Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Coordinates: 29°43′32.5″N 95°23′25.5″W / 29.725694, -95.390417

For other places with the same name, see Museum of Fine Arts.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Established 1900
Location 5100 Montrose

Houston, TX 77006 United States
Type Art, Design/Textile Museum, Institute, Library, Sculpture Park 1
Director Peter C. Marzio
Curator Emily Ballew Neff (American painting and sculpture). 2
Website Museum of Fine Arts, Houston


The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), located in Houston, is one of the largest museums in the country3. The permanent collection of the museum spans more than 6,000 years of history with more than 40,000 works from six continents. 2

The museum benefits the Houston community through programs, publications and media presentations. Each year, 1.25 million people benefit from museum's programs, workshops and resource centers. Of that total, more than 500,000 people participate in the community outreach programs. 4

Contents

Facilities

The MFAH's permanent collection totals over 40,000 pieces with a total 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of exhibition space is fifth largest in the United States. The museum's collections and programs are housed in seven facilities.

Main Campus

  • Caroline Wiess Law Building - composed of the original neo-classical building designed by architect William Ward Watkin in 1924 and two subsequent additions designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1958 and 1974.
  • Audrey Jones Beck Building - designed by renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo and opened to the public in 2000, the building doubled the museum's main campus exhibition space with an additional 158,150 sq ft (14,693 m2).
  • Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden - designed by US-born artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi and opened in 1986.
  • Glassell School of Art - founded in 1979 and designed by architect S. I. Morris offers programs under the Studio School for Adults
  • Central Administration and Glassell Junior School of Art Building - Housing the museums administrative functions as well as the Glassell Junior School which is the only museum facility in the United States that is dedicated to art classes for children. The building opened in 1994 and was designed by local architecural designer Carlos Jimenez.

Other Facilities

Gardens at Bayou Bend, donated by Ima Hogg
  • Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens - features one of the nation's best collections of American decorative art and furniture, former home of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg and designed by architect John F. Staub in 1928. Miss Hogg donated the home and its collections to the MFAH in 1957 and it was opened to the public in 1966.
  • Rienzi - a collection of European decorative arts, former home and collection of arts patrons Carroll Sterling Masterson and Harris Masterson III. Donated to the MFAH in 1991, and tunred over to the MFAH upon the death of Mr. Masterson in 1997 and opened to the public in 1999.

History

The original museum building, designed by William Ward Watkin, was opened in 1924. It was the first art museum building in Texas and the third in the South. 5

Cullinan Hall, designed by Mies van der Rohe, was opened in 1958.

The museum received one of the largest and most important gifts in its history in 1957, when Ima Hogg donated her home, Bayou Bend, and her collection of American paintings and decorative arts. Bayou Bend, located on Buffalo Bayou five miles (8 km) from the museum, was opened to the public in 1966. 6

Notes

  1. ^ The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: About, ARTINFO, 2008, http://www.artinfo.com/galleryguide/22352/8870/about/the-museum-of-fine-arts--houston-houston/, retrieved on 23 July 2008 
  2. ^ a b Major Expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Moves Forward with the Construction of the Audrey Jones Beck Building
  3. ^ Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
  4. ^ Arts Education Resource Catalogue
  5. ^ MFAH / Museum Information / History of the MFAH / Milestones in MFAH History 1900 - 1959
  6. ^ Handbook of Texas Online - MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

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