Art News

The Speed Art Museum Announces Largest Ever Donation of Kentucky Art

artwork: Paul Sawyier - "Riverbank Scene" - Watercolor on paper mounted on board. - From the Noe Collection at the Speed Art Museum, Kentucky. On view in "Kentucky Antiques from the Noe Collection: A Gift to the Commonwealth" until February 5th 2012.


Louisville, KY.- The Speed Art Museum is pleased to announce one of the most important gifts in the history of the Museum and the largest donation of Kentucky art ever received by the Speed.  Given by Robert and Norma Noe, this extensive collection includes 119 examples of early Kentucky furniture, paintings, silhouettes, textiles, ceramics, and silver. Artworks from the Noe Collection are currently on view in the exhibition Kentucky Antique the Commonwealth. Dr. Charles L. Venable, Speed Director and CEO remarks, “The gift of the Noe Collection more than doubles the Museum’s holdings of Kentucky-made decorative arts and paintings from the nineteenth century, giving the Speed the best collection of this kind anywhere.  We now will be able to provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience and enjoy the state’s artistic heritage as never before.  We are extremely grateful to the Noes for both their generosity and vision.”