Richard Long (British, b. 1945) "3 Thumbprints"

Provenance Note: Charles E. Balbach (1934-2024) was a respected Western New York civic leader, arts patron, and dedicated collector whose leadership left a lasting mark on the region’s cultural institutions. A graduate of Harvard University, Balbach combined intellectual rigor with a deep commitment to public service and philanthropy. He served for more than two decades on the board of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery), including a term as President of the Board. During his tenure, he helped guide long-range planning initiatives and strengthen institutional stewardship at a pivotal moment in the museum’s evolution. A thoughtful and disciplined collector, Balbach believed strongly in public access to art and in the responsibility of collectors to support the institutions that sustain cultural life. His legacy reflects a lifetime of civic engagement, connoisseurship, and enduring dedication to the arts.

Richard Long (British, b. 1945)
Richard Long is a prominent English sculptor and leading figure of Land Art whose work explores the relationship between human movement and the natural landscape. Born in Bristol, he studied at the West of England College of Art and Saint Martin’s School of Art, developing a practice centered on walking and the use of natural materials such as stone, mud, and water to create lines and circles, exemplified by A Line Made by Walking (1967). A Turner Prize recipient in 1989, Long has achieved international recognition, and his work is held in major museum collections worldwide.