World Erotic Art Museum Founder Dies at 80

When searching for a location to open an erotic art museum, it's no surprise that collector Naomi Wilzig had a difficult time finding a welcoming city. After a number of unsuccessful attempts, Miami Beach voted unanimously to let Wilzig set up the World Erotic Art Museum at its current site. The museum is the only one of its kind in the United States and houses the largest privately-owned collection of erotic art in the world.

When the words "museum" and "art" are used to describe the pieces in Wilzig's collection, they aren't being used misleadingly. Over the years, the WEAM has acquired over 4,000 pieces including Rembrandt etchings, as well as lithographs from Picasso and Dali.

Wilzig, who became a great friend and ally to the LGBT community, died in her sleep earlier this week. She was known for her generosity, most recently donating $10,000 to SAFE SCHOOLS South Florida, an anti-bullying organization, which she made in honor of the latest philanthropic spree of her son, Sir Ivan. She spoke often at local colleges about human sexuality, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Sexology and Erotology from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco.