Blanton Museum of Art
Grand Opening Coverage

"In almost every corner of the museum there's something to pique children's interest. A favorite for the 10 and under crowd is the always-open-to-interpretation modern art."
— Amy Hadley, News 8 Austin, May 1, 2006

"The atrium lifts hearts. The galleries flow."
— Michael Barnes, The Austin-American Statesman, April 30, 2006

"The Art Briefs (tour guides) were as multicolored as the paintings they examined: Anglo, African American, Latino, Asian and every other ethnicity under the sun were seen perusing the gallery floors. It was a beautiful sight. Our sleepy little college town is growing up, and now we've got one more first-class museum to inspire our dreams."
— V. Marc Fort, The Austin-American Statesman's Blog during the 24-hour Blanton opening, April 30, 2006

"The new Blanton, with a permanent collection that extends from Renaissance Europe to contemporary Latin America, brings breadth and depth (to Austin's art community). It's contemporary collections are a good match for Austin's demographic: young, active and well-educated."
— Kate Galbraith, The New York Times, April 29, 2006

"What's so striking about the KMW (Kallman McKinnell & Wood) design, particularly for one accustomed to viewing the Blanton holdings in the cramped quarters of the old Huntington Galleries in the Art Building, is how roomy it is; the new Blanton is to the old as Auditorium Shores is to a closet. And considering how the Blanton collection has grown just since the museum was given the green light?that breathing space is needed."
— Robert Faires, The Austin Chronicle, April 28, 2006

"With a subtle mixture of the classical and the contemporary, both in its exhibitions and its overall design, we're pretty sure that the Blanton Museum of Art may well turn out to be a big hit with Texans. But, of course, that all depends on a few things. Does your soul thirst for the truth and simple beauty of classical European forms? Do you often dream of yielding your body to the sensory throes of artistic decadence? Do you wish you could not only read about cutting-edge developments in the arena of contemporary art, but also witness them take shape? The Blanton has just what you're looking for, and then some."
— Spencer Sharpe, The Austinist, April 28, 2006

"With its grand opening this weekend (April 29-30), the Blanton Museum will be the largest university art museum in the country, adding a new cultural centerpiece for the capital city?The sheer size of the main building allows the museum to show off its extensive 17,000-piece collection, which includes works by D?rer, Rubens, Manet, and Picasso."
— Jim Vertuno, Associated Press, April 27, 2006

"There is cause for celebration in Austin this month, as the Blanton Museum of Art welcomes visitors to its brand new state-of-the-art facility on April 30. While construction continues on the museum's Education and Visitor Pavilion (completion is expected in late 2006 or early 2007), the Mari and James A. Michener Gallery Building is open for business and now houses the Blanton's world-class permanent collection of more than 17,000 works of art."
— Southwest Art, April 1, 2006

"As museums go, the Blanton is a treasure. It houses one of the best collections of Latin American art outside of Latin America?the Austin-area will get a prominent museum and cultural hot spot with a name - Blanton - that will be recognized."
— Editorial Board, Austin American-Statesman, March 8, 2006

"Its new location, across the street from the Bullock Texas State History Museum, will give it the potential to create a marketable museum district attractive to visitors. And its collections in some cases rival those of the Met itself."
— Jeanne Claire van Ryzin, Austin American-Statesman, March 4, 2006

"The Mari and James A. Michener Gallery opens to the public April 30. Boston architects Kallmann McKinnell & Wood designed the Neoclassical structure?The new gallery will allow the Blanton-which will ultimately be the largest university museum in the country-to showcase more of its collection, with strong holdings of old master paintings and art of the American West and Latin America."
— Travel and Leisure, March 2006

"See the Old Masters basking in the super-calibrated, climate-controlled splendor at the grand opening of UT Austin's refurbed museum."
— Wired Magazine, April 2006

"Get ready for some superlatives. Just toured the Blanton Museum of Art?This will be Austin's Louvre, Metropolitan Museum and National Gallery all wrapped into one. You can bet we are going to blow coverage of this new/old Austin institution out of the water. It's the No. 1 local arts and entertainment story of the year."
— Austin American-Statesman, January 24, 2006

Read the Austin-American Statesman's series on the opening of the Blanton

Former UT President Larry Faulkner touts the Blanton as best accomplishment:
Faulkner interviewed on KLRU's Texas Monthly Talks: view in Windows Media or Quicktime

Press Room