For the love of art

Inspired by their lifelong passion for art, Carnegie Mellon University alumni Cindy and Tod Johnson committed $10 million to support public art on the university’s Pittsburgh campus in 2024. Half of the gift created the Tod and Cindy Johnson Endowment for Public Art, which will provide funding for CMU’s public art program as well as its Institute for Contemporary Art Pittsburgh (ICA), including acquisition of new art and support for programming and other strategic priorities. The remaining $5 million will support the ICA’s new and greatly expanded home in the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences.

In recognition of the Johnsons’ generosity, Carnegie Mellon has named the Johnson Family Public Art Curator position, held by Director of the ICA Elizabeth Chodos. In addition, a gallery in the new ICA Pittsburgh will be named in their honor.

The ICA Pittsburgh will double its exhibition space when it moves into the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences. Co-located with facilities for departments from the Mellon College of Science and School of Computer Science, the ICA Pittsburgh will be the cultural and civic anchor for the innovative, multidisciplinary building. With galleries on two levels and public programming spaces, the ICA Pittsburgh will expand its offerings and contribute to elevating the region in the national and global arts and culture conversation. Its prominent new location adjacent to the renowned Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh will spark expanded collaborations with that institution. Construction on the new building is expected to be complete in 2027.

Read more about the Johnsons, their investment in CMU and the university’s commitment to public art.