NEW YORK, NY.- American Friends of The National Gallery of Denmark initiated a fundraising campaign in October to raise the $30,000.- needed for the conservation of the Matisse painting Nymph and Faun, which was acquired by The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) in 2018. The painting is to be part of an exhibition at MoMA in New York from May 2022 but is too fragile to travel in its current state. The fundraising campaign expired last week and the goal was more than reached, so that the conservation process can now begin.

Fundraising is a new funding tool for SMK’s American foundation and friendship organization which has shown to be extremely beneficial. Besides raising the money needed, the campaign has worked as a different way for art lovers to engage in fine art. By donating to the campaign, the backers receive exclusive rewards related to the painting, such as following the conservation process up close while others get access to special events once the exhibition opens at MoMA and later at The National Gallery in Denmark.

The campaign has also proven to be a fantastic generator of coverage increasing awareness of the Matisse painting and AFSMK as well as the foundation’s work in the US. Among others, the art media Fine Art Connoisseur covered the initiative, The Consulate General of Denmark in New York placed it in their newsletter, and the former American Ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, posted it on social media. Also, Kickstarter placed the campaign as a favorite during the entire campaign.

Altogether, the efforts, along with AFSMK’s additional network, ensured that the goal was reached.

Nymph and Faun is to be part of the exhibition Henri Matisse: The Red Studio at MoMA, named after another large and revolutionary painting by Matisse that shows a corner of his studio in Issy-les-Moulineaux. The forthcoming exhibition will feature Matisse’s The Red Studio, 1911 (The Museum of Modern Art, New York) and for the first time in 100 years, Nymph and Faun will be reunited with all the works in The Red Studio including two important works from SMK’s collection. This is why this painting is so essential to the exhibition. The exhibition is the result of a close collaboration between MoMA and SMK. Following its presentation at MoMA, Henri Matisse: The Red Studio will be shown at the SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen from October 13, 2022, through February 26, 2023.