming exhibition titled “An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection,” on view from June 13, 2025, through February 21, 2027. The show features approximately 150 works from the Tavitian Collection, a major private collection of European art assembled by the late collector and philanthropist Aso O. Tavitian. Spanning c. 1450–1850, the exhibition includes paintings, sculpture, drawings, and decorative arts by artists such as Jan van Eyck, Jean-Antoine Houdon, and Elizabeth Louise Vigée-Lebrun. The collection, comprising 331 objects, was donated to the Clark and will eventually be housed in a new wing designed by Selldorf Architects, set to open in 2028.
This gift significantly strengthens the Clark’s holdings in early modern European art, more than doubling its sculpture collection. The exhibition and the planned Tavitian Wing represent a transformative moment for the institution, enhancing its ability to present European art at the highest level. The show also introduces a new curatorial role focused on the collection, underscoring the Clark’s long-term commitment to stewardship and scholarship. This development matters as it marks one of the most significant private collections of European art formed in North America in the 21st century entering a public museum, expanding access to rare and exceptional works.