WASHINGTON — The National Gallery of Art will reopen its East Building to the public later this month after three years of renovations.
Visitors will enjoy more than 12,000 square feet of new gallery space that includes an outdoor roof sculpture terrace that overlooks Pennsylvania Avenue and two new indoor tower galleries flank the terrace.
Originally designed by I.M. Pei, the East Building displays the gallery’s modern art collection. It will reopen on Sept. 30.
One of the new tower galleries showcases works by Alexander Calder and the other tower gallery showcases abstract expressionist works that include a changing selection of paintings by Mark Rothko and Barnet Newman’s beloved “The Stations of the Cross.”
In addition to the two new tower galleries and roof space, the permanent collection of modern art has been reinstalled. That collection contains 500 works, an increase from 350 works, said Anabeth Guthrie with the National Gallery of Art.
“Our galleries have been closed for three years. And we have a renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. So we’re excited to reveal these new galleries,” Guthrie said.
The roof terrace features several outdoor sculptures, but one seems to stand out: a big, electric blue, rooster sculpture by Katharina Fritsch. The sculpture is expected to become a signature piece of the gallery.
Visitors to the roof will also find built-in seats, trees and plants and views of the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue.
The gallery will offer extended hours through April.
“The second Thursday of each month we will have evening hours in the East Building,” Guthrie said. The “Evenings at the Edge: After-hours at the National Gallery of Art” will celebrate the reopening.
The first extended evening will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 13. The East Building is located at Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
