The Hammer celebrates The Grunwald Center at 70 with works on paper from Rembrandt, Cézanne, Klimt and more

The Hammer Museum at UCLA begins celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the UCLA Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts this month, featuring works by such legendary and iconic artists as Rembrandt, Vassily Kandinsky, Ansel Adams, Corita Kent, Ed Ruscha, and Vija Celmins.

Beginning Dec. 20, part 1 of the exhibition will showcase nearly 100 important works on paper, highlights of the substantial collection that began in 1956 with a gift to UCLA from Fred Grunwald. The German émigré began collecting prints in the 1920s and rebuilt his collection after fleeing Nazi Germany. The catalog of works, which came under the stewardship of the Hammer Museum in 1994, has since grown to more than 45,000 prints, drawings, photographs and artists' books.

"It is a pleasure to honor the 70th anniversary of the Grunwald Center with two exhibitions that will span nearly a year," said Zoë Ryan, director of the Hammer Museum. "Fred Grunwald donated his collection to UCLA in 1956 with the hope that it would enrich the university experience. Seventy years later, the center has delivered on that promise through its extraordinary collection, dedicated gallery, and study center."

Part 1 runs through May 17, and showcases foundational gifts from Grunwald and his family, followed by sections tracing the center's growth through major acquisitions, exhibitions and programs. On display will be European prints, 19th-century European and Japanese works, American and Mexican prints and photographs from the early 20th century, and drawings made after 1960. A concluding section of the initial exhibition highlights Los Angeles's influential printmaking community, including works produced at Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Cirrus Editions, Mixografia, Gemini G.E.L. and other local presses.

The celebration continues with part 2, beginning June 7 - October 25, 2026, expanding on notable collection areas with works by Marco Dente, Jusepe de Ribera, Paul Cézanne, Edvard Munch, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Imogen Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler, Kiki Smith, Julie Mehretu and more.

Naoko Takahatake, director and chief curator of the Grunwald Center, noted, "The center is a cornerstone of the Hammer Museum and a vital resource for UCLA. Generations of curators, donors, scholars, and artists have expanded Fred Grunwald's founding vision to embrace diverse artistic traditions and support critical thinking and cross-disciplinary engagement."

"Five Centuries of Works on Paper: The Grunwald Center at 70" is organized by Naoko Takahatake and Cynthia Burlingham, with Jennie Waldow and Kelin Michael.