Artist Carol Cole Levin has made a generous donation of over 270 artworks by more than 140 artists, including herself, to the Weatherspoon Art Museum at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Greensboro. The donation, valued at nearly $5 million, will not only enrich the museum’s collection but also fund renovations to create the Cole Levin Center for Art and Human Understanding on the first floor.

Named in honor of her late husband, Seymour Levin, who passed away in August, the cultural center will focus on the humanistic themes that are central to Cole’s own art practice and collecting interests. Originally from Mississippi and a resident of Greensboro since the 1980s, Cole’s work has long explored contemporary feminist issues and struggles.

From her early Bubble Blower series to more recent mixed media pieces like “Target with Nipples (after Jasper Johns)” and “Extraverted Nipple with Curls (for Ruby Lerner) and Breast Books,” Cole’s five-decade career has often centered around the motif of a single breast as both a figurative subject and abstract object, inspired by feminist mentors she has collected.

Many of the works in Cole’s collection are by artists who have influenced and supported her over the years. From Lynda Benglis to Nancy Grossman and Judy Chicago, these artists have played a significant role in shaping Cole’s artistic journey. The donation will allow the Weatherspoon Art Museum to showcase a wider range of artists and scholars, as well as expand its programming to respond more dynamically to campus and community interests.

Some of the highlights of the donated pieces include early works by Willie Cole, David Huffman, Pepón Osorio, Joyce J. Scott, Saya Woolfalk, and Gil Yefman, as well as literary and historical objects related to Southern culture by artists like Walter Anderson, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Eudora Welty, and Tennessee Williams. Students at UNC Greensboro will curate an exhibition next spring featuring the works from Cole’s gift in celebration of the new arts wing set to open in 2026.

“The works in my collection speak to human vulnerability, which is something we all share,” Cole explained. “By recognizing and understanding our vulnerabilities, we can become stronger and more empathetic towards others.” The donation from Carol Cole Levin will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the Weatherspoon Art Museum and the artistic community at UNC Greensboro.

(Original article source: Hyperallergic)