Inspiration

The New Wave of Private Museums Revolutionizing the Art World

Stop and smell the Rothkos.
Museum of Old and New Art
Courtesy Museum of Old and New Art

Wealthy patrons have been bankrolling artists for centuries and slapping their names on exhibit halls and museums for years (we see you, Guggenheim). Now they’re going one further, financing private institutions like Glenstone, 15 miles outside Washington, D.C. Co-founders Mitchell Rales and Emily Wei Rales will unveil a massive expansion this October that integrates landscape architecture (by the firm that designed the National 9/11 Memorial), monumental sculpture (Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Ellsworth Kelly), and modern and contemporary works drawn from the museum’s collection (Charles Ray, Cy Twombly) to create what Wei Rales calls “unhurried contemplative engagement.” And who doesn’t want more of that these days?

  • Image may contain Water Nature Outdoors Building Architecture Waterfront Scenery Panoramic Landscape and Hotel
    Courtesy Museum of Old and New Art

    Museum of Old and New Art

    Hobart, Australia

  • Iwan Baan

    Glenstone

    Potomac, Maryland

  • William Gomes

    Inhotim

    Brumadinho, Brazil

  • Getty

    Chichu Art Museum

    Naoshima, Japan

  • Erik Petersen/Courtesy Tippet Rise Art Center

    Tippet Rise Art Center

    Fishtail, Montana

  • Dave Southwood/Courtesy Norval Foundation

    Norval Foundation

    Cape Town, South Africa

Paul Brady is the former articles editor at Condé Nast Traveler. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 10 years, at Condé Nast Traveler, The Huffington Post, Budget Travel, and other outlets. He graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
TopicsMuseums & Galleries