Whitney Museum of American Art
The largest collections of 20th and 21st century American art
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort Street NY 10014
Phone:
+1 212 570-3600
Mon, Wed, Sun 10:30–18:00
Thur-Sat 10:30–22:00
www.whitney.org
The new building for the Whitney Museum of American Art opened its doors in Meatpacking district. Designed by architect Renzo Piano and situated between the High Line and the Hudson River, the Whitney's new building vastly increases the Museum’s exhibition and programming space, providing the first comprehensive view of its unsurpassed collection of modern and contemporary American art.
Founded in 1931 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the Whitney Museum of American Art started with her sizable personal collection — Whitney donated 600 works to the museum. The family continued to serve as patrons to the museum in later years, with Gertrude's daughter and granddaughter both serving as presidents.
It currently has one of the largest collections of 20th and 21st century American art, including works by Andy Warhol, Robert Henri, Kiki Smith, Thomas Hart Benton, Mark Rothko, Hans Hofmann, and many others. And the tradition of donations continues, with several high-profile collectors making generous gifts to the museum. Every two years, the museum holds the Whitney Biennial, devoted to new achievements in painting, sculpture, graphic art, installations, photographs, and video art.
