October 28, 2025

Agnes Gund (August 13, 1938 – September 18, 2025) was a distinguished art patron, a philanthropist, and an advocate, whose presence extended beyond New York into Litchfield County. In 1996, she purchased a 252-acre property in South Kent (known as Iron Mountain Farm), anchoring her connection to the region. Born in Cleveland into a family of wealth and civic engagement, she attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, and later earned a master’s in art history from Harvard. 

Her influence on the art world is profound. She served on MoMA’s International Council from 1967, joined its board in 1976, and was president of the board from 1991 to 2002. During and after her presidency, she helped guide MoMA’s $858 million expansion and its formal affiliation with PS1. She went on as president emerita and life trustee. 

Gund founded Studio in a School in 1977 in response to cuts to arts education public schools. In 2017, she sold Roy Lichtenstein’s Masterpiece to seed the Art for Justice Fund, committing $100 million to support criminal justice reform through art and advocacy. At her South Kent home, she integrated sculptures by Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra and others across the landscape. 

Agnes Gund’s life reflects the intersection of art, education, social justice, and place. Her legacy resonates in major cultural institutions across the country—and at home, here in Litchfield County.