Scott Mueller.
Photo: Cleveland.com

Fine art collector Scott Mueller, a CEO of America’s (supposedly) second-largest tire dealing company, has come out of the shadows as a major donor to the Cleveland Museum of Art, reports 19 Action News. (For more stories about important donations to museums, see Major Gift for Tel Aviv Museum of Art from Ingrid FlickBerlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof Museum Receives Major Donation, and Collector Peter Norton Donates 41 Blue Chip Artworks to Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University.)

Mueller’s donations, which have amassed to $23.3 million since 2009, are directed at the museum’s $320 million capital campaign for the institution’s recently completed expansion and renovation. His initial $10 million challenge gift has since almost doubled to $19 million over two years, after other donors also gave gifts and Mueller matched them.

An additional $2 million will be donated by Mueller; $1 million to help fund the acquisition of contemporary works for the museum’s collection, and $1 million to support contemporary art exhibitions and publications. News of the CEO’s unwavering support comes at the heels of an announcement that billionaire William Louis-Dreyfus will gift his millions in art to Harlem kids (see Billionaire Wililam Louis-Dreyfus Gifts $50 Million Collection to Harlem Kids).

The museum’s historic renovation was completed two years ago, including a 39,000 square-foot atrium, three new wings, a modernization of its 1916 building, a 33 percent increase in exhibition space, a brand new interactive learning center, and improved visitor amenities.

“I have supported the Cleveland Museum of Art for a number of years in recognition for its renowned collection,” Mueller said in a statement. “But these gifts are also intended to incentivize the institution in its pursuit of outstanding contemporary art acquisitions and research, as well as the presentation of work by new and emerging artists.”

Founded in 1913, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection boasts Greek and Roman artifacts, a plethora of pre–Columbian and Native North American art, and Islamic, African, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, European and Medieval artworks.