Glenstone

The private museum Glenstone, in Potomac, Maryland, is one of the most important art collections in America. Established by Mitchell and Emily Rales in 2006, it’s a sensual experience that integrates art, architecture, and nature.

Glenstone sits on 230 acres of landscaped grounds. It includes a 204,000-square-foot building, called the Pavilions, designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners; and 130 acres of meadows, woodlands, and streams, reclaimed from subdevelopment. Click here for more info.

Art

Glenstone is integrated into more than 230 acres of gently rolling pasture and unspoiled woodland in Montgomery County, Maryland, less than 15 miles from Washington, DC. Established by the not-for-profit Glenstone Foundation, it opened in 2006 to provide a contemplative setting for experiencing iconic works of art and architecture within a natural environment.

Glenstone Potomac MD’s museum collection spans modern and contemporary art from the 20th century through to present day. A rotating series of thematic and retrospective exhibitions display artworks from the collection, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Alberto Giacometti, Cy Twombly, and Ellsworth Kelly.

A major expansion in 2018 dramatically increases exhibition space for the museum’s collection of post-World War II art. The centerpiece is the Pavilions, a 204,000-square-foot building surrounded by a dramatic landscape boasting 6,000 new trees and 55 native species.

Architecture

Located on 230 landscaped acres, Glenstone strives to provide a seamless integration of art and architecture in an environment that encourages visitors to set aside their daily concerns as they walk the grounds. The landscape design integrates walking paths, bridges and restored meadows and woodlands, allowing art and architecture to be experienced in an integrated environment that reflects both natural processes and human expression.

In 2018, Glenstone completed an expansion of its exhibition space and landscape, designed by Thomas Phifer of Thomas Phifer & Partners. The centerpiece is a complex called The Pavilions, a cluster of rooms varying in scale and proposition embedded in a rise in the land.

The Pavilions, which opened in 2018, house 11 rooms for artwork installations, either changing or semi-permanent, connected by a glass-enclosed passage opening onto an 18,000 square foot landscaped water court. Throughout the building, natural lighting is carefully controlled to allow viewers to experience the works without distracting them from their contemplation of the surrounding landscape. This article is worth reading.

Landscape

Glenstone, located 15 miles from Washington DC, is the largest private contemporary art museum in the United States. Its exhibitions are drawn from a collection of about 1,300 post-World War II works by artists from around the globe.

As a visitor enters Glenstone, they are greeted by a small county road edged by restored woodlands. Then, leaving their cars in parking groves, they are led over a timber bridge into an expansive meadow, framed by monumental outdoor sculptures.

Designed by Thomas Phifer and PWP Landscape Architecture, the landscape envelops visitors from the moment they arrive, encouraging them to set aside their everyday concerns and engage in art and architecture within an integrated natural environment. Restoring the site’s original 230 acres, the landscape consists of walking paths, bridges and restored meadows and woodlands with more than 6,000 trees of 55 native species.

Whether you’re exploring the Pavilions and other main galleries, or strolling among the outdoor sculptures, you can’t help but feel that you’ve entered another world entirely. That’s because the art and the landscape are all graced by a sense of tranquility that you won’t find anywhere else in the Washington area.

Sustainability

On 230 acres of landscape that fully integrates art, architecture and nature in Potomac MD, Glenstone Museum challenges visitors to think deeply about the importance of art in their lives. Founded in 2006, Glenstone features a collection of preeminent post-World War II and contemporary works that focus on critical moments in artists’ careers.

The art collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs and installations that have come to international prominence since World War II. Thematic and retrospective exhibitions present these works on a rotating basis.

In addition to its art, Glenstone’s 230 acres of land include paths, trails, streams, meadows and forests. These areas support the museum’s mission to inspire people to think about and appreciate art, while also enhancing the health of the natural environment.

In 2018, Glenstone opened a new 7,200-square-foot Environmental Center, which advances the sustainability efforts that are central to its mission. The facility opened with a ceremony featuring remarks by Emily Rales, Director and Co-Founder of Glenstone; Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Environmental Protection; Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive; and Paul Tukey, Chief Sustainability Officer of Glenstone Museum. Browse the next article.

 

 

Driving direction from Rebecca Munster Designs to Glenstone

Driving direction from Glenstone to Rock Creek Regional Park