The Hill School graduate Jon Shirley, former president, COO, and director of the Microsoft Corporation, and his wife, Kim, have been longtime supporters of the Seattle Art Museum, writes Chadd Scott for Forbes.
Thanks to their latest transformative gift, the museum has been transformed into an Alexander Calder destination.
“Calder is one of the most timeless artists there’s ever been, he created a whole new art form,” said Shirley.
Shirley bought his first Calder artwork in 1988. Since then, he has amassed the finest private collection of his works.
In April, he and his wife donated the Shirley Family Calder Collection to the Seattle Art Museum along with a $10 million endowment.
The collection features a group of spectacular hanging and standing mobiles from the mid-20th century.
There is a strong emphasis on works the artist created after the Second World War, which Shirley believes was his peak.
“To give away a collection like this that took many years to create is no small thing, it’s a really big thing,” said Alexander S. C. Rower, Calder Foundation founder, and Alexander Calder’s grandson.
Read more about Jon Shirley and his ties to The Hill School in Forbes.
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