That approach has shaped Kloppenburg’s longtime relationship with The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center. A member of the Loeb’s Advisory Council for Photography, also referred to as the Photo Council, for close to 20 years, including serving as its chair for a decade, Kloppenberg has helped the museum develop its photography collection and related programs while also contributing numerous works of art, primarily photography, and funds to support the Loeb.

Now, in honor of his 50th Class Reunion, Kloppenburg has expanded that commitment with the endowment of the James K. Kloppenburg Curator of Photography fund.

The idea had been on Kloppenburg’s mind for several years. His work with the Photo Council had given him a close look at the Loeb’s photography collection and a deeper appreciation for the role the curator plays in shaping the museum’s collection, publications, and exhibitions.

“[Kloppenburg] has been a force,” said T. Barton Thurber, The Anne Hendricks Bass Director of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center and Lecturer in Art. “He is so much more than a supporter; he’s a strong advocate and thought partner.”

It is the same curiosity and engagement that Kloppenburg has brought to the Loeb, and that now lives on through the endowed curator position bearing his name. The newly endowed position also marks a major milestone for the Loeb: it is the first time in 30 years that a curatorial position has been endowed. The previous position, the Philip and Lynn Straus Curator of Prints and Drawings, was endowed in 1996.

A Lifelong Connection

Growing up, Kloppenburg had an interest in art, noting that his mother, Vassar alumna Barbara Hickey ’50, had “good taste in art.” But it was a first-year art history survey course at Vassar that introduced him to photography and sparked what would become a lifelong passion.

Although Kloppenburg was a biology major, art remained an important part of his Vassar experience. He studied art from a range of traditions and periods, from Japanese and Chinese art to American, modern, and contemporary art.

His connection to Vassar has continued long after graduation. Kloppenburg has remained closely involved with the College over the years, including involving classmates for his 25th Reunion and serving on the President’s Advisory Council under two Vassar presidents. He has embraced opportunities to stay connected with the College and to find new ways to contribute.

“I always had a tight bond with Vassar, and it got even tighter as I got to know so many people at Vassar and saw how it faced challenges,” Kloppenburg said. “Vassar gave me such a good view of the world and a great education that it’s hard to not want to give back. Getting involved with the museum gave me a way of both giving back to the school and helping future generations, but also enjoying myself and being able to share my artistic passion with like-minded people.”

A Diverse Eye

When he began collecting art, photography offered an accessible entry point. Besides affordability, for Kloppenburg, the medium’s appeal lies in its breadth and the possibilities it offers for thinking about the world.

His interest in photography extends beyond the collections too: Kloppenburg also enjoys taking photographs himself.

“Photography is a little broader than painting and things like that; it gets into areas such as fashion, current events, and other issues,” he said. “But my collecting stayed within, what I call, the fine arts.”

Kloppenburg describes himself as a “voracious art person” and his approach to collecting is “eclectic.” What ties his collection together isn’t necessarily a single medium, style, period, or subject. Instead, it is the way individual works interact.

“Putting works together on display in ways where they speak to each other or challenge each other or make you think deeper about what the works are is what I enjoy,” he said. “That process and doing little mini curatorial efforts within my own apartment, and it’s a challenge, it’s stimulating, and I get a lot out of it.”

The same attention to how works are brought together is central to the Loeb’s curatorial work. According to Thurber, the full-time, permanent curator of photography position will allow for “much more long range planning,” giving the Loeb greater opportunities to work with faculty and students, aid in planning for classes, and taking a deeper look into its collection of nearly 6,000 photographs.

Selections from this vast collection are currently on display in Photo-Design: Persuasion, Critique, Fantasy, including the signature work in the show by Pere Català i Roca, Desire for Flight of 1930, purchased with support from Kloppenburg. On view through January 31, 2027, the exhibition explores how experimental photography techniques have been used to imagine new possibilities and envision new futures.

To learn more about the Loeb and support the art center today, go to vassar.edu/theloeb/support.