Pappajohn, John

print view

role

Collector

dates

city

Des Moines

state

IA

other cities

Mason City, IA; Cedar Lake, IN; New York; Naples, FL;

sex

M

historical notes

John Pappajohn, the late philanthropist and entrepreneur, distinguished himself not only as a pioneering figure in venture capital and philanthropy but also as an ardent and discerning art collector. Alongside his wife, Mary, Pappajohn assembled a remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art, earning them a place on ARTnews’s prestigious Top 200 collectors list for an impressive 16 years, from 1998 to 2014. The couple's first foray into collecting began with the purchase of a painting by University of Iowa professor Keith Achepohl for $50. Soon they had amassed an extensive collection that exceeded 300 pieces which included works by artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Sol LeWitt, Scott Burton, Ugo Rondinone, Mark di Suvero, Tony Smith, Anthony Caro, Tony Cragg, Gerhard Richter, Ellsworth Kelly, Deborah Butterfield, Ross Bleckner, and Andy Warhol. Pappajohn’s dedication to supporting the arts extended beyond personal acquisition, as evidenced by the significant contributions he and Mary made to cultural institutions, including the Des Moines Art Center and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines, a 4.4-acre public space showcasing 28 sculptures, including pieces by artists such as Willem de Kooning, Jaume Plensa, Louise Bourgeois, and many others.

decades
of activity

1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
2000-2010

updated

10/31/2024 13:33:22

bibliographic
search

Search Frick Art Reference Library Catalog
Search Photoarchive
Search Worldcat

Archives/Repository	Collection Title	Collection Details
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Diana Fuller papers and gallery records, 1958-2004	see details...
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Associated American Artists records, circa 1934-1983	see details...