ANN SCHAFFER.
Ann Schaffer is a passionate art collector, educator, curator, and arts leader whose decades-long commitment to artists and institutions has helped shape a more inclusive and engaged cultural landscape.
Based in New Jersey, she and her husband, Mel Schaffer, have spent more than fifty years building a significant collection of contemporary art guided by curiosity, empathy, and a belief in art’s power to deepen our understanding of ourselves and one another.
The Schaffers have long supported artists early in their careers, collecting work that challenges, provokes, and explores identity, social justice, and the human condition. Their collection spans a wide range of media and approaches, united by a commitment to personal narrative and meaningful dialogue.
Ann has held leadership roles across numerous major cultural institutions, including serving as a Trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, where she was Co-Chair of the Contemporary Arts Council and now serves on its Acquisitions and Program committees. She is a Trustee, Vice President, and Chair of Special Initiatives at Independent Curators International; and she is Co-Chair of the Photography Council at the Guggenheim Museum.
A dedicated trustee of the Montclair Art Museum for nearly three decades, she has been Co-Chair of the Art Committee for the past 28 years and served many fundraising initiatives. Ann is a juror and member of the African American Cultural Committee. She is an editor of Musée Magazine and was a Trustee of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.
Ann is a lifetime member and was a Trustee of Congregation Beth El, a member of the Contemporary Arts Council of the Norton Museum, and is a founder of the Rachel Coalition, which provides safe haven and other services to persons suffering domestic abuse. She is also an active trustee of Skidmore College, with service on its Advancement, Academic Affairs, and DEI Committees, and a founder of the Tang Museum at Skidmore College and Co-Chair of its National Advisory Council.
A devoted educator, she has taught collecting for over a decade and remains deeply committed to supporting artists, fostering dialogue, and strengthening the role of art in community life.
How thrilling it is to experience See It Now: Contemporary Art from the Ann and Mel Schaffer Collection, premiering at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College and now on view at the Montclair Art Museum.
With all these activities, Ann and Mel are devoted to their two sons, their wives, and their five grandchildren. Nothing beats hosting holiday meals and celebrations throughout the year for family and friends.