PHILADELPHIA, PA.- A $1 million gift from Wharton alumnus Marc J. Leder will endow a Curatorial Directorship at the Institute of Contemporary Art, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) announced today, marking a major milestone for the internationally acclaimed institution. Additionally, Penn announced that Leder has been appointed to the ICA’s Board of Overseers.

The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania is a non-collecting institution presenting exhibitions at the forefront of contemporary practice and culture. Throughout its history ICA has been instrumental in identifying and developing many promising artists before they attained prominence within the international art world, including household names like Andy Warhol, whose first museum show of works was displayed at ICA in 1965.

A Wharton ’83 alumnus, Leder is Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a global private equity firm focused on identifying companies’ untapped potential and leveraging its deep operational and financial resources to transform results. Since 1995, Sun Capital has invested in more than 360 companies worldwide across a broad range of industries and transaction structures with revenues of approximately $50 billion. “I have a great passion for the arts in my personal life, and I’m proud this donation will further the mission of this institution and help bring its work to a larger audience,” said Leder. “ICA’s legacy in fostering young artists and promoting a culture that includes masters like Warhol and Twombly is second to none. Furthermore, I am excited about taking an active role on ICA’s Board.”

Leder’s donation will endow the Marc J. Leder Director of Curatorial Affairs at ICA, a position currently held by Robert Chaney, who joined the institute in 2001. During his tenure at ICA, Chaney has managed all traveling exhibitions including Jason Rhoades, Four Roads ; Stefan Sagmeister, The Happy S how ; Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) ; Dirt On Delight: Impulses That Form Clay ; The Puppet Show ; Karen Kilimnik ; and Make Your Own Life: Artists In & Out of Cologne . As Director of Curatorial Affairs, he manages a curatorial department of ten and serves as a liaison between curatorial and other ICA departments. Chaney served as ICA’s Interim Director in 2011–12.

“ICA gives artists opportunities to reach farther into the unknown. This generous gift enables the nuts and bolts work necessary to realize exciting new commissions, groundbreaking exhibitions, and the touring of ICA projects,” said ICA Daniel W. Dietrich, II Director Amy Sadao. “Our Director of Curatorial Affairs, Robert Chaney, works to remake the museum each season, and the Leder Endowment guarantees that the most experienced and creative team will always lead ICA.”