A NEWARK ICON STEPS BOLDLY INTO THE FUTURE

With new exhibits, landmark restorations and a dynamic expansion, The Newark Museum of Art remains a cultural force

- BY JENNIFER ALTMANN

The Newark Museum of Art – the state's largest fine art museum – was founded in 1909 with the principle that art was for everyone, an unusual stance at that time. The museum has a rich collection of art from Asia, Africa and the Americas, gathered over more than a century, as well as extensive assemblages of objects in other fields with scientific, artistic and cultural importance. In total, the collection comprises more than 300,000 objects, giving the museum the 12th most extensive collection in the nation.

Its current building, which it has occupied since 1926, is a compelling example of Beaux Arts architecture, set on a 4-acre campus in the heart of Newark. The building's front door, closed for more than 20 years, was reopened in 2018 to create a more welcoming entrance for the public. Last year, the museum welcomed close to 40,000 visitors.

Recently, the museum has worked to highlight its collections of African and Asian art by moving them to more prominent locations, with “Arts of Global Africa” now prominently located in the museum's first gallery.

“There's been an evolution of how we're showcasing the collection,” said Tricia Bloom, the museum's senior curator of American art, noting that the long-term installation “Native Artists of North America” was relocated to the first floor in 2016 at the entrance to the American art galleries, positioning Indigenous art as integral to American art. “We are always looking for new ways to re-contextualize the historical collections.” In addition, reading areas with couches have been added to create spaces where people are encouraged to linger and further explore.