In Memoriam: The Kimbell Remembers Ben J. Fortson

It is with great sadness that the Kimbell Art Museum acknowledges the passing of Ben J. Fortson, Chief Investment Officer and Executive Vice President of the Kimbell Art Foundation.

Mr. Fortson served on the Kimbell’s Board since 1964 and will forever be remembered as a kind and wise leader. His impact on the Kimbell is incalculable, especially through his oversight of the museum’s investments and finances for more than half a century. He was also the driving force behind the building of the Kimbell’s Renzo Piano Pavilion, which opened to the public in 2013. A true gentleman, his devotion to the Kimbell was always accompanied by grace and a sense of humor. He leaves a powerful and enduring legacy.

Images courtesy of The Kimbell Art Museum

Eric M. Lee, Director of the Kimbell Art Museum said of Ben: “We will forever remember Ben as a kind and wise leader whose impact on the Kimbell—especially through the building of the Piano Pavilion and his oversight of the Kimbell’s investments and finances for half a century—is incalculable. He was a true gentleman, and his devotion to the Kimbell, always accompanied by grace and a sense of humor, was profound. He leaves a powerful and enduring legacy.”