Ken Griffin, Citadel hedge fund founder and prominent art collector, is donating $10 million to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), marking one of the museum’s most significant gifts to date.

The announcement came during PAMM’s 11th annual Art of the Party gala, where Griffin was honored for his contributions to the arts. The funds will support the museum’s exhibitions and programs, including the future Kenneth C. Griffin Gallery, set to be PAMM’s largest exhibition space.

According to Bloomberg, Griffin emphasized his support for PAMM’s racially diverse collection, which “brings us closer together.”

“The Pérez Art Museum Miami is a world-class arts and cultural hub that enriches our great city,” Griffin said. “I am proud to support this outstanding institution in unison with the broader Miami community.”

Griffin’s $10 million gift comes on the heels of a series of political successes for the prominent Republican donor. Although Griffin withheld direct contributions to president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign, he backed efforts to secure Republican control of Congress—at a time when Florida’s art community is grappling with extensive funding cuts imposed by Republican governor Ron DeSantis.

“I’m a Democrat, Ken’s a conservative and art is art,” real estate scion and PAMM namesake Jorge Pérez told Bloomberg, referring to the apparent disconnect between Griffin’s politics and those espoused by the museum—which has shows related to displacement, reproductive rights, and environmentalism on view right now. PAMM did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Jorge Pérez, PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans, Kenneth Griffin and Darlene Pérez during the Pérez Art Museum Miami’s Art of the Party on November 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Pérez Art Museum Miami )

Griffin, meanwhile, has a long, strong history in the art world. He has made headlines recently for snagging a copy of the U.S. constitution and a record-breaking stegosaurus skeleton. He has also donated millions to MoMA, acquired high-profile Basquiats, and even served on the Whitney’s board of trustees until 2019. In 2022, Griffin moved his business and art collection from the Windy City—where he enthusiastically supported the Art Institute of Chicago—to South Florida.

Griffin says his latest gift to PAMM aims to support the institution’s mission and bolster its collection. His gift also has the power to open up a dialogue not only about art’s reliance on high profile patronage, but also about the importance of finding common ground throughout wider American society, in the face of America’s divisive political climate. During the event, however, Pérez focused on using Griffin’s gift to encourage further donations.

“We still have a lot of empty walls,” Pérez reportedly joked during his toast to Griffin. “Those Basquiats, De Koonings, would look so beautiful.”

This year’s Art of the Party raised $1.5 million. The gala also feted artist Delcy Morelos as the winner of the 6th annual $50,000 Pérez Prize. Following the gala’s seated dinner, New York-based artist José Parlá, whose retrospective “Homecoming” opens at PAMM this week, performed a DJ set.