Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
19. Guggenheim Museum
The Guggenheim Foundation began in 1937, and in 1939 it opened the first venue for dis-
playing art in New York called The Museum of Non-Objective Painting. It was housed in
an old showroom for cars, but as its popularity grew, another venue was needed. Famed ar-
chitect Frank Lloyd Wright was brought in and designed seven potential ideas for the new
building, which wouldn't see completion until after his death. The building is designed as
an inverted cone shape with each level looking as if it's balanced on the level below.
The original collection of non-objective art grew to include both surrealist and expressionist
works. Over time, the Guggenheim Museum would slowly begin acquiring vast collections
from private dealers. In an effort to get away from being seen as housing only twentieth-cen-
tury art, the museum expanded its collection to include works by Cézanne and Modigliani.
In 1963, The Guggenheim Foundation acquired important, well known works of art by
Gauguin, Manet, Pissarro, van Gogh, and Picasso.
Museum highlights include Woman Ironing by Picasso, Nude by Amedeo Modigliani, and a
variety of works by Vasily Kandinsky which are currently undergoing preservation and res-
