High Museum of Art Atlanta Celebrates its Expansion

What do you think about the new expansion of the High Museum of Art Atlanta?

Current Exhibition Highlights

Louvre Atlanta: The Louvre and the Ancient World runs from October 16, 2007–September 7, 2008.

Embodying the Sacred in Yoruba Art: Through April 20, 2008. This special exhibit presents approximately 70 works, exploring the spiritual significance of art in Yoruba culture.

Street Life: American Photographs from the 1960s and 70s: Through April 20, 2008. This permanent collection exhibition features photographs by Garry Winogrand, Danny Lyon, Susan Meiselas, and Dennis Carlyle Darling made in America in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Louvre and the Masterpiece: The exhibition will feature ninety-one works of art drawn from all eight of the Museee du Louvre's (TM) collection areas, spanning 4,000 years. Paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and drawings will reflect three major themes: the changing historical and cultural definitions of a masterpiece; authenticity and connoisseurship; and the evolution of taste and scholarship. The exhibition will be on view in Atlanta from October 12th 2008 through September 6th 2009.

High Museum of Art Atlanta Photo Gallery

Top Things to Do at the new High Museum of Art Atlanta

The High Museum will create a unique partnership with one of the greatest museums in the world, the Louvre in Paris. Since Fall 2006, the High has had on display classic works of art from the Louvre's permanent collection. The exhibit is the largest of its kind in the United States and continues for three years.

The High Museum of Art Atlanta has undergone an impressive expansion project, that hopefully with a future Atlanta Symphony Hall complex will make the Woodruff Arts Center a world-class destination for fine arts in Atlanta. The Midtown Atlanta skyline will never be the same, and both residents and visitors will be amazed at the expanded gallery space, the well-planned parking garage, and the gorgeous outdoor area, along with a new upscale restaurant, Table 1280.

The High Museum's original building, which opened in 1983, was designed by award-winning architect Richard Meier, and the museum's expansion compliments the unique design of the Meier building. The expansion's dramatic design, created by acclaimed Italian architect Renzo Piano, brings a European flair to Atlanta's best-known art museum, as well as incorporating nature, which Piano refers to as the "DNA of Atlanta." The new design creates a large outdoor gathering space at the Sifley Piazza, which is the centerpiece around which the three new buildings are situated. Once inside, patrons are sure to take notice of the many windows and skyways that provide a visual opening to both Atlanta's skyline and the city's lush greenness, which compliments the artwork adorning the walls. The artwork itself is ingeniously lighted by a roof system of a 1,000 light scoops, that filter in natural light for the best possible viewing experience.

The High Museum expansion means a dramatic increase in gallery space, more than double the size of the museum's original incarnation. Not only is there additional permanent collection gallery space, allowing the High Museum to bring together their permanent collection under one roof, but the Anne Cox Chambers Wing will be entirely reserved for special collections. In the permanent collection, which holds over 11,000 works of art, the areas of interest include:

African Art: The High Museum collection includes almost 600 works of art, with new flat screen monitors that provide a real-life background on the ties to a particular culture or tribe whose artwork or craft patrons are viewing.

American Art: Over 800 esteemed works in this collection.

Decorative Arts: Over 2,200 pieces are included in this collection, which are noteworthy in both an artistic and historical context.

European Art: Over 600 pieces can be found in this collection, with works from Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, and noted Italian works from the 14th-18th centuries.

Folk Art: With over 500 works that continues to grow, the High Museum of Art's folk art collection is considered to be one of the most notable in the world. I was impressed with the expanded Howard Finster collection.

Modern and Contemporary Art: One of the larger holdings of the High Museum, with over 2,200 pieces of work, including one of their newest acquisitions, Ellsworth Kelly's "Blue, Green, Red".

Photography: The High Museum's photography collection began in 1974, and has grown to over 3,300 images from the 19th and 20th century, from both American and European artists.

Sculpture: The Sifley Plaza will display outdoor sculptures, such as Roy Lichtenstein's "House III."

Visiting the High Museum of Art Atlanta

Hours of Operation: The High Museum of Art Atlanta will be offering permanently extended hours of operation as part of its expansion. The museum will be closed on Mondays, but open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The popular Friday Jazz series will take place the 3rd Friday of each month, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission Prices: For adults, admission is $15 ($18 from 10/16/07-1/13/08), for senior citizens and college students, admission is $12 ($15 from 10/16/07 to 1/13/08), for children ages 6-17, admission is $10 ($11 from 10/16/07 to 1/13/08), and for children under 6 and members, admission is free.