Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

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.