The Blaffer Art Museum is being renovated by the WORK Architecture Company, which is based in New York. After the museum reopens at the end of September, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday — the building is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The museum encourages the UH community to view its collections by offering free admission. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
The UH Blaffer Art Museum is undergoing a $2.25 million renovation and will host their Grand Reopening Gala on Sept. 21.
The building’s reconstruction will also be something that spectators can look forward to seeing, said Director of External Relations Matt Johns.
“Blaffer Art Museum will look completely different inside and out,” Johns said. “The most significant change is the new grand entrance, which is constructed of channel glass from Germany and makes for a dramatic facelift to the building.”
The gala will offer an elegant atmosphere filled with paintings from the artists themselves and will also serve as a thank you to the donors who helped make the refurbishment happen.
“All of the galleries feature state of the art technology and clean polished concrete floors perfect for any exhibition. There is also a kitchen and lounge area that will allow visitors to spend more time in the museum and take advantage of the beautiful new space.”
“The gala, which is already sold out, is an event for all of Blaffer’s most dedicated supporters who helped fund the renovation and have invested in the museum’s future,” said Johns.
“There will be a seated dinner, a silent art auction featuring approximately 40 works from artists around the world who have exhibited at Blaffer and plenty of surprises.”
Formerly known as the Blaffer Gallery, the contemporary art museum advocates showcasing artistic talent from across the globe — up-and-coming artists who have worked hard to get their chance in the spotlight. The museum has been the place of debut for many of those artists.
“Blaffer exhibitions are curated by our director and chief curator, Claudia Schmuckli,” said Johns. “Blaffer hosts exhibitions with the School of Art a couple times a year, but the exhibition program is primarily focused on underrepresented and emerging artists in the international art world.”
The gala has gotten so many supporters that the museum will be hosting another event to further promote the artists.
“Since the event sold out so quickly, we will also be hosting a fundraiser the next evening for $50, which will include drinks and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m.,” said Johns. “It will be a really fun evening for all.”
Though the Blaffer Art Museum is closed for further construction, its reopening is only a few weeks away. For more information about the Blaffer Art Museum, visit www.class.uh.edu/blaffer.
