John Currin

The fall line-up for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston‘s popular Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Lectures includes artists Robert Irwin, John Currin and museum director Thelma Golden.

Carl Shapiro, a 96-year old philanthropist, was friendly with convicted fraudster Bernard Madoff for fifty years. Shapiro invested proceeds from the sale of his women’s clothing company with Madoff. He used the profits to become one of Boston’s biggest patrons, donating millions to the Museum of Fine Arts, Brandeis University and medical causes.

Shapiro’s foundation donated $15 million to the MFA, Boston in 2005, for their new building expansion project. The museum promised to name a central glass courtyard the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard. The foundation also funds the speaker series.

In the wake of the Madoff scandal, the Shapiro foundation lost $145 million.