The Eiteljorg Museum has received a $3.74 million estate gift from longtime supporter Ellen M. Reed, who died in 2024 at age 93. The bequest establishes the Ellen Reed Acquisition Fund, with $1.7 million allocated for near-term art purchases and $2 million placed in an endowment. The museum's first major acquisition using the fund is Kent Monkman's 2017 painting "The Three Graces," and a blown-glass artwork by Dale Chihuly will be purchased later this month. Future acquisitions will support the museum's collections of Native/First Nations art and art of the American West, with some works incorporated into a planned 2029 gallery redesign.
This gift matters because it provides the Eiteljorg Museum with a dedicated, sustainable source of funding for acquisitions, ensuring the institution can continue to expand and diversify its collection. The inclusion of works by Indigenous contemporary artists like Kent Monkman and the stipulation to acquire a piece by Dale Chihuly—who has deep ties to Native artists—reflects a strategic commitment to presenting both Native American and Western art through contemporary perspectives. The endowed structure guarantees long-term financial stability for future purchases, strengthening the museum's ability to tell more inclusive stories.