The Muscarelle Museum of Art Reopens at William & Mary with Expanded Galleries and New Features

The College of William & Mary’s Muscarelle Museum of Art is set to reopen its doors for the first time since closing for renovations in the fall of 2022. The highly anticipated grand reopening will take place on Saturday, February 8, at 10 a.m., marking a new chapter for the museum with expanded exhibits, a modernized architectural design, and brand-new visitor amenities.

A Major Expansion with Private Donor Support

The museum’s transformation is made possible through private donations, with lead donor Martha Wren Briggs ’55 playing a significant role in funding the project. As a result, the newly renamed Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts adds over 42,000 square feet to the museum’s footprint—allowing for three times as much exhibition space as before. The expansion increases the number of galleries from five to 14, ensuring a more diverse and dynamic art experience for visitors.

More Space for Special Exhibitions and Permanent Collections

With its increased capacity, the Muscarelle Museum will now be able to showcase a mix of rotating special exhibitions and permanent collection displays year-round. Muscarelle Museum of Art Marketing and Events Manager Julie Tucker ’01 expressed excitement about the expanded offerings:

“In terms of exhibition space, we’ve gone from five galleries to 14, so we’ll have much more space to show art — it will be a combination of special exhibitions and permanent collection displays that will keep things interesting for visitors with something new to see all the time.”

Enhancing Art Education and Campus Engagement

The newly renovated museum isn’t just about exhibitions—it’s also designed as an academic and research space. The facility will feature seminar rooms, a library, and a study center, providing year-round access for students and faculty.

Tucker highlighted the museum’s increased focus on art education and student engagement, aligning with the vision of lead donor Martha Wren Briggs ’55, who believed in making the visual arts an integral part of the William & Mary experience.

“We have some wonderful new educational spaces so that classes and other groups can engage with the art,” Tucker noted.

Additionally, the museum will collaborate with art and art history professors to integrate exhibitions into their coursework, allowing students to interact directly with curated collections as part of their academic studies.

“We’re working hard to collaborate with faculty across the disciplines to incorporate a visit to the museum and study of our collection into their curriculum,” Tucker added.

New Features: Event Hall, Café, and Museum Store

The newly expanded Muscarelle Museum will also feature a dedicated Event Hall for lectures, art-making workshops, and special community events. Visitors can further enhance their experience with the addition of a café and a museum store.

“Our café will be a really lovely, light-filled space for a coffee or lunch break,” Tucker shared. “And we hope many classes will visit to engage with the art.”

Exciting New Exhibitions

The reopening will debut several new exhibitions, including “Haiti to Harlem: Toussaint L’Ouverture & Jacob Lawrence.” This collection of 15 silkscreen prints by renowned artist Jacob Lawrence visually narrates the Haitian Revolution. Notably, William & Mary art history students curated the exhibit last fall as part of an upper-level curatorial project class (ARTH 331).

“A group of W&M students in the Curatorial Project class created this exhibition last fall, and we’re thrilled to have it on view in the new museum,” Tucker said.

Additionally, visitors will once again be able to experience notable works from the museum’s permanent collection, which had been temporarily housed elsewhere during renovations. Returning exhibits will include:

• Original works by Georgia O’Keeffe

• Mid-century abstract art

• Contemporary Native American pieces

A New Era for the Muscarelle Museum

The Muscarelle Museum’s renovation and expansion mark a significant milestone for William & Mary’s cultural and academic community. With its dramatic increase in exhibition space, modernized facilities, and new educational initiatives, the museum is poised to become a premier destination for art lovers, students, and visitors alike.

The community is invited to join the grand reopening celebration on February 8 at 10 a.m. and experience firsthand the new and improved Muscarelle Museum of Art.

For more details about upcoming exhibitions, events, and visitor information, visit muscarelle.org.