$25 million gift from Giving Pledge signatory, low-key mega-philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss powers major modern art renovation at museum of fine arts

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, widely regarded as the city’s premier art institution, is preparing for a transformative expansion of its modern art wing, fueled by a landmark $25 million gift from the Wyss Foundation, the charitable organization founded by Swiss-born philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss.

The gift represents one of the largest single donations to the MFA in recent years and will underwrite the complete renovation of the museum’s 20th-century art galleries.

The project will add 5,665 square feet of new exhibition space across four purpose-built galleries—three focused on modern art and one on modern sculpture. The new spaces are scheduled to open next fall, featuring enhanced lighting, upgraded climate control systems, and redesigned windows that reflect current standards for art conservation and visitor experience.

Wyss, a prominent figure in global conservation and healthcare philanthropy, has increasingly focused on cultural institutions.

This contribution marks a significant moment in his ongoing efforts to support public access to art and to invigorate institutions through strategic, high-impact giving.“Transformational gifts like this don’t just improve a museum—they reshape what’s possible,” said an MFA spokesperson.

“Mr. Wyss’s support allows us to reimagine how modern art is experienced in Boston and far beyond.”The news comes as the museum also ushers in a new era of leadership. On Thursday, the MFA announced that Pierre Terjanian, currently its chief of curatorial affairs and conservation, will become director and CEO in July, following a seven-month search.

Terjanian brings a robust track record from his time at the Met and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is expected to build on the momentum of recent philanthropic investments.The Wyss-funded project aligns with Terjanian’s vision of expanding the MFA’s relevance regionally and globally, signaling a future where public engagement and curatorial innovation go hand in hand—with visionary philanthropy like Wyss’s setting the pace.

Hansjörg Wyss, a Swiss-born billionaire and Harvard-trained entrepreneur, is among the world’s most generous philanthropists, particularly in the realms of environmental conservation and science. Having built his fortune through the U.S. branch of medical device company Synthes—which he sold in 2012—Wyss has committed much of his wealth to philanthropic causes.

In 2018, he announced a pledge of USD 1 billion over a decade to help conserve 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.His Wyss Foundation, established after falling in love with the American West during a student job in Colorado, has already donated over USD 450 million, enabling the conservation of 16 million hectares worldwide.

His landmark Wyss Campaign for Nature, in partnership with the National Geographic Society, funds grassroots efforts to establish parks and reserves—such as Romania’s Carpathian forests.

A signatory of the Giving Pledge, who has given away billions of dollars, Wyss is also a major backer of scientific and cultural institutions including Harvard’s Wyss Institute, Campus Biotech in Switzerland, and the Fondation Beyeler art museum.

Despite his vast wealth, Wyss maintains a low profile and is widely admired for his quiet, disciplined, and deeply committed approach to global philanthropy.