The new Tampa Museum of Art

Feb 2010

The Tampa Museum of Art opened its doors in February to a new 60,000 sq ft museum designed by the San Francisco architect Stanley Saitowitz. For the last 10 years – of 31 years of existing –  the institution have been waiting to accommodate their budget and the right appointments to get a Museum built. Called a “jewell box” by its creator, the new building is itself a frame for art.

Wrapped with 3,000 panels of perforated aluminum embedded with programmable LED lights, the building’s façade shimmers in the light of the day and at night it becomes a canvas for a public art installation by digital light artist Leo Villareal (NY). Inside, a floating staircase leads to the second floor galleries. These galleries provide the museum with dramatically expanded exhibition space, allowing it to display more of its permanent collection and to attract larger, more prominent exhibitions.

Tampa Museum of Art
120 W. Gasparilla Plaza

Tampa, FL  33602
813.274.8130
www.tampamuseum.org