Main lessons
- Tate Modern adds a monumental Joan Mitchell painting to its collection thanks to a historic private donation.
- The 1973 work, previously exhibited in a house in Miami, spans six meters wide.
- Director Maria Balshaw compares its significance to Rothko's 1969 donation.
- The Pérez family's contribution highlights the importance of increased public engagement with post-war art.
- The new exhibition space will highlight the work's impact on Abstract Expressionism.
The Tate Modern has just reached a decisive turning point in the expansion of its national collection. For the first time in over half a century, the London museum is receiving a work of such magnitude: Iva (1973), a monumental six-meter-wide triptych by Joan Mitchell, an exceptional gift from Jorge M. Pérez and his wife Darlene. Long hung above their bed in Miami, the painting now leaves the private sphere to enter the public space, embodying a powerful gesture of cultural democratization.
An emblematic acquisition
For Tate director Maria Balshaw, Iva is a "defining addition" to the collection. She readily draws parallels with Mark Rothko's famous 1969 donation. The painting will now occupy a dedicated space in the museum, where its vibrant energy promises to transform the visitor experience. With this gesture, the Pérez family reinforces its commitment to artistic accessibility, particularly for works from Latin America and Abstract Expressionism.
The Rise of a Long-Neglected Artist
Once largely overlooked, Joan Mitchell is now recognized as a major figure of the postwar era. Her ability to translate emotions into powerful pictorial gestures is at its peak in Iva , named after her beloved dog. This personal touch, combined with a brilliant mastery of color and movement, creates a work that is both intimate and universal. Mitchell, through her cross-cultural influences between Europe and America, weaves cultural dialogues that the Tate Modern now intends to bring to light.
From Miami to London: the journey of a work
Transferring the painting was no small feat. Transporting such a massive canvas across the Atlantic required months of planning, including logistical coordination, conservation, and spatial planning. But the challenge was worth it: by installing Iva alongside Rothko's frescoes, the curators have created a striking artistic conversation, somewhere between lyrical abstraction and raw emotion.
Philanthropy with a focus on the future
Beyond the material gift, the Pérez family also funded an endowment to support curatorial research around Mitchell. The goal: to foster more inclusive narratives and give a central place to artists long excluded from official history. Through workshops, educational programs, and retrospective exhibitions, Iva serves as a catalyst for dialogue, learning, and intergenerational transmission.
A model for 21st-century museums
This contribution illustrates a profound shift: museums are no longer mere curators of the past, but living platforms where art interacts with contemporary issues. For Balshaw, each acquisition is an opportunity to rewrite art history. By exhibiting Iva , the Tate Modern affirms its desire to break down the walls—physical, social, symbolic—that limit access to beauty and thought.
The Pérez family's gesture demonstrates that a masterpiece never truly belongs to a single person. It spans places, eras, and lives. It inspires. It questions. It connects. With Iva , Joan Mitchell finally finds her rightful place, not just on the walls of a museum, but in the collective hearts of those who will see, feel, and dream before her brushstrokes.
FAQ
What is Iva ?
Iva is a monumental triptych painting by Joan Mitchell, created in 1973. It measures nearly six meters wide and embodies Abstract Expressionism through a vivid and colorful gesture.
Why is this work important?
This is the largest single-work contribution to the Tate Modern since 1969. It marks a turning point in the representation of post-war art and underlines Joan Mitchell's growing importance in the history of modern art.
Who donated Iva to the Tate Modern?
Miami-based collector and philanthropist couple Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Pérez donated the work. It was previously part of their private collection.
What does this donation represent for the museum?
It symbolizes a strong commitment to cultural accessibility and the recognition of long-underestimated artists. It is also accompanied by a research fund designed to support curatorial innovation.
Where can we see Iva ?
The work is now on permanent display at the Tate Modern, in a space designed to showcase it alongside other giants of abstraction such as Mark Rothko.
Nicolas Sarazin