Museum Highlight
The Louvre - France
louvre.fr/en
The Louvre or the Louvre Museum (French: Musée du Louvre, pronounced: [myze dy luvʁ]) is one of the world's largest museums and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet). The Louvre is the world's most visited museum, and received more than 9.7 million visitors in 2012. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces. The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum renamed the Musée Napoléon. After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
lacma.org
Since its inception in 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography, in addition to representing Los Angeles's uniquely diverse population. Today LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection that includes over 120,000 objects dating from antiquity to the present, encompassing the geographic world and nearly the entire history of art. Among the museum’s strengths are its holdings of Asian art, Latin American art, ranging from pre-Columbian masterpieces to works by leading modern and contemporary artists; and Islamic art, of which LACMA hosts one of the most significant collections in the world. A museum of international stature as well as a vital part of Southern California, LACMA shares its vast collections through exhibitions, public programs, and research facilities that attract over a million visitors annually, in addition to serving millions through digital initiatives, such as online collections, scholarly catalogues, and interactive engagement at lacma.org. Situated in Hancock Park on over 20 acres in the heart of Los Angeles, LACMA is located between the ocean and downtown. In April 2006, Michael Govan became CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director of LACMA. Formerly president and director of Dia Art Foundation and deputy director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Mr. Govan is the seventh director in LACMA’s 46-year history. Mission Statement To serve the public through the collection, conservation, exhibition, and interpretation of significant works of art from a broad range of cultures and historical periods, and through the translation of these collections into meaningful educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the widest array of audiences. lacma.org/overview The Getty Villa - Pacific Palisades, CA, USA
getty.edu/visit/villa
The Getty Villa houses the J. Paul Getty Museum's collection of approximately 44,000 Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. Over 1,200 works are on view in 23 galleries devoted to the permanent collection, with five additional galleries for changing exhibitions. With objects dating from 6,500 B.C. to A.D. 400, the collection contains monumental sculptures as well as artifacts of everyday life. The galleries are arranged by theme and include Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater, and Stories of the Trojan War, among others. This approach enables visitors to view the artworks in the context of their use in classical societies, encouraging a deeper understanding of the ancient world. getty.edu/visit/villa/art.html The National Gallery - London, England
nationalgallery.org.uk
The National Gallery houses the nation’s collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the early 20th centuries. Located in Trafalgar Square in central London, the National Gallery is open to the public 361 days a year, free of charge. The collection represents the greatest Western European painters including Van Eyck, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Turner, Rembrandt, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Rubens, Velázquez, Van Dyck, Titian and Bellini. No other collection possesses such consistent quality, nor better tells the story of Western European painting. Almost all of the 2,300 paintings in the National Gallery’s collection are on permanent display. The Gallery started life in 1824 when the British Government purchased 38 pictures belonging to the banker John Julius Angerstein. As there was no suitable space available to display the collection, the pictures were put on display in Angerstein's former home in Pall Mall. It was only in 1838 that the collection moved to its current site in Trafalgar Square. bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/galleries/collections/the-national-gallery-london-1605 The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City, USA
metmuseum.org
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in New York City, is the largest art museum in the United States, and one of the ten largest in the world, with the most significant art collections. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided among seventeen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge ofCentral Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is by area one of the world's largest art galleries. There is also a much smaller second location at "The Cloisters" in Upper Manhattan that features medieval art. Represented in the permanent collection are works of art from classical antiquity and Ancient Egypt, paintings and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art. The Met also maintains extensive holdings of African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine, and Islamic art. The museum is also home to encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes and accessories, and antique weapons and armor from around the world. Several notable interiors, ranging from 1st-century Rome through modern American design, are permanently installed in the Met's galleries. The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens. The founders included businessmen and financiers, as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day, who wanted to open a museum to bring art and art education to the American people. It opened on February 20, 1872, and was originally located at 681 Fifth Avenue. As of 2012, the Met occupies about 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m2). Admission is pay what you wish with a recommendation of $25. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - New York City
guggenheim.org
The building was commissioned in 1943 by Solomon R. Guggenheim for his collection of modern art. Frank Lloyd Wright, America's most acclaimed architect, spent more than a decade tweaking his design for the museum until construction finally started in 1956. By that time Guggenheim had already passed away, but he had bequeathed two million dollar for the construction of the museum. The museum opened three years later, in 1959. The museum building is an eye-catching structure that completely ignores its urban context. Throughout his career, Frank Lloyd Wright's designs had been inspired by nature and this buildings was no exception. The organic spiral shape is said to embody the natural shapes found in Central Park across the street. Due to its unconventional shape the soft white colored building stands out and even in a landmark-filled city like New York, it continues to attract the attention of passersby. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum houses some fine collections of world famous painters like Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky, and many other modern artists. The major part of the collection consists of paintings, but sculptures and photos are also on display in the museum. The collection was started by Solomon R. Guggenheim in the late 1920s. In 1937, he founded the Museum of Nonobjective painting, located on East 54th street. It later moved to its present location near Central Park. The collection was expanded several times. In 1976, an important collection of paintings from Gauguin, Picasso, van Gogh and many others were donated by Justin K. Thannhauser. In 1990, more than 200 works of American Minimalist art were added to the collection. aviewoncities.com/nyc/guggenheim.htm |
Gallery Highlight
Goodman Gallery - South Africa
goodman-gallery.com
The Goodman Gallery is at the forefront of contemporary art in South Africa. Its focus is on artists from South Africa, the greater African Continent, and other countries that engage in a dialogue with the African context. The gallery has a long history in South African art. It was established by Linda Goodman (now Givon) in 1966 and, from the outset, supported and encouraged artists to exhibit despite the strictures of apartheid. It was involved in the seminal Art Against Apartheid exhibition in 1985 and held shows that spoke out against the repressive apartheid regime. In 2008, Givon sold the gallery to Liza Essers who has brought several new artists into the Goodman fold and has maintained a strong international connection for the gallery. The Goodman Gallery has evolved into the leading contemporary art institution in Africa and has featured at Art Basel and Art Basel Miami since 2003. The gallery now also participates in the following additional fairs: Frieze London and New York, Armory, FIAC, and Art Basel Hong Kong. The Gallery is home to forty artists including visual art luminaries such as William Kentridge, Kendell Geers, Alfredo Jaar and David Goldblatt. It is crucial that the gallery continues to support and show the work of these established artists, yet equally important is bringing new voices and the next generation of contemporary artists from South Africa and the continent to the world’s attention. As well as taking South African artists to major international museum shows and fairs such as Art Basel, Art Basel Miami and the Armory Show in New York, and getting their work into major international collections, the Goodman Gallery has brought various international artists to South Africa to exhibit alongside local artists in order extend the dialogue. African-born artists such as Ghada Amer and Kader Attia powerfully confront Northern African politics, post-colonialism and social despotism, and have both been included in the gallery’s programme. African-American artists Hank Willis Thomas and Kara Walker, who both elucidate on the global effects of oppression inflicted by one race on another, have also been included. Also critical is including the work of established South African artists such as Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin and Candice Breitz, and re-engaging with the dialogue that they began before relocating overseas. The gallery has exhibition spaces in Johannesburg and Cape Town. goodman-gallery.com/about-us The Hive Gallery and Studios - Los Angeles, CA, USA
hivegallery.com
Founded in Spring of 2005, The Hive Gallery and Studios is a truly unique and vibrant gallery/studio experience. It is a virtual think-tank, buzzing with 5 featured artists a month, two full galleries, 25 working artists, and an artist-made item store. One of the longest standing galleries on the Downtown Art Walk, the Hive is on the forefront of establishing the Los Angeles Metro area as a world-wide art mecca. In addition, the gallery serves as an arts community hub, holding various fundraising events, and gallery programs such as yoga, figure drawing, private movie screenings, and more, Fundamental to The Hive Gallery’s vision of creating a thriving community of artists, is its opening monthly art show. “ We seek to break down the quiet, traditional, art-on-white-walls, viewing experience and create a gallery atmosphere that is as equally alive as it’s artwork.” Openings usually include 5 featured artists, up to 100 group show artist, live painting, and more. The art featured in the gallery leans toward neo-pop illustration in nearly all mediums that are highly crafted and affordable. Artists that show at The Hive have proven their dedication to the community by consistently producing high quality work on a month to month basis. Frequent monthly shows encourage the participating artists to fine tune their craft, develop new communication forms, and experiment with particular styles, imagery, and techniques. Operating on a low commission basis, The Hive allows the artist to sell high quality work at a low cost, making it more affordable for the general public to purchase an original piece of art. The Gallery is a breeding ground for young buyers with work ranging from $10-$5000, and an artist-made item store which includes all work for under $50. In addition, the gallery provides more expensive work by established artists for both the new and seasoned art patrons. The Hive studios allow buyers to build close relationships with artists who work out of their spaces. This allows resident artists to sell, exhibit, and network from their studios with a no-commission, artist to buyer policy. In essence, The Hive provides an enriching art gallery experience and is a hub for artists from around the country. Its accessability to the new art buying audience and fresh vision for the gallery viewing experience makes it a pivotal gallery landmark for the emerging Los Angeles art scene. hivegallery.com/2010/history Tate Modern - London, England
tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
The Tate now comprises nearly 70,000 works, spread across four separate museums: Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. Tate Modern provides London with a major collection of international modern and contemporary works. Since it opened in 2000, Tate Modern has established itself as the most-visited art gallery in the world. Displaying a comprehensive collection of modern international art since 1900, its treasures include one of the finest museum collections of Surrealism, with works by Dalí, Magritte and Miró. Early modernist movements are represented by Picasso, Mondrian and Matisse. There is Pop Art by Warhol and Lichtenstein and Abstract Expressionist works by Pollock and Rothko. Minimalism and Conceptual art are also well represented, with iconic works by Carl Andre, Donald Judd and Joseph Beuys . The recent acquisition of the Artist Rooms collection (shared with the National Galleries of Scotland) has dramatically enriched the holdings of contemporary art. If you plan to visit both the London Tate galleries, it is well worth taking advantage of the Tate Boat that travels between Tate Britain and Tate Modern every 40 minutes during opening hours, offering comprehensive views of the river that has inspired so much British art. While each of the Tate's galleries offers its own café facilities, the restaurant at Tate Modern deserves special mention. Set up on the top floor, the glass-fronted dining room offers seasonal British food at both lunch and dinner, accompanied by possibly the best view in London. artfund.org/what-to-see/museums-and-galleries/tate-modern Addington Gallery - Chicago, Illinois - USA
addingtongallery.com
Dan Addington is, himself, an encaustic painter – and he’s been doing it a long time, before it got trendy. In turn, he’s a fan of Howard Hersh, Mark Perlman and others who have been doing it even longer than him, before the schools and the hobbyists got their hands on it. Before the rules were written. So Addington’s aesthetic, and Encaustic posse could possibly be defined in that way: pre convention. Addington builds his paintings up layer by layer, drawing on and gouging into the surface, adding oil paint, tar, fabric and other odd materials into the mix, which gives the work a very textural feel. Now, Howard Hersh, who was featured in a recent exhibit and is represented by the gallery, is also pre-rules, yet he has a completely different approach, and balances the geometric with the inherent chaos of encaustic. So how to tell the Encaustic painters from the artists who work with wax? Addington gravitates to work that has a conceptual level to it, artists who are going for a specific idea, and not just expressing their feelings through random splashes of color... “Encaustic has a visual archaeology that exists in each piece. Because you can see the translucent layers, it opens the door to the process. With much painting, the top surface is often the only surface the viewer can access. With encaustic, you can dig down through the layers and see the history…” -Addington addingtongallery.com |