David C. Driskell: Collector
David C. Driskell: Collector
August 29, 2025 – March 1, 2026
David C. Driskell: Collector celebrates the David C. and Thelma G. Driskell Collection at the Portland Museum of Art. This exhibition presents selections from this iconic collection alongside Driskell’s own works, offering audiences an intimate view of his artistic vision and impact. By exploring the ways Driskell engaged with art as a creator, mentor, educator, and collector, the show highlights his enduring influence on museums, art history, and the cultural landscape of Maine.
COLLECTION
David C. Driskell (1931–2020) was not only a distinguished artist and scholar but also a friend and mentor to others. Together with his wife, Thelma G. Driskell, he developed a personal collection over decades—through strong relationships with artists, scholars, and fellow collectors. His collection reflects a broad lineage, spanning from 19th-century landscape painter Edward Mitchell Bannister to late-20th-century icons such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, and Alma Thomas.
As several works from the Driskell Collection have now entered the PMA’s permanent collection, David C. Driskell: Collector marks a transformational moment in the museum’s history. The exhibition will explore themes of collecting, art stewardship, and the personal networks that shaped Driskell’s acquisitions. His own works will be presented in dialogue with the artworks he collected, emphasizing how his artistic and curatorial practices were deeply intertwined.
Building on themes from previous exhibitions at the PMA including David Driskell: Icons of Nature and History (2021) and Evolution: Five Decades of Printmaking by David C. Driskell (2009), this presentation will champion the work of leading artists from the 19th and 20th centuries that honor Driskell’s vision, influence, and legacy. As a leading force in the Maine arts community, Driskell’s contributions to the museum and the field at large continue to guide and inspire. With the addition of these remarkable works, his legacy will remain a cornerstone of the PMA’s collection, furthering the museum’s commitment to expanding artistic narratives.
Shalini Le Gall is Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine. At the PMA, Le Gall initiated the reinstallation of the American art galleries in Passages in American Art (2023—ongoing) and co-organized the exhibition Elizabeth Colomba: Mythologies (2023). She is currently planning the exhibition Painting Energy: The Alex Katz Foundation Collection at the Portland Museum of Art (2025). In her previous role at the Colby College Museum of Art, she co-curated Inside Out: The Prints of Mary Cassatt (2020) and River Works: Whistler and the Industrial Thames (2019).
Foundation Support:
The Lunder Foundation—The Peter and Paula Lunder Family
