A gift of art valued at more than $1.2 million has been received by Iowa State in the form of sculptures and drawings by American artist Manuel Neri.

Neri has been internationally recognized for this sculptural work in marble, plaster and bronze, according to a press release by University Museums, and his art “depicts the human figure and references both classical sculpture and contemporary forms.”

The gift of art is in support of the $1.1 billion fundraising campaign launched by President Steven Leath in October dubbed Forever True, For Iowa State.

The art received by Iowa State from Neri includes his works of art spanning between 1958 to the mid-1990s. 

“This substantial gift of art by the Manuel Neri Trust will further educational studies, engagement and exploration of Neri’s role in advancing the human figurative tradition in art,” Lynette Pohlman, director and chief curator, University Museums, said in the news release. 

According to the release, Neri’s sculpture, drawings and artists’ books were featured in a 2005 exhibition at the Brunnier Art Museum. 

“Along with the Iowa State public art collection, Neri’s work has been acquired for many important collections and prestigious museums, including the Anderson Collection at Stanford University; Art Institute of Chicago; Denver Art Museum; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Portland Art Museum, Oregon; Seattle Art Museum, and Yale University Art Gallery, among others,” the release said. 

Neri has also received a multitude of awards including the International Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture.

An exhibition Neri’s work, along with other loaned objects and figurative sculpture by Neri, according to the release, is planned for the Christian Petersen Art Museum beginning January 2018, preceded by a partner exhibition opening this June at the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum, Clarinda, Iowa.