The most recent statistics show that there are approximately 17,500 museums in the United States, both big and small. Amongst all of them, there is a special university art museum that we want to draw your attention to. It is known as the Blanton Museum of Art, and it is one of the largest university art museums in the U.S., with almost 190,000 square feet devoted to art exhibitions, classrooms, administrative offices, storage, auditoriums, café, and a shop.
A University Art Museum of Paramount Importance
History
The Blanton Museum of Art was founded at the University of Texas at Austin in 1963. It appeared with the help of Archer M. Huntington, who donated his lands for the construction of a museum building. Throughout its rich history, the Museum has seen four directors. Simone Wicha, the fifth and current one, was named in 2011. Today, the Blanton is a world-class university art museum that houses the largest public collection in Central Texas.
Collection
The permanent collection of the Blanton Museum of Art is the main reason why one will fall in love with this amazing institution. Nearly 18,000 works of art spanning different periods of history are presented to the delight of art connoisseurs. Here you can find many exceptional examples of European, Latin American, Western American, Modern, and Contemporary Art, ranging from paintings and drawings to sculptures and fine art prints.
Among the highlights of the Blanton collection are Greek, Roman, and Etruscan vases dating to the 6th century BCE, Old Master paintings by Raphael and Correggio, early prints by Hendrick Goltzius and Claud Lorrain, and more. There are also many works by James Michener, Thomas Hart Benton, El Anatsui, Alice Neel, and other major 20th-century artists.
Location
The Blanton Museum of Art is located at 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Austin, TX. It is open daily except Mondays.