The Portland Art Museum shares with deep sadness the passing of Andrée Stevens, a longtime Trustee and generous supporter of the Museum.
Mrs. Stevens devoted her time and charitable giving to sharing her passion for art. She was a Museum member for more than 30 years and a Trustee since 2002, serving on both the Asian Art Council and Contemporary Art Council. She also served on the Museum’s Collections Committee overseeing acquisitions, and she donated or funded the acquisition of artworks including exquisite Chinese paintings and ceramics. Her great loves were Asian and French art, but her interests and curiosity ranged broadly. She gave generously to help the community share those passions, with significant support for exhibitions over a quarter-century ranging from Imperial Tombs of China (1996) and Rembrandt and The Golden Age of Dutch Art (2007) to Italian Style: Fashion Since 1945 (2015), Poetic Imagination in Japanese Art (2018), and Paris 1900: City of Entertainment (2019).
Andrée Stevens was also a champion of preserving and expanding the Museum’s role in the community for future generations. Her dedicated endowment gift made in honor of Donald Jenkins provides ongoing support for a visiting scholar in Asian Art, increasing scholarship and appreciation of the Museum’s excellent Asian Art collection. She provided leading support to efforts to broaden the Museum’s service to our community, including campaigns to expand the Museum’s Hoffman Wing and renovate the Mark Building to create the Jubitz Center for Modern and Contemporary Art. The Museum named the Andrée H. Stevens Room in the main building to recognize her great contributions, a fitting honor for a space that often hosts gatherings with our community partners. She generously supported the Museum’s Connections Campaign to build the Rothko Pavilion, grow our endowment, and transform accessibility at the Museum.
“I am saddened by the passing of Trustee and Patron Andrée Stevens, a person who believed deeply in the power of art and our Museum to bring joy to people’s lives,” said Brian Ferriso, Director and Chief Curator of the Portland Art Museum. “As one of the most generous Patrons in my career, Andrée was passionate about giving back to her beloved community of Portland, Oregon, often supporting major exhibitions and educational programs that impacted hundreds of thousands of Oregonians annually. Personally, I am forever grateful for Andree’s leadership in helping make the Museum more relevant and collaborative as well as her support of my team and me over the years. Andrée will be missed greatly by many, but her influence will be felt for generations.”
