The Intuit Art Museum in Chicago has received two major gifts totaling 61 works, significantly expanding its collection of art by self-taught artists. The first gift is a bequest of 47 works from the late collector and early museum supporter Jan Petry, featuring pieces by artists like Emery Blagdon, James Castle, and Martín Ramírez. The second gift comprises 14 works from the collection of scholar Gordon W. Bailey, focusing on African American artists such as Sam Doyle and Mose Tolliver.
These gifts are pivotal for the museum's mission and growth. They introduce new artists' stories, help fulfill a desire to increase representation of women of color in the collection, and strengthen the institution's role as a community hub. The donations arrive as the museum completes a $10 million expansion and intentionally shifts its language from "outsider art" to the more inclusive term "self-taught" art, reflecting evolving sensitivities within the field.