Art Appreciation 101 · Museums

Why See Art in Museums?

With the many (mostly free) virtual art-viewing opportunities that have sprang up since 2020, it's easier than ever to see artworks without ever leaving your home. Therefore, you may wonder if there's really any need to actually go to museums and see art in person. In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes, since no app or video yet developed has managed to truly replicate the unique experience of being inside the museum. In this article, discover four main reasons to visit museums in person, as well as suggestions for how to make the most of each one.

European Art · Museums

Frick Madison Shines New Light on Old Friends

On the afternoon of March 4th, I was one of the very first people to experience Frick Madison, the Frick Collection's new installation in the Whitney Museum's former home at 945 Madison Avenue. The surprisingly-wonderful combination of historical art and Brutalist structure literally shines a new light on the Frick's beloved artworks.

Museums

Highlights at the Wadsworth Athenaeum

The Wadsworth Athenaeum, in Hartford, CT, is one of America's oldest art museums. It was founded by Daniel Wadsworth in 1842. However, it has been expanded several times since them. The museum has a little bit of everything, from paintings to porcelain, ancient Egyptian to contemporary European. It's a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon.

Museums

Why Museums Don’t Display All the Art They Own? (and Related Questions)

Somebody recently asked me why most museums display only a small portion of their collections. The obvious answer is that museums have limited exhibition space, but that raises many more questions. Why do museums own so much more than they could ever hope to exhibit? Why do they keep all the objects they don't use? In this article, I'll do my best to present some of the relevant ideas as I've observed them on my art history adventures.