Clark Art Institute Unveils Design for Aso O. Tavitian Wing
Designed by Selldorf Architects, the 12-gallery stone facade building is scheduled for completion in 2028
A distinguished European art collection will soon have a new home at one of the rare institutions devoted to art research and education. The Aso O. Tavitian Wing of the Clark Art Institute is set to break ground in 2027, for completion in 2028. When finished, it will house the treasures of the Tavitian Collection, which was donated to the Institute in 2024 and contains works by an enviable list of some of the greatest names in art history: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Andrea della Robbia, Agnolo Bronzino, Anthony van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, and Elisabeth Louise Vigée-Lebrun (portraitist to Marie Antoinette) Currently, 150 highlights from the collection are on view in “An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection.”
It is an extraordinary thing for a Bernini sculpture to find itself in a bucolic Massachusetts setting, and Clark Director Esther Bell Hardymon reflected on this, saying, “This elegant new addition to the Clark campus will be the physical manifestation of two great visions: the unparalleled eye of collector Aso O. Tavitian, and the peerless design of architect Annabelle Selldorf. When complete, the building will fit seamlessly into our landscape and greatly enhance the experience of all visitors.”
Selldorf, recently commissioned for the Louvre expansion, is a likewise noteworthy aspect of what makes the Tavitian Wing special. The wing itself will hold 12 galleries that will allow for an intimate setting. It will also increase storage space and connect with the Clark Institute’s main building and Manton Research Center, blending with the rest of the campus. “The scale, materials, use of natural light, and views of the landscape will enable visitors to view the extraordinary works of art in new galleries that are at once intimate yet present memorable proportions,” said Selldorf, continuing, “They are focused on the experience of the eminent collection and orient visitors to the surrounding Berkshires and the Clark campus.”
Landscaping will be handled by previous Selldorf collaborator Reed Hilderbrand, known for their harmonious arrangements.
