Loos Fine Art Collection

At Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, we’re not your average children’s museum, and we like it that way! From helping little ones get kindergarten-ready to splashing through our outdoor water play area, CMON is bursting with creativity and curiosity. But did you know we’re also home to a fine art collection? That’s right, CMON is one of just a handful of children’s museums in the world to feature a dedicated fine art collection. 

Since our earliest days, art has been woven into the CMON experience. Thanks to the vision of CMON leaders, local philanthropist Joan Loos, and art dealer William Meek, we began building a collection designed to spark wonder, especially in young minds. Each piece, whether donated by generous collectors or the artists themselves, invites children and grown-ups alike to see the world through a creative lens.

One of our latest treasures is a whimsical bunny painting by renowned neo-expressionist Hunt Slonem, gifted straight from the artist’s studio. And the collection keeps growing, with playful cardboard monkey sculptures by James Grashow and vibrant paintings that celebrate animals, childhood, and imagination.

To keep these masterpieces safe for little hands and big eyes, many are displayed behind Optium acrylic, a nearly invisible layer of plastic that protects while allowing for eye-level exploration.

This fall, instead of limiting the art to themed exhibits, we’re letting it shine everywhere. You’ll find pieces tucked throughout the museum, from the Tot Lot to the bathroom entryways, creating a delightful “treasure hunt” of creativity around every corner.

We hope this full-gallery experience fills your visit with surprise, inspiration, and joy. Take your time, look closely, and let the art and your imagination run wild.

ABC Tot Lot

Happy Grow

Artist: Romero Britto; (1963-  )

Title: Happy Grow (print on canvas with Britto Diamond Dust)

Year: 2025

Location: Celebration and Education 

Fun facts:

  • This piece is the newest addition to the CMON collection.
  • Romero Britto attended NAM 2025 and gifted this piece due to the collaboration with the pop art-themed event.
  • Britto lives in Miami and was born in Brazil.
Adopt-a-pet vet clinic

The Cat

Artist: Jose de Creeft (1884-1982)

Title: The Cat (ink on paper)

Year: 1962

Location: Elevator hallway

Fun facts:

  • Oldest artist in the collection- notice this artist dates- he lived almost 100 years!
  • Alice in Wonderland is a famous bronze sculpture in Central Park created by this artist.
  • There is another piece by this artist in the Art Studio (Child’s Head).
Exploring the Artful Play Exhibit

Buttercup

Artist: Clarence Holbrook Carter (1904-2000)

Title: Buttercup (watercolor)

Year: 1929

Location: Pet Vet

Fun facts:

  • Earliest work in the collection and almost 100 years old!
  • This artist is considered one of Cleveland’s most famous painters.
Art Studio Exhibit - Making Tacos

Totem Winter

Artist: Hunt Slonem  (1951- )

Title: Totem Winter (oil on canvas)

Year: 2020

Location: Stairwell wall

Fun facts:

  • Largest painting in the collection (50x6o inches)
  • This is the 3rd piece in the CMON collection by this artist (Two Cockatoos is in the Elevator hallway)
  • This artist is famous for his paintings of bunnies, butterflies and birds.
  • This artist said about this donation:  “I hope that this gift, in some small way, inspires these children to create and imagine a more perfect world.” 
Banyan Tree Exhibit

Octopus

Artist: Dorothy Gillespie (1920-2012)

Title: Octopus (enamel on aluminum)

Year: 1981

Location: Everglades by the Turtle

Fun facts:

  • This artist is known for her large-scale, highly colorful painted aluminum artwork.
  • Artist quote: “I love color, it goes back to the things I saw as a child- a Christmas tree, a ball bouncing, a kite.”
The Beach Exhibit

Playful Trio

Artist: Edward Lupper (1936-2016)

Title: Playful Trio (oil on panel)

Year: unknown

Location: Above the Harry Potter Closet door

Fun facts:

  • Smallest painting in the CMON collection.
  • This artist is known for his whimsical and playful style of painting small artwork.  
  • CMON collection has a second piece by this artist, hung next to this piece.
Exploring at the Creepy Crawlers Exhibit

Yellow Root

Artist: Steve Tobin (1957-  )

Title: Yellow Root (steel)

Year: 2012

Location: Art Studio

Fun facts:

  • This artist is famous for large scale public art installations- locally like at the Naples Botanical Garden, nationally like on the streets of NY City, and internationally like in China.
The Farm Exhibit

The Great Monkey Project

Artist: James Grashow (1942-2025)

Title: The Great Monkey Project ( 3 cardboard pieces)

Year: unknown

Location: hallway by Pet Vet

Fun facts:

  • Can you believe these 3 monkeys were created out of cardboard?!
  • This artist is famous for his cardboard creations.
  • Artist quote: “For me the fragility and the temporal nature of cardboard really marks my identity. I wish I could believe in forever, but eternity is an illusion.”
The Everglades Exhibit

Papoose

Artist: Muffy Clark Gill (1955- )

Title: Papoose (batik on silk)

Year: 2008

Location: 2nd floor by Library

Fun facts:

  • This artist is famous for “batik” which is an art creation process that uses hot wax and fabric dye on fabric, like silk in this artwork. 
  • The artist learned this process from traveling to Uganda when she was a teenager. 
  • This artist lives in Naples!
Tea Time at the Family Resource Library

Carnival Nights

Artist: Robert Vickrey (1926-2011)

Title: Carnival Nights (egg tempera on gesso panel)

Year: 2011

Location: Bottom of stairs

Fun facts:

  • Egg tempera is a painting medium that uses pigment and egg yolk combined in order to create a fast-drying and long-lasting paint.
  • This artistic technique was famous hundreds of years ago, and has been found in ancient cave paintings.