Art for Art’s Sake?

Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, is awaiting a court ruling on whether it can sell two pieces of artwork, Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Radiator Building – Night, New York” and Marsden Hartley’s “Painting No. 3,” The Washington Post reports.

The two pieces were donated by Ms. O’Keeffe nearly 60 years ago. Experts say the two works in question could easily go for $10-million each.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation is contesting the sale, arguing that the artist did not want the university to sell any pieces from the collection at any time. Fisk officials contend that the sale would go a long way toward bolstering the university’s endowment and would protect other works in the collection donated by Ms. O’Keeffe.

Also read The Chronicle of Higher Education’s story on Fisk University’s decision to sell the paintings.