Velvet Foundation for the Arts preserves an extensive and historically significant group of works by Chaim Gross (1904–1991), a leading figure in twentieth-century American sculpture and draftsmanship. Gross is celebrated for his expressive line, dynamic compositions, and lifelong fascination with the human body in motion—qualities that define the breadth of this collection.

The VLAF Chaim Gross Collection encompasses sculptures, watercolors, pen-and-ink drawings, preliminary studies, and compositional sketches, many of which are documented in the Foundation’s curatorial catalogue. These works span multiple decades and illustrate Gross’s evolving approach to gesture, rhythm, balance, and form. Subjects include acrobats, dancers, family groupings, mother-and-child themes, stacked figures, reclining figures, and sculptural studies that directly connect to his major carved and cast works.

Together, these pieces reveal both the immediacy of Gross’s hand and the architectural thinking underlying his sculpture. From fluid linear drawings to richly modeled three-dimensional works, the collection offers unique insight into the artist’s creative process and figurative vocabulary.

By preserving this body of work as a coherent whole, VLAF supports scholarship, future exhibitions, educational initiatives, and the continued visibility of Gross’s artistic legacy, ensuring that his contributions to American art remain accessible to researchers, institutions, and the public.