UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May presented the 2023 UC Davis Medal, the university’s highest honor, to international arts patron and philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem at the afternoon commencement ceremony on June 18 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The award presentation was followed by a ceremonial tree planting on the UC Davis campus and a dinner at the UC Davis Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Manetti Shrem is one of the largest supporters of the arts at UC Davis, funding projects such as the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, artist teaching residencies, and new arts curricula in the College of Letters and Science.

“Maria’s profound arts legacy and passion for creating opportunities for exploration, learning and engagement with art and artists has enriched the lives of everyone in our community, and will continue to do so over the years to come,” May said. “We’re thrilled to honor her with this exclusive award.”

The medal puts Manetti Shrem in company with 2020 Nobel Laureate Charles Rice, artist Wayne Thiebaud, former President Bill Clinton, and fellow philanthropists Robert and Margrit Mondavi in recognition of extraordinary contributions that embody UC Davis’ vision. 

The medal presentation was the culmination of UC Davis’ five 2023 undergraduate commencement ceremonies, held for the first time at the Golden 1 Center.  

Manetti Shrem at a tree planting ceremony in her honor at the Margrit Mondavi Art Garden on the UC Davis campus.

The ceremonial tree planting was held to honor Manetti Shrem’s commitment to the growth of UC Davis programs and the blossoming of students on campus. The tree planted in tribute to Manetti Shrem is a Golden Mimosa because of its symbolism in support of women that became universal in 1946 when feminists in Italy chose the mimosa flower as a symbol of strength, sensibility and sensitivity for Women's Day — not to mention it is a favorite tree of Manetti Shrem. 

The dinner was attended by more than 50 of Manetti Shrem’s friends from across the country. It featured a short movie on Manetti Shrem’s life and dedication to international philanthropic works, titled MARIA -- The Art Of Self-Invention, by Mauro Aprile Zanetti. 

Artistic inspiration

Manetti Shrem and her husband, Jan Shrem, have long given to philanthropic causes supporting education, fine arts, performing arts, medical research and cultural organizations in the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom. 

The couple achieved their dreams through independently successful careers: Manetti Shrem as the principal force behind Gucci’s integration into American department specialty stores, and Shrem as the founder of an international book publishing firm and Clos Pegase winery. 

Their shared love of the arts inspired the couple to connect to UC Davis, with its legacy of excellence as the home to world-famous artists such as Thiebaud, Robert Arneson and William T. Wiley. 

In the years since, the couple has become increasingly involved, expanding the vision for and reputation of UC Davis arts programs. Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science, adds that Manetti Shrem’s support means even more because of her personal love for the university.

“Maria is an Aggie, full stop. She has a deep affinity with UC Davis and refers to us as ‘our’ or ‘my university’ when speaking with others,” Atekwana said.

A museum for all

The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis was funded by a $10 million naming gift from the couple in 2011, which was the largest gift in UC Davis’ history at the time. Manetti Shrem’s giving has continued to grow over the last decade, almost doubling the initial fund. In addition, her international influence and advocacy have raised the visibility of UC Davis’ arts programs worldwide. 

“Jan and I have always loved art. We feel so happy and thankful to contribute to the realization of the Manetti Shrem Museum, where we are bringing art to everyone, providing free activities for all, giving voice to all kinds of diversity and freedom of expression,” she said, noting that the museum is California’s only listing on ARTNews’ “world’s 25 best museum buildings of the past 100 years.”

Manetti Shrem (right) tours an art graduate student's studio.

As the museum has opened and grown into a hub of creative practice for today’s thinkers, makers and innovators with programs and exhibitions reflecting and serving the community, Manetti Shrem has provided ongoing support, including more than $6 million in endowment matches to inspire community engagement. She also serves on the advisory board, playing a leadership role in raising UC Davis’ reputation in the arts.

“Maria is our greatest champion. From the very beginning, she and Jan saw the potential of what this museum could be and have actively contributed their time, talent and resources to bring the vision to life,” said Rachel Teagle, founding director of the museum. 

“Maria invests in success and is dedicated to ensuring that our exhibitions remain dynamic and that the museum remains daring, now and for future generations.”

World-class arts education

Manetti Shrem has also made a significant impact in the College of Letters and Science’s Department of Art and Art History by creating the Manetti Shrem California Studio. The program brings leading contemporary artists to UC Davis to teach and inspire experimentation and innovation among students. 

Established in 2020, the studio has brought top-level talent to UC Davis — including artistic powerhouses Xu Bing, Ann Hamilton and Jennifer Packer — all through programs with open access. Visiting artists receive a generous stipend and institutional support thanks to Manetti Shrem’s gift.

“Maria has a keen business sense and understood that this initiative would relaunch us onto the world stage, and it has been an unparalleled success,” said Atekwana. “When our students see how the artists Maria has helped bring to UC Davis push their boundaries, we know they feel encouraged and empowered to do the same.” 

Manetti Shrem has also been key in establishing a relationship between UC Davis and the Royal Drawing School in London. She has fostered communications and exchange between faculty and administrators and supported multiple scholarships for UC Davis graduates to go on to study at the Royal Drawing School. 

“We’re also so happy to support the Manetti Shrem California Studio programs which bring renowned artists to teach at UC Davis. Also, thanks to our annual scholarship, four graduate art students can study for 12 weeks at the Royal Drawing School of His Majesty King Charles III,” Manetti Shrem said. “We are contributing to strengthen relationships between the two continents.”