SAN FRANCISO, CA – Christie’s is pleased to announce Witness to this Game: Selections from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, a non-selling exhibition of modern and contemporary graphics by African American artists. Running from January 20 to March 25 at Christie’s new San Francisco gallery at 49 Geary, the exhibition will comprise more than sixty works by Mildred Howard, Mark Bradford, Derrick Adams, Alison Saar, Kehinde Wiley, Romare Bearden and Robert Colescott amongst others.  

The exhibition is a testament to Jordan D. Schnitzer’s lifelong collecting journey, guided by the civic spirit he learned from his parents. He collects prints specifically with intention of sharing them with the public, inviting professional curators to organize exhibits at qualified museums in diverse communities. The numerous exhibitions organized from his collection have traveled to over 160 institutions.

Jordan D. Schnitzer says, “For over 28 years, Christie’s, the premier international auction house, has worked with me to help create the largest print exhibition program in the country, including works from the most important artist of the last 50 years. Thank you, Christie’s! Throughout history, artists have chronicled the issues facing society, and those included in this exhibition are no exception. Witness to This Game is intense, thoughtful and enlightening. It will certainly make you think!”

Ellanor Notides, Christie’s West Coast Chairman, commented: “We couldn’t be more excited to be working closely with Jordan as part of our inaugural series in our new San Francisco space. The superb collection is a testament to Jordan’s great eye as a collector. We look forward to working with the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation to bring this exhibition to the Bay Area.”

Richard Lloyd, International Head, Prints and Multiples, remarked: “I’d like to thank Jordan Schnitzer for the enormous privilege of being granted the freedom to curate this show from the nineteen thousand works owned by his family foundation. In theory the possibilities were endless, but in reality the power and eloquence of these images meant it was almost impossible to choose anything else. Whilst the artists represented are both rising and established stars in the field of modern and contemporary painting, how widely known are their achievements in the field of graphics? I hope this show will help shine a spotlight on this frequently overlooked field of creativity.”

Rhea Fontaine, Guest Scholar and Partner and Gallery Director at Paulson Fontaine Press, expressed: “Voices across the globe have been calling on art institutions for more Black representation in leadership, theorization, exhibition and collection, and we are witnessing a strong response. The Obama Portraits on tour from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Black American Portraits on view at LACMA, and Kehinde Wiley: Portrait of a Young Gentleman on view at The Huntington Library are all a part of this moment.  Witness to this Game, an exhibition of portraiture in print, selected from the collection of the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation is right in step.”

The exhibition has been made possible by the generosity of Jordan Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, whose goal is to make the world of modern and contemporary prints available to the widest possible audience. Witness to this Game: Selections from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation showcases this dedication to accessibility, diversity, and engagement. The show will run concurrently with the Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Exhibition at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University, featuring works by local artists who were the recipients of the Foundation’s Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program.

About the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation

At age 14, Jordan D. Schnitzer bought his first work of art from his moth’s Portland, Oregon contemporary art gallery, evolving into a lifelong avocation as collector. He began collecting contemporary prints and multiples in earnest in 1988. Today, the collection exceeds 19,000 works and includes many of today’s most important contemporary artists. It has grown to be one of the country’s largest private print collections. He generously lends work from his collection to qualified institutions. The Foundation has organized over 110 exhibitions and has had art exhibited at over 160 museums. Mr. Schnitzer is also President of Schnitzer Properties, a privately owned real estate investment company based in Portland, Oregon, owning and managing office, multi-tenant industrial, multi-family and retail properties in six western states. For more information about the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, please visit http://www.jordanschnitzer.org