Glenstone Becomes First U.S. Museum to Acquire Work by Hilma af Klint

As the first American institution to own a work by Hilma af Klint, Glenstone, a private museum located in Maryland, acquired a set of eight watercolors by this artist. The works of the posthumously famous Swedish artist have gained attention recently. A part of the gap in Af Klint's paintings' acquisition by American museums is due to the demanding standards set by the Hilma af Klint Foundation. Af Klint passed away in 1944. The artist stated that she did not want her paintings to hit the market separately and wished to sell them as a collection.

An eight-work set of watercolors includes a collection entitled "Tree of Knowledge"(1913-15).  An 8-frame collection featuring a tree as the main component slowly ripens. The collection has previously been featured in the David Zwirner New York exhibition. It is set to hit London next month. It was stated by one of the gallery owners that the gallery is not able to price the works.

Many art specialists and enthusiasts found Klint enigmatic. She claimed to be able to communicate with ultramundane spirits through her abstract art. Her work plays an unusual role in art history. She is also one of the few women artists in Europe to create abstract compositions while most of her colleagues were men. Af Klint's work was brought to the public's attention after decades of obscurity thanks to a 2013 retrospective at Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
As part of their long-term agreement with the Hilma af Klint Foundation, the Moderna Museet will display the works of this artist in public.

Source: ARTnews