Institute History
Description
Collector and philanthropologist Agnes “Aggie” Gund sounded a rallying cry that reverberated throughout the art world when she sold a beloved painting from her collection to fund criminal-justice reform. Roy Lichtenstein’s Masterpiece sold for an impressive 165 million dollars, and Aggie’s nonprofit initiative—the Art for Justice Fund—was born, bridging “blue chip” art and serving the common good. Aggie offers access to the world of a woman who has perpetually defied what’s expected of her.
Emmy-nominated director Catherine Gund captures honest conversations between Aggie and renowned artists, curatorial peers, and her grandchildren to craft an intimate portrait of her mother. The humble and endearingly reluctant subject opens up about her upbringing and the breadth of her impressive career (including her tenure as the president of the Museum of Modern Art). Aggie’s appetite for disrupting the status quo dilates to a broader discussion about the intersection of art and social action. Catherine Gund’s film is a compelling look at an activist who recognizes the power of art to open minds and the urgency of investing in social change.
Closed captioning and audio description are available for this film.