NEW WINDSOR, N.Y.- Storm King Art Center and the Whitney Museum of American Art announced the acquisition of Cubi XXI, a 1964 sculpture by preeminent American artist David Smith (1906–1965). A key work from the artist’s celebrated Cubi series (1961–1965), the large-scale, burnished stainless-steel sculpture is a gift to the two institutions from the Lipman Family Foundation.

The late Howard Lipman, a trustee of both Storm King and the Whitney, and his wife, the late Jean Lipman (editor of Art in America from 1940 to 1970, and a Whitney staff member in the 1970s), were together great supporters of the arts. Their son, Peter Lipman, and daughter-in-law, Beverly Lipman, continue in that role.

Adam D. Weinberg, Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney, stated, “The gift of David Smith’s Cubi XXI from Beverly and Peter Lipman means so much to us. The Lipman family has been among the Whitney’s greatest benefactors over the years, and this gift represents a continuation of the family’s extraordinary generosity. From 1966 on, Peter’s parents, Howard and Jean Lipman, donated magnificently to the Museum, giving us more than 100 sculptures and helping to create one of the strongest collections of postwar American sculpture in the world. It is thrilling to receive this masterwork as a testimony of support for our new downtown building, where we look forward to showing it. We are delighted to partner with our good friends at Storm King. cannot sufficiently thank Peter and Beverly and the Lipman Foundation for honoring us so greatly.”

John P. Stern, President of Storm King, noted, “Storm King is deeply grateful to Beverly and Peter Lipman and the Lipman Foundation for this exceptionally generous gift. We are delighted to share this extraordinary work with the Whitney, enabling ever greater numbers of people to experience it. David Smith’s work has been an integral part of Storm King’s collection for more than four decades. In 1967, when Storm King cofounder Ralph E. Ogden saw Smith’s work sited outdoors at the artist’s home and studio, in Bolton Landing, New York, he was inspired to recast the young Art Center (originally envisioned as a museum devoted to the Hudson River School) as a place to present sculpture in the pastoral landscape. The subsequent acquisition of thirteen Smith sculptures transformed Storm King’s collection, which, for more than a decade, has been enhanced by the Lipmans’ thoughtful loan of Cubi XXI.”

Peter Lipman added, “My parents were personal friends of David Smith, and considered him, along with Alexander Calder, to be the greatest American sculptors of the 20th century. Our family feels strongly that Cubi XXI should be on view in public spaces, and no more appropriate places exist than the Whitney Museum and Storm King Art Center. We are delighted that these two wonderful institutions have been willing to accept shared stewardship for the future.”