SOUTHAMPTON, NY—The Parrish Art Museum of Southampton is receiving a gift of 50 photographs by 50 artists for its permanent collection, reports the New York Times. The works come from the personal collection of Charles Cowles, the Chelsea dealer and a Hamptons resident, who allowed the museum's staff to choose the images they wanted.

The new additions to the Parrish include Tina Barney’s Dresser (2003), Massimo Vitali’s Rosignano 98 Sea 3 Piccola (1998), Vera Lutter’s Pepsi-Cola, Long Island City, August 2000, and Rudy Burckhardt’s Times Square Dusk and View of the Empire State Building (both from around 1948).

Cowles has amassed his substantial collection of photographs over four decades. “I own about 1,000,” he said. “About 500 are museum quality, the rest my own eccentricities.” The institutional giving seems to mark a trend; last year Cowles presented the Miami Art Museum a similar gift of 101 photographs by 101 different artists of their own choice.

As for the Parrish, director Terrie Sultan said, “It gives us a huge boost.” The museum's current collection of 74 photographs will be increased by two-thirds by the acquisition.