Phoenix Art Museum

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this certainly applies to great works of art. Now art lovers can behold the beauty of the very museum that showcases the art they love. The Phoenix Art Museum has combined creative architectural design with $50 million in capital to expand and enhance this downtown Phoenix landmark.

As visitors enter from Central Avenue, they first note the striking new entry plaza and glass-enclosed lobby. The 4,374 square-foot lobby features six, flat-panel LCD screens that display attractions at the museum. All 5,000 square feet of the lobby's outdoor plaza are sheltered by a canopy. An elevated grassy glade and contemporary waterfall complete the setting.

The Ellen & Howard Katz Wing for Modern Art, a new, four-level gallery wing, includes 25,000 square feet of additional gallery space to house the growing collection of modern, contemporary, and Latin American art as well as the museum's renowned fashion design collection. New exhibition space creates a more comfortable and inspiring atmosphere for world-class shows. The first major exhibition will be Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art which opens January 28, 2007.

Some of the museum's special design features include a 48-foot high, light-filled atrium and a flying staircase (see photo above). From each level of the staircase, visitors can view all of the galleries. Other unique architectural touches include two upper-level enclosed overlook balconies and a sub-ground light well with a tranquil water pool.

The old courtyard is now the Dorrance Sculpture Garden—a one-acre, environmental gallery space for sculptural works of art and room for special events, festivities, and educational programming. Amid more than 140 mature canopy and ornamental trees, the garden incorporates a ground-level running water feature, a central lawn, and terraces for events and outdoor dining.

Last but not least, the Museum Store has doubled its size and expanded the variety of merchandise it offers. One-of-a-kind items include handcrafted jewelry, books, decorative arts, apparel, ceramics, children's toys and activity sets, collectibles, and more. For more information, visit PhxArt.org or call 602-257-1880.