Art lovers, rejoice! Exciting things are in store for the Blanton Museum of Art. In February, the museum announced that it will construct artist Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin on the grounds of the museum, the only freestanding building the renowned artist has ever designed.
On the heels of that exciting announcement, the Blanton has officially released the 2015-2016 schedule preview, which includes four new exhibits. We reached out to the curators and researchers of the upcoming exhibits for a special look at what’s headed to the Blanton next season.
Donald Moffett
October 24, 2015 through February 28, 2016
The Blanton currently holds more works by Texas artist Donald Moffett than any other museum in the United States. To celebrate this, and as part of the museum's growing initiative to increase holdings by Texas artists, the Blanton will present a gallery dedicated to new acquisitions by the San Antonio native.
Moffett works in a rich variety of media including painting, drawing and projected video on painting. The installation is meant to highlight his diverse talents and will include a range of works, from pieces that examine the legacy of Texas Congressman Barbara Jordan to bold abstract paintings.
Moderno: Design for Living in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela, 1940-1978
October 11, 2015 through January 17, 2016
“Moderno is the first exhibition of its kind to showcase the unique take on modern mid-century interior design from the region,” says the Blanton’s curator of Latin American art, Beverly Adams. The exhibit will illustrate how deeply design transformed the domestic landscape in Latin America through beautiful and innovative objects including furniture, ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles and drawings — many of which will be exhibited for the first time.
“The cultural situations in each of the countries represented provided rich contexts for designers to fuse principles of high design with local materials and traditions,” explains Adams. “The results are both innovative and incredibly cool.”
The exhibition is organized by Americas Society, Inc., and made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council of the Arts and many more. For more information and a complete list of supporters, head here.
The Crusader Bible: A Gothic Masterpiece
December 12, 2015 through April 3, 2016
“The Crusader Bible: A Gothic Masterpiece presents the famous medieval picture Bible from the Morgan Library & Museum of New York. Created in 13th century France, the manuscript is celebrated for its Old Testament scenes vividly depicted in medieval settings,” explains Blanton curatorial research associate Jeongho Park. The Blanton’s presentation of this important manuscript will include more than 40 unbound folios by seven anonymous artists. Bright images of medieval castles, towns and battling knights in armor will bring Old Testament stories to life.
“Visitors will also learn about the Crusader Bible’s fascinating journey from France to Italy, Poland, Persia, Egypt, England and New York,” says Park, “which exemplifies active interactions between different cultures.”
The exhibition is organized by The Morgan Library & Museum, New York and made possible by the Janine Luke and Melvin R. Seiden Fund for Exhibitions and Publications, the Sherman Fairchild Fund for Exhibitions, and more. For more information and a complete list of supporters, head here.
Come As You Are: Art of the 1990s
February 21 through May 15, 2016
The '90s “are back” and Come As You Are is the first major American museum survey to historicize the art of the pivotal, grunge-y decade. The exhibit will chart “the influence of globalization, the digital revolution, identity politics and the AIDS crisis on contemporary art,” explains the Blanton's Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Evan Garza.
Organized around three principle themes — the so-called “identity politics” debates, the digital revolution and globalization — the exhibit offers an overview of art made between 1989 and 2001. Yes, the show’s title refers to the 1992 Nirvana song, says Garza, and it will feature around 60 works in a diverse range of media “by more than 45 celebrated artists.”
The exhibition is organized by the Montclair Art Museum and made possible through generous support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The Blanton will construct Austin this year, a stone building designed by renowned artist Ellsworth Kelly.
