The Norton Museum of Art is an art museum in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Its collection includes over 8,200 works, with a concentration in European, American, and Chinese art as well as in contemporary art and photography. In 2003, it overtook the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, in Sarasota, to become the largest museum in Florida.
History The Norton Museum of Art was founded in 1941 by Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875–1953) and his first wife, Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881–1947).
Norton, the former head of the Chicago-based Acme Steel Co., moved to West Palm Beach upon retirement and decided to share his collection of paintings and sculptures. The late Art Deco/Neoclassical building designed by Marion Sims Wyeth opened its doors to the public on February 8, 1941. Its mission statement is "to preserve for the future the beautiful things of the past."
About
In 2001, the Norton Museum of Art underwent a significant expansion when the Gail and Melvin Nessel Wing was built and increased the size of the museum to .
In 2013, the museum unveiled a $60 million master plan designed by the British architect Norman Foster that would nearly double its gallery space and add an education center, auditorium and restaurant.Robin Pogrebin (December 4, 2013), A New Plan for Norton Museum of Art From Norman Foster New York Times. The new West Wing added a 43-foot-high Great Hall. A parking lot next to the museum was converted into a 9,000-square-foot sculpture garden. A new entrance and forecourt along the main thoroughfare, South Dixie Highway, re-established the axial layout of Norton's original 1941 Art Deco building. As planned, the museum broke ground in 2016.
The museum closed in July 2018 for renovations. It reopened on February 9, 2019, adding of gallery space, new classrooms, a restaurant, a 210-seat auditorium, and the sculpture garden.
Norton Museum closed for eight months in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in November 2020 with new exhibits and safety precautions.
The museum hosts several special programs, including Lectures & Conversations, Art After Dark, Special Performances, Art Classes and Workshops, Families & Teens, Students & Teachers, and the Artist in Residence Program.
Its current hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Tuesday. It is open Friday from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Art after Dark occurs on Friday nights.
Collection The ground-level galleries showcase contemporary and 20th-century American and European art and a comprehensive collection of Chinese works. On the top floor of the museum are noteworthy paintings by late Medieval Italian painter Jacopo Da Firenze, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Joos van Cleve and Studio, Marcantonio Franceschini, Nicolas de Largillière, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, David Teniers and Studio, Jan Thomas Yperen, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and Giovanni Panini. There also are examples of Chinese export porcelain.
In 2018, the Norton Museum of Art received a gift of more than 100 works from the collection of Howard and Judie Ganek, including pieces by Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, Sigmar Polke, Ed Ruscha, Kara Walker, Donald Judd, Matthew Barney, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, and Pipilotti Rist.Andy Battaglia (April 12, 2018), Norton Museum in West Palm Beach Receives Momentous Gift Before Re-Opening in 2019 ARTnews.
Rudin Prize for Emerging Photography In 2012, the Norton Museum of Art launched the Rudin Prize for Emerging Photographers, with a $20,000 prize. It was initiated by Beth Rudin DeWoodyMegan Okrand (December 4, 2012), Analia Saban Wins Inaugural Rudin Photo Prize ARTnews. and is given biennially to an emerging photographer who has never had a museum show.Alex Greenberger (August 9, 2018), Norton Museum of Art Director Hope Alswang to Retire ARTnews.
2012
The inaugural Rudin Prize was awarded to Analia Saban, nominated by John Baldessari. The other nominees were:
Eunice Adorno, nominated by Susan Meiselas Mauro D’Agati, nominated by Michal Rovner Gabriela Nin Solis, nominated by Graciela Iturbide Bjørn Venø, nominated by Yinka Shonibare
2014
The second Rudin Prize was awarded to Rami Maymon, nominated by Adi Nes. The other nominees were:Sarah Cascone (December 1, 2014), Israeli Rami Maymon Wins the Rudin Prize for Emerging Photography artnet.
Miriam Böhm, nominated by Thomas Demand Delphine Fawundu, nominated by Deborah Willis Renato Osoy, nominated by Luis González Palma
2016
The third Rudin Prize was awarded to Elizabeth Bick, nominated by Shirin Neshat. The other nominees were:Sarah Cascone (January 9, 2017), Elizabeth Bick Wins 2016 Rudin Prize for Emerging Photography artnet.
Clare Benson, nominated by Arno Rafael Minkkinen Wesley Stringer, nominated by Michael Kenna Alexandra Hunts, nominated by Rineke Dijkstra
2020
The Rudin Prize was awarded to Kristin-Lee Moolman, nominated by Cindy Sherman. The other nominees were:
David Spero, nominated by Ori Gersht Jess T. Duggan, nominated by Dawoud Bey Lina Hashim, nominated by Trine Søndergaard
Leadership 2021–: Ghislain d'HumièresNancy Kenney (December 3, 2020), Norton Museum of Art appoints Ghislain d’Humières, former director at the Speed, as its new leader ARTnews. 2019–2020: Elliot Bostwick DavisMaximilíano Durón (September 17, 2018), Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach Names Elliot Bostwick Director ARTnews.Claire Selvin, Tessa Solomon, Maximilíano Durón (June 8, 2020), ARTnews in Brief: Berlin Biennale Reveals New Dates for 2020 Edition—and More from June 12, 2020 ARTnews. 2010–2019: Hope AlswangCarol Kino (March 14, 2012), Meet the New Boss, in the Shadow of the Old Boss New York Times. 1990–2009: Christina Orr-Cahall
Notes
External links
Official website