The Art Newspaper reports on three notable museum acquisitions. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) has purchased a portrait of Pierre Louis Alexandre (around 1879-80) by Swedish artist Alma Holsteinson. Alexandre, born in French Guyana, is recognized as one of the most depicted Black models in pre-20th century art. The painting was sold at Bukowskis in Stockholm for 760,000 kronor ($82,200) in December 2024. Separately, the Jena Kunstsammlung in Germany acquired a double-sided print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner depicting archaeologist Botho Graef and his partner Hugo Biallowons, using funds from the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation. The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin acquired RPM (revolutions per minute) (2018), an audio work by Jennie C. Jones, for its Butler Sound Gallery.
These acquisitions matter because they reflect museums' efforts to diversify their collections and address historical gaps. The AGO's purchase of Holsteinson's portrait directly supports its goal of representing a more expansive European history and the African diaspora. The Kirchner print, originally part of Graef's collection that was confiscated by the Nazis as 'degenerate art,' highlights ongoing restitution and historical recovery. The Blanton's acquisition of Jones's sound work underscores the growing institutional recognition of audio art and the importance of dedicated spaces for experimental media.