The Portland Art Museum shares with sadness the passing of Nani Warren. Nani was a Life Trustee in honor of her extraordinary contributions and recognized for her distinguished service. She and her late husband Bob Warren were Museum members for nearly half a century.
“Nani was a dear friend to this Museum, this community, and me. Her unwavering commitment and energetic personality have impacted and brought great joy to countless. She will be greatly missed,” said Brian Ferriso, Director.
As a Trustee of the Museum, Nani’s support and insights have no doubt made the Museum a better place. Nani served on many Board committees including Governance, Executive, and Collections, where she helped build and shape the collection in many important ways. Recently she donated a Claude Monet pastel from 1866 and supported the purchase of Felipe Diriksen’s Portrait of Infanta Maria Ana de Austria from 1630.
Nani and her family have a tremendous history of support, including a generous gift to the current Connection Campaign that will be recognized in the Swigert-Warren Community Commons, the lower floor of the Rothko Pavilion that will be free and open to the public. Nani was energized by connecting the Museum campus and creating a more accessible and welcoming environment for all Oregonians.
Nani cultivated a love of the arts in her family. Nani’s son Bob continues to serve as Trustee of the Museum, daughter Catherine is an artist, daughter Betsy started the Bliss House Museum here in Portland, and her grandchildren have also continued to stay involved at the Museum. The Warren family were also supporters of major exhibitions, including Paris to Portland: Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masters in Portland Collections (2003); Gods and Heroes: Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris (2015); and Native Fashion Now (2016), among many others. She was a contributor to the North Building campaign and has made the exterior lighting of the Main Building possible. Her generous philanthropic support of exhibitions, programs collections, and campus projects has been central to our transformation over the last quarter of a century.
Watch a 2016 tribute to Nani Warren and her legacy in the Museum community.
