We’re open today from 11 AM—7 PM
Free Public Opening: An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss
March 20, 2025 at 11:00 am
Free
Join us on Free Third Thursday, March 20 for the free public opening of our newest exhibition, An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss.
Focused Narratives Tour: Highlights of the Exhibition
5PM: A general tour guiding visitors through An Artful Life, focusing on key themes and highlights of the exhibition.
Limited capacity. No RSVPs required. Meet in Browar Lobby.
About the exhibition
An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss provides a public glimpse into the private collection of Iris and Matthew Strauss, who are recognized for their exuberant and expansive holdings of contemporary art. Featuring works by many of today’s most notable artists, the Strausses have repeatedly appeared on ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list.
A passionate art advocate and generous philanthropist, Matthew C. Strauss (1933-2024) built a world-class collection of contemporary art along with his wife, Iris Strauss. The two began their collecting journey alongside the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD), where Matthew served as a Trustee since 1991 and President from 2013-2016.
This exhibition of 22 distinguished works from the Strauss Family Trust highlights developments in painting from the 1970s to the current decade. Artists include Jennifer Bartlett, Cecily Brown, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Beatriz Milhazes, Takashi Murakami, Robert Rauschenberg, Julian Schnabel, and Mickalene Thomas, among others.
Funders
An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss is made possible through the generosity of the following supporters:
Presenting Sponsor: Joan* and Irwin Jacobs
Benefactor Sponsors: Barbara Arledge, Catriona Jamieson and Sheldon Morris
Exhibition underwriting is provided by Karen and Don Cohn, and Colette and Ivor Royston, with additional contributions by Mary and James Berglund, Nancy and Matthew Browar, and Sheryl and Harvey White.
Operations and programs at MCASD are made possible by the contributions of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, MCASD Giving Circles and Members, and the City of San Diego through the Commission for Arts and Culture.
*Deceased
Related Exhibitions
Top: Sigmar Polke, "Overcompensated," 1998. Collection of Strauss Family Trust. © The Estate of Sigmar Polke, Cologne / ARS, New York, 2025