Moritz Breaks Museum Stereotypes
Moritz Breaks Museum Stereotypes
Gallery, why so bold?
Moritz Breaks Museum Stereotypes: From Notebooks to Billions
Today, September 9, 2025, the National Gallery in London announced the launch of Domani — the largest expansion in its 200-year history. The new £375 million wing will allow the museum, for the first time, to display modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Who is behind this breakthrough? Mikhail Moritz, a former journalist turned billionaire philanthropist, who seems to believe that even conservative galleries deserve a touch of audacity.
Journalism as a Launchpad
Mikhail Moritz was born in 1954 in Cardiff, Wales. His biography shows how journalism can serve as a springboard for great achievements: articles for Time, biographies of Steve Jobs, and analyses of tech startups laid the foundation for future investments in Google, PayPal, and YouTube.
If George Soros is the “mind behind financial operations,” Moritz’s story is the “mind that bets on culture.” Ironically, Soros was also advised to invest in contemporary art — but he followed other strategies. Russian billionaires often stick to yachts, football clubs, and skyscrapers. Moritz, however, chose to invest in a cultural breakthrough.
Philanthropy with a Sense of Humor
The Moritzes founded the Crankstart Foundation, supporting education and the arts. Their £150 million donation to the National Gallery allowed the museum to “take off its jacket and put on sneakers”: contemporary art finally hangs alongside the classics.
The Gallery Learns to Be Bold
Until now, the National Gallery had been almost a monastery of classical painting: works from after the 19th century were rarely exhibited. Domani changes that. The 19th and 21st centuries now meet face to face — strict conservatism gives way to a dialogue between generations.
Architectural Revolution
St Vincent House and the new wing combine the historic façade with modern, flexible spaces. The environment is interactive, lively, and daring: 19th-century paintings sit next to 21st-century experiments, and the architecture itself tells the story of cultural transition.
Biography as a Lesson
Moritz’s story shows that journalism is a school of observation, analysis, and the ability to spot trends ahead of everyone else. While Soros changes the world through finance and Russian billionaires through sports and real estate, Moritz’s path is one of cultural foresight capable of reshaping traditional museums. The boy with a notebook now decides which contemporary artists stand alongside the classics, and thanks to his initiative, the gallery can finally embrace boldness with a modern perspective.
It is clear that King Charles might never have ventured such audacity, even at his own expense — but thanks to Moritz, the gallery can.
Author: Aleksei Sholokhov
Moritz Breaks Museum Stereotypes: From Notebooks to Billions
Today, September 9, 2025, the National Gallery in London announced the launch of Domani — the largest expansion in its 200-year history. The new £375 million wing will allow the museum, for the first time, to display modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Who is behind this breakthrough? Mikhail Moritz, a former journalist turned billionaire philanthropist, who seems to believe that even conservative galleries deserve a touch of audacity.
Journalism as a Launchpad
Mikhail Moritz was born in 1954 in Cardiff, Wales. His biography shows how journalism can serve as a springboard for great achievements: articles for Time, biographies of Steve Jobs, and analyses of tech startups laid the foundation for future investments in Google, PayPal, and YouTube.
If George Soros is the “mind behind financial operations,” Moritz’s story is the “mind that bets on culture.” Ironically, Soros was also advised to invest in contemporary art — but he followed other strategies. Russian billionaires often stick to yachts, football clubs, and skyscrapers. Moritz, however, chose to invest in a cultural breakthrough.
Philanthropy with a Sense of Humor
The Moritzes founded the Crankstart Foundation, supporting education and the arts. Their £150 million donation to the National Gallery allowed the museum to “take off its jacket and put on sneakers”: contemporary art finally hangs alongside the classics.
The Gallery Learns to Be Bold
Until now, the National Gallery had been almost a monastery of classical painting: works from after the 19th century were rarely exhibited. Domani changes that. The 19th and 21st centuries now meet face to face — strict conservatism gives way to a dialogue between generations.
Architectural Revolution
St Vincent House and the new wing combine the historic façade with modern, flexible spaces. The environment is interactive, lively, and daring: 19th-century paintings sit next to 21st-century experiments, and the architecture itself tells the story of cultural transition.
Biography as a Lesson
Moritz’s story shows that journalism is a school of observation, analysis, and the ability to spot trends ahead of everyone else. While Soros changes the world through finance and Russian billionaires through sports and real estate, Moritz’s path is one of cultural foresight capable of reshaping traditional museums. The boy with a notebook now decides which contemporary artists stand alongside the classics, and thanks to his initiative, the gallery can finally embrace boldness with a modern perspective.
It is clear that King Charles might never have ventured such audacity, even at his own expense — but thanks to Moritz, the gallery can.
Author: Aleksei Sholokhov