Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive facts for kids
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| Former name | University Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive (UAM/PFA) |
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| Established | 1963 |
| Location | 2155 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94720 |
| Type | art museum, film archive |
| Architect | Mario Ciampi (1970), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (2016) |
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is a special place that combines an art museum, a movie theater, and a film archive. It is connected to the University of California, Berkeley. BAMPFA shows amazing art and films from all over the world. Julie Rodrigues Widholm became its Director in August 2020.
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Discover the Collections at BAMPFA
BAMPFA has two main parts: a large art collection and a fascinating film archive. Both offer unique ways to explore creativity and history.
Art Collection Highlights
The art collection at the University of California started in 1870. A painting called Flight into Egypt was given to the university. The museum officially began in 1963. This happened after artist Hans Hofmann donated 45 paintings and money. The first museum building opened in 1970. It was designed by Mario Ciampi.
What Art Can You See?
BAMPFA holds over 22,000 pieces of art. You can find ancient Chinese paintings and Indian miniature art. There are also old master drawings and early American paintings. The collection includes African-American quilts and modern photography. You can also see international contemporary art.
Famous Artists Featured
The museum has shown works by many famous artists. These include Joan Brown, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko. You might also see art by Helen Frankenthaler and Paul Gauguin.
The MATRIX Program
BAMPFA also has a special program called MATRIX. This program focuses on contemporary art. It has featured artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. Other artists include Louise Bourgeois and Sol LeWitt.
Special Art Acquisitions
In 2009, the museum received a gift of 56 paintings and drawings. These were part of the "Abu Ghraib Series" by Fernando Botero. They are often shown in exhibits about human rights. In 2014, BAMPFA got a large collection of Conceptual art. This made the museum a major center for studying this art style.
In 2019, the museum received almost 3,000 works by African-American quilt makers. This gift is known as the Eli Leon Collection. It includes over 500 quilts by the amazing artist Rosie Lee Tompkins. This collection now makes up about 15% of the museum's art.
Pacific Film Archive (PFA)
The Pacific Film Archive (PFA) started showing films in 1966. It was founded by Sheldon Renan. The PFA is known for showing films in a special way. They often explore how films connect to history or ideas. Film scholars and filmmakers also give talks here.
What's in the Film Archive?
The archive has 16,000 films and videos. It holds the largest collection of Japanese films outside of Japan. The PFA also has a library for studying films. You can find online lists of their films and books.
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This photo shows a big exhibit of Hans Hofmann's work in March 2019. He helped start the museum. Photo by Steven Saylor.
BAMPFA's Buildings
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The first Berkeley Art Museum building opened in 1970. It was designed by Mario Ciampi. This building was made of concrete. In 1997, it was found to be unsafe in an earthquake. Iron supports were added in 2001 to make it safer. The Pacific Film Archive moved to a temporary building in 1999.
The New Home of BAMPFA
In 2008, there were plans for a new building. These plans were later changed. Instead, BAMPFA decided to use an old printing plant. This building was built in 1939 and has a cool Art Deco style.
In 2011, new plans for the building were shared. The New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed it. The new building combines the old concrete structure with a modern addition. This addition has new galleries and a 232-seat theater. It also has a store and a learning center.
Construction started in 2013. The museum opened its new doors on January 31, 2016. The building is very large, with 25,000 square feet of gallery space. The old Mario Ciampi building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. It is now being updated for a new purpose.
Images for kids
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Berkeley Art Museum sign (detail), photo by Steven Saylor
See also
In Spanish: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive para niños
