Friends of Art
In 1916, John L. Porter asked ninety-nine friends to donate $10 a year for the next five years to purchase art for Pittsburgh Public Schools from AAP's Annual Exhibition. This collection, known colloquially as the Gift of Art, spans 100 years of art by artists from the Pittsburgh region. The collection remains in the custody and care of Pittsburgh Public Schools and most recently was on view at the Heinz History Center in celebration of its 100th anniversary. It is currently the largest and oldest collection of art owned by Public schools in America. Learn more about the collection and its connection to AAP below.
The Gift of Art: 100 Years of Art from the Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Collection, Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA, November 2016 - June 2017
Gift of Art, Volume I (Exhibition Catalog, PDF)
Gift of Art, Volume II (Exhibition Catalog, PDF)