Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville recently opened two art galleries, one on campus and a satellite gallery at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Highfill.
The new gallery at the museum is its first transformed gallery to open to the public as part of the museum’s 114,000-square-foot expansion, which is expected to be completed in 2026, according to a news release.
The “Foundations of American Art Gallery” is in the former Contemporary space and features works from the “Early American” collection, such as Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1” and Richard Caton Woodville’s “War News from Mexico.” The installation highlights artists and stories from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.
The updated space has interactive elements, including large-scale graphics, touchable objects, digital features, library books in English and Spanish, soundscapes, frames, and newly displayed rare books from the Crystal Bridges Library collection. Outside, a new garden courtyard inspired by the landscapes of Martin Johnson Heade features a mix of tropical and native plants alongside sculpture.
As part of the expansion, the museum is moving almost every work of art in the building. Gallery transformation work started in March. The next phase of art movement in the galleries will begin in late September.
The new gallery at XNA is just past the security checkpoint near the B gates. It will include a rotating selection of artwork from Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection.
The gallery opened with “Home and Away,” a new exhibit organized by the museum. It features paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings from the collection — some on view for the first time, according to a news release.
“The show offers a compelling look at how American artists navigate themes of place and discovery. One half of the exhibition focuses on the familiar — scenes from home, neighborhoods, and sweeping views of a storied frontier. The other half ventures outward, highlighting artists inspired by travel and distant horizons.”