Collections in Conversation: Selections from the Permanent Collection on View 

September 2, 2020 — Now on view at the Kimbell, a new installation of the museum’s internationally renowned permanent collection showcases the museum’s commitment to excellence and invites patrons to experience the depth, diversity and refinement of its extraordinary assembly of masterworks. 

Embracing the philosophy that a single outstanding piece of artwork has the power to educate and inspire more than many representative objects, the Kimbell welcomes visitors to explore exceptional works of art that span time, place and medium. Each distinguished masterpiece in the Kimbell’s collection has been expertly chosen to meet a strict criterion of aesthetic beauty and historical importance. The installation features more than 40 African, Ancient American, Asian and European paintings and sculptures, culminating in a profound offering of the highest caliber that art lovers and culture seekers of all backgrounds will enjoy.

“Museums are forged from curiosity and generosity, and the Kimbell is one of the most perfect and eloquent examples of the quest for the ideal,” said Guillaume Kientz, curator of European art. “Masterpiece after masterpiece, even the smallest object in the collection has the power to invoke the widest humanity, the oldest civilization and the most coveted treasure. Dialogues of colors, shapes and details build visual bridges among cultures, astonish visitors and foster admiration for human creativity.”

Objects from the collection appear in thoughtful dialogue throughout the world-renowned Louis I. Kahn Building. With its open layout and emphasis on natural light as a vital part of illumination, this iconic building is the optimal space for an in-depth exploration of this selection of masterpieces.

“With its enveloping light, Louis Kahn’s architecture offers a solemn yet accessible background for this collection of gems,” Kientz said. “It is a shrine; it is a vault; but most importantly, it is an invitation to a total, unparalleled experience.”

About the Kimbell Art Museum
The Kimbell Art Museum, owned and operated by the Kimbell Art Foundation, is internationally renowned for both its collections and its architecture. The Kimbell’s collections range in period from antiquity to the 20th century and include European masterpieces by artists such as Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Bernini, Velázquez, Monet, Cézanne, Picasso and Matisse; important collections of Egyptian and classical antiquities; and the art of Asia, Africa and the Ancient Americas.

The museum’s 1972 building, designed by the American architect Louis I. Kahn, is widely regarded as one of the outstanding architectural achievements of the modern era. A second building, designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, opened in 2013 and now provides space for special exhibitions, dedicated classrooms and a 289-seat auditorium with excellent acoustics for music. For more information, visit kimbellart.org.

Admission to the museum’s permanent collection is always free. Museum hours are Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fridays, noon–8 p.m.; Sundays, noon–5 p.m.; closed Mondays. For general information, call 817-332-8451.

Images and further press information available upon request.