A major new fund launched at Frieze New York has enabled US museums to acquire works for their collections at the fair. The Sherman Family Foundation Acquisition Fund will provide $50,000 annually to help support artists and galleries exhibiting in the Focus section of the fair, which is dedicated to solo stands from galleries established fewer than 12 years ago. The Baltimore-based Sherman Family Foundation was founded by the philanthropic collecting couple George and Betsy Sherman.
In the fund’s first year, acquisitions will enter the collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. The Brooklyn Museum acquired two works by the late US conceptual artist Bettina (Bettina Grossman)—Traffic Patterns, from the series Phenomenological New York, and another, untitled work, also from Phenomenological New York (1970-80s)—from the Manhattan-based gallery Ulrik.
The Baltimore Museum of Art acquired three works through the fund: Both Banks I (2026) by the Japanese artist Reika Takebayashi from London-based Public Gallery; PILLAN SIKILL 1 (2024) by the Chilean artist Seba Calfuqueo from W-Galería in Buenos Aires; and Festival 7 (2025) by Joanne Burke from London’s Soft Opening. Each artist will receive an unrestricted $5,000 award as part of the fund.
Antonia Marsh, the director of Soft Opening, says that this is “Joanne’s first museum acquisition; for an emerging artist, it’s a major moment”. Nicole Estilo Kaiser, the director of Public Gallery, says that “we’re excited by the many opportunities and wonderful placements that have emerged from this presentation”.
