Donna and Howard Stone played a pivotal role in supporting emerging artists while building an exceptional art collection in Chicago. The Stones amassed a significant group of works by international artists, sharing their acquisitions with the city's cultural institutions.
Over three decades, the Stones focused on collecting Minimalist and Conceptual art, becoming pillars of the Chicago arts community. Donna, a former docent at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), and Howard were passionate supporters of local arts organizations, museums, and artists. Howard chaired the acquisitions committee at the Art Institute of Chicago, and a gallery there is named in the Stones' honor. They donated several works to the Art Institute, including compositions by Ellsworth Kelly, Félix González-Torres, and various Chicago artists. Both Donna and Howard were trustees on the board of the Art Institute; Howard was also a trustee on the board of the School of the Art Institute.
The Stones' generosity was highlighted in 2002 when they donated seventy-six photographs to the MCA, significantly expanding its contemporary photography holdings. Almost every exhibition at the MCA features works donated by the Stones, including three Francesca Woodman photographs acquired before she gained widespread acclaim.
Central to the Stones' collecting philosophy was their close friendships with artists, including Sol LeWitt, Judy Ledgerwood, Tony Tasset, Julia Fish, Richard Rezac, and Jim Hodges, whose works they acquired and who played integral roles in their lives. Yet Donna and Howard Stone were also committed advocates for lesser-known and up-and-coming Chicago artists.
The Stones' collection reflects not only their close ties with artists and curators, but a deep understanding of how art is a communal practice, both in terms of its creation and appreciation. They were likewise highly conscious of how installed works speak to one another, and as such they meticulously curated their own space with this in mind. The present offering shows both the depth and breadth of the Stones' aesthetic vision and Wright is honored to present these works at auction.
