Burchfield Penney Art Center facts for kids
| Established | December 9, 1966 |
|---|---|
| Location | Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Type | Art museum |
| Collection size | Over 12,000 works by Western New York artists |
| Public transit access | Metro Bus 20 |
The Burchfield Penney Art Center, often called the Burchfield Penney, is a special place for art and learning. It's part of Buffalo State University in Buffalo, New York, USA. This center was started in 1966 to honor the amazing American painter Charles E. Burchfield. It was first known as the Charles E. Burchfield Center.
Today, the Burchfield Penney has a museum, a library, and spaces for art activities. It holds the biggest collection of Charles Burchfield's artwork anywhere in the world. You can also find many artworks by other famous artists from the Buffalo and Western New York area. It's a hub for the rich art scene in the region.
Contents
History of the Art Center
How the Museum Started
The museum first opened its doors on December 9, 1966. It was called the Charles E. Burchfield Center back then. The opening ceremony took place in Rockwell Hall. Charles E. Burchfield himself was there for this special event. Sadly, he passed away just over a month later.
Moving to a New Home
In November 2008, the museum moved to a brand new building. This new home is located on 4.9 acres of land. It sits at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Rockwell Road in Buffalo, New York. The Burchfield Penney officially opened its new location on November 22, 2008. They even had a 31-hour non-stop grand opening party! The new building is 84,000 square feet in size. It was designed by a company called Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects.
Connecting with the Community
One of the main goals of the Burchfield Penney today is to be welcoming to everyone. They want to be a unique and inviting place for the public. For example, their "Front Yard" exhibit is very cool. It uses three tall steel projectors to show changing artwork on the outside of the building. This means the art on the building is always different and exciting to see. The museum also works closely with schools and Buffalo State University.
Art Collection
What You Can See
The museum's permanent collection includes art from the late 1800s all the way up to today. It has the world's largest collection of Charles Burchfield's artworks. You can also find a huge collection of his drawings, notes, and personal journals. While the museum focuses a lot on Burchfield's work, it is also the only museum completely dedicated to the art and artists of Buffalo. Each year, they feature more than 18 different art shows.
Featured Artists
The collection also includes many other types of art. You can see traditional art from the mid-1800s. There are also modern media arts. Some of the notable artists whose work is in the collection include Claire Shuttleworth, Virginia Cuthbert, Charles Cary Rumsey, Steina Vasulka, Paul Sharits, and Ruth Erb Hoffman.
The museum also has art by the founders of Hallwalls. These artists include Charles Clough, Robert Longo, Diane Bertolo, Nancy Dwyer, Cindy Sherman, and Michael Zwack. You can also find one of the world's largest collections by the photographer Milton Rogovin. There are paintings and prints by J.J. Lankes, who was from Buffalo. Plus, you can see work by skilled craftspeople from Roycroft.
More to Explore
- List of single-artist museums
