Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Nonconformist Art from the Soviet Union

The Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection of Nonconformist Art from the Soviet Union, donated to the Zimmerli in 1991, underwent an extensive reinstallation in spring 2012. Museum staff took the opportunity to rotate works on display, as well as compose more in-depth translations from Russian to English of some of the key artists' texts and interpretations to create a more comprehensive cultural context for visitors. The refurbishment continues the Zimmerli's commitment to preserving the artworks in its trust, one of the cornerstones of the museum's strategic plan, and presenting these groundbreaking artworks that document a key period in the twentieth century. 

In his May 2012 Wall Street Journal article, Tom L. Freudenheim stated, "The prospect of seeing more parts of the Dodge Collection, as the Zimmerli periodically reinstalls the two floors of these generous galleries, ought to excite anyone interesting in appreciating the meaningful ways in which history and art can clash. If we really want to come to terms with a fuller range of modernisms, a trip to the Rutgers campus is now required." 

Research and scholarship, graduate fellowships, collection care and conservation, exhibitions, publications, and educational programs associated with the Dodge Collection are supported by the Zimmerli's Avenir Foundation Endowment Fund, Rutgers University, and the University's Dodge Lawrence Fund. A special capital grant from Rutgers University supported the refurbishment of the upper level of the Dodge Wing.