A Trip to the Whitney Museum is Well Worth Your Time
The history of the Whitney Museum of American Art reaches back decades, when Gertrude Vanderbilt, the great-granddaughter of Cornelius “The Commodore” Vanderbilt, realized not only her gifts as a sculptor but her mission as a passionate supporter of contemporary American artists. As a young woman, Gertrude lived a life of luxury, residing in her family’s mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York City and spending summers in Newport, Rhode Island in one of the country’s most opulent homes, The Breakers. Having discovered the artistic world in her travels to France, she began studying sculpture in New York and Paris. Her early training with public monument sculptors was evident in her professional commissions of public sculptures across the country.
Gertrude Vanderbilt’s marriage to Harry Payne Whitney in 1896 brought even more social connections and wealth into her sphere. Despite her family and husband’s lack of support for her artistic endeavors, she was already becoming recognized in her medium and in 1907 she officially established her studio in Greenwich Village. She showcased her work alongside other well-respected artists such as Robert Henri and Jo Davidson. Through her consistent support of makers of contemporary art, she amassed an impressive art collection, which would become the foundation of her future gallery.
When in 1929 the Metropolitan Museum of Art declined her offer to donate her collection, she created her own museum by expanding her existing studio spaces. In 1963 the new Whitney Museum opened in the very modern Marcel Breuer building on Madison Ave, which displayed her collection, plus the ever growing collection until 2014. In 2015, the new Whitney Museum of American Art opened at 99 Gansevoort Street, featuring expansive, column-free wall spaces and offering breathtaking rooftop views of the city and the Hudson River.
Thanks to Gertrude’s lifetime of dedication to contemporary American artists, visitors today can thoughtfully gaze at the museum’s incredible collection, installed in an astonishing 220,000 square foot space encompassing nine stories. I single this collection out particularly because for so many museums throughout the country, and world really, there is a very strong focus on the art of the past. But at the Whitney, you can see works by Edward Hopper, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Marsen Hartley, and Alexander Calder, to name a few.
Alongside its significant permanent collection, the Whitney continually prepares for upcoming exhibitions. One of the highlights, running from September 25th through February 9th, 2025, is a tribute to the life and work of renowned American choreographer Alvin Ailey. Visitors will be able to see a range of visual art, music, video installations, and even live performances in honor of Ailey’s work; he had an extraordinary impact on American dance, and was a pioneer in arts education, promoting it in communities often underserved.
Another artist currently on display until December 2nd is Wanda Gag, an illustrator of children’s books. The collection displays nearly two decades of her works that includes those produced just prior to her death in 1946. There are samples of her many letters and diaries she wrote over the years as well as her illustrations of still lifes, landscapes and interiors.
The Whitney Museum of American Art continues to foster and support the community by helping to make the experience accessible to all who come. There are regularly scheduled events, lectures, and tours available, and plenty of programming for students and adults. The museum also plays a key role in arts outreach to the community, whether in the classroom, senior centers or community organizations throughout the city.
A visit to the Whitney would not be complete without visiting the rooftop terrace. In a way it is art itself seeing visitors from all over the world smiling and talking about the artists on display, while enjoying the backdrop of the magnificent Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River. Don’t forget to visit the museum store as well, which has an incredible collection of art books and writings about the artists featured.
For more information: https://whitney.org/