Dreaming of art? The Seattle Art Museum awaits. It stands as a testament to Seattle’s vibrant cultural scene. Established in 1933, the Seattle Art Museum has grown into a major art institution. It operates three facilities including the main museum downtown. There is also the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Richard E. Fuller was key to the Seattle Art Museum’s beginnings. During the Great Depression, Fuller and his mother donated $250,000. Their gift enabled the construction of the original museum in Volunteer Park. The city provided the land. The museum opened on June 23, 1933. Fuller served as director for many years without a salary.
The Seattle Art Museum’s collection has expanded significantly. It started with 1,926 pieces and now boasts nearly 25,000. The original museum was 25,000 square feet. The current facilities offer 312,000 square feet plus a 9-acre park. The library has grown. It now contains over 33,000 books.
In 1991, the Seattle Art Museum reopened in a downtown facility. Robert Venturi designed it. A Hammering Man sculpture was installed outside. In 1994, the Volunteer Park facility became the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The Olympic Sculpture Park opened in 2007.
The Seattle Art Museum has hosted many notable exhibitions. A 1959 Van Gogh exhibit attracted over 126,000 visitors. A Jacob Lawrence retrospective honored the African American artist. Leonardo Lives featured a Leonardo da Vinci manuscript purchased by Bill Gates.
The Seattle Art Museum’s collection is diverse. It includes Alexander Calder’s Eagle at the Olympic Sculpture Park. There is also Richard Serra’s Wake. Inopportune: Stage One is another highlight. Lucas Cranach the Elder’s The Judgment of Paris is displayed.
The Seattle Art Museum returned a Henri Matisse painting to the Rosenberg family. The Nazis had looted it during World War II. It was a landmark case. The museum reached a settlement.
The Seattle Art Museum includes two libraries. The Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library specializes in various art forms. The McCaw Foundation Library for Asian Art focuses on Asian art.
The Seattle Art Museum’s main facility moved downtown in 1991. It is a limestone-covered building designed by Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates. An expansion was completed in 2007.
The Seattle Art Museum closed for expansion from January 2006 to May 2007. The expanded building offers more gallery space. Over a thousand new pieces were donated.
The Olympic Sculpture Park is a free public park on the waterfront. It features large-scale sculptures. The Seattle Art Museum connects art to life. It offers exhibitions, programs, and installations. The museum presents a global perspective. It explores connections between past and present. The Seattle Art Museum is a vital institution. Its three locations offer unique experiences.
Before you go, remember admission is free on the first Thursday and Saturday of each month. The Seattle Art Museum is more than just a museum. It’s a place where art comes alive. Come discover its treasures.