‘Celebrating the Karshan Gift to The Courtauld’

Attendees will hear about the legacy of lifetime collector Howard Karshan told by artist Linda Karshan in conversation with staff from the Courtauld, as well as through archival footage created by the collector’s two sons.

Attendees will first gather in the Drawings Gallery to study a suite of prints by Wayne Thiebaud. They will then go to the Study Room to admire a selection of drawings from the Karshan Gift where Linda Karshan will be in dialogue, explaining how the Karshan Gift was made. Finally, a short documentary shown in the Learning Centre will explore Howard Karshan’s passion for collecting drawings, and the context in which he was able to acquire some of the finest works by modern and post-war masters available on the market. The evening will close with a drinks reception.

This event is to coincide with the launch of the Griffin Catalyst exhibition ‘Wayne Thiebaud. American Still Live’, on view at The Courtauld between 10 October 2025 and 18 January 2026, which features one of the drawings gifted by the Karshans to the Courtauld. For the first time, a Karshan drawing is used as a trigger for a major show, which sets the stage for future exhibitions of that kind. It is highly recommended to see the show prior to attending this event.

More details are available from the following link:
https://thesocietyforthehistoryofcollecting.wildapricot.org/event-6318198