Norton Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | 1941 |
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| Location | West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Type | Art museum |
| Architect | Marion Sims Wyeth and Lord Norman Foster |
The Norton Museum of Art is an exciting art museum located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It holds a massive collection of over 8,200 artworks! You can explore art from Europe, America, and China. The museum also features lots of contemporary art (which means modern art) and incredible photography. In 2003, it became the largest art museum in Florida.
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History of the Norton Museum
The Norton Museum of Art was started in 1941. It was founded by Ralph Hubbard Norton and his first wife, Elizabeth Calhoun Norton.
Ralph Norton used to be in charge of a company called Acme Steel Co. in Chicago. When he retired, he moved to West Palm Beach. He wanted to share his large collection of paintings and sculptures with everyone. The museum building was designed by Marion Sims Wyeth. It opened its doors to the public on February 8, 1941. The museum's goal is "to preserve for the future the beautiful things of the past."
Exploring the Museum Building
In 2001, the Norton Museum of Art got much bigger. A new part, called the Gail and Melvin Nessel Wing, was added. This expansion made the museum's total size 122,500 square feet (11,380 m2).
In 2013, the museum announced a big plan to make it even better. This $60 million plan was designed by a British architect named Norman Foster. The plan aimed to almost double the museum's gallery space. It also included adding an education center, an auditorium, and a restaurant.
The new West Wing added a very tall Great Hall, which is 43 feet high. A parking lot next to the museum was turned into a large, 9,000-square-foot sculpture garden. A new entrance was also built along South Dixie Highway. This new entrance brought back the original design of the 1941 Art Deco building. Construction on these new parts began in 2016.
The museum closed in July 2018 for these big renovations. It reopened on February 9, 2019. The new museum now has 12,000 square feet (1,100 m2) more gallery space. It also has new classrooms, a restaurant, and a 210-seat auditorium. Plus, there's the beautiful sculpture garden to explore.
The Norton Museum closed for eight months in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It safely reopened in November 2020 with new exhibits and safety rules.
Amazing Art Collection
The galleries on the ground floor show off modern art. You can see American and European art from the 20th century and today. There is also a large collection of Chinese artworks.
On the top floor of the Norton Art Museum, you can find important paintings by famous artists. These include Jacopo Da Firenze, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Peter Paul Rubens, and Anton Van Dyck. You can also see examples of Chinese Export porcelain.
In 2018, the museum received a special gift. Howard and Judie Ganek donated over 100 artworks from their collection. This gift included pieces by artists like Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, Kara Walker, and Cindy Sherman.
Rudin Prize for Photography
In 2012, the Norton Museum of Art started a special award. It's called the Rudin Prize for Emerging Photographers. This prize comes with $20,000! It was created by Beth Rudin DeWoody. The prize is given every two years to a new photographer. This photographer must have never had a museum show before.
2012 Winner The first Rudin Prize went to Analia Saban. She was chosen by John Baldessari.
- Other nominees included Eunice Adorno and Mauro D’Agati.
2014 Winner The second Rudin Prize was given to Rami Maymon. He was nominated by Adi Nes.
- Other nominees included Miriam Böhm and Delphine Fawundu.
2016 Winner The third Rudin Prize was awarded to Elizabeth Bick. She was nominated by Shirin Neshat.
- Other nominees included Clare Benson and Wesley Stringer.
2020 Winner The Rudin Prize was given to Kristin-Lee Moolman. She was nominated by Cindy Sherman.
- Other nominees included David Spero and Jess T. Duggan.
Museum Leaders
Here are the people who have led the Norton Museum over the years:
- 2021–Present: Ghislain d'Humières
- 2019–2020: Elliot Bostwick Davis
- 2010–2019: Hope Alswang
- 1990–2009: Christina Orr-Cahall
