Joseph Beuys Multiples, the largest and most comprehensive museum exhibition in the United States to focus on this body of work, was drawn primarily from the Alfred and Marie Greisinger Collection of multiples, which was acquired by the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, in 1992. Organized by the Walker, the exhibition traveled on a two-year international tour. The San Jose showing was the final stop on the tour and the sole West Coast venue.

Knight Ridder was a corporate sponsor of the San Jose presentation of Joseph Beuys Multiples.