Richard and Marion Bloch, courtesy Strauss Peyton.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is getting a $11.7 million dollar renovation to better showcase the Marion and Henry Bloch Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art.
The Bloch collection was displayed in 2007 when the museum’s Bloch Building opened, and the Blochs gave it to the Nelson-Atkins in 2010.
After the renovation, the works will be integrated into the European collection. Renovation of those galleries will mean the northeast quadrant of the Plaza level of the original museum building will be closed to visitors for nearly two years starting this summer. The rest of the museum will not be affected by the renovation.
“This is a transformational gift, and it represents great collectors working with our museum directors and art scholars to seek out important works of art that would one day be shared with all of Kansas City,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, CEO & Director of the Nelson-Atkins, said in a press release. “Marion and Henry Bloch worked with Ted Coe, director of the Nelson-Atkins from 1977 to 1982, to select these Impressionist works of art.”
“Under the stewardship of Marc Wilson, the Bloch Collection was gifted to the Nelson-Atkins, and now we are working on a transformation of the galleries so that the Bloch Collection shines in a new light. We are deeply grateful to the Blochs not only for the gift of the art, but also for the funding to renovate the galleries,” he said.
“I personally know the love and appreciation that Marion and Henry experienced as they collected each of these exceptional works of art,” said Shirley Bush Helzberg, Chair of the Nelson-Atkins Board of Trustees. “I cannot imagine anything more meaningful to the family than seeing these masterpieces on the walls of our state-of-the-art museum.”
The target date for reopening the galleries is Spring 2017.
BNIM, a Kansas City design and architecture firm, will be handling the renovation, along with J. E. Dunn Construction Group.
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