Pictured Above: Striking colors and wallcoverings add a sense of drama to the renovated galleries. The 17th-century hard-stone panel depicting a vase of flowers (above), commissioned by the Medici family, is complemented by the saturated walls of the Baroque gallery.
Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
By Annalise Anderson
The Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg reopened its renovated collection galleries to the public Tuesday.
MFA houses one of the state’s largest encyclopedic collections that spans 5,000 years of art history. Original works from famed artists like Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Norman Rockwell are on display alongside ancient pieces dating back to 2700 B.C.
A thoughtful new layout, dramatic cosmetic changes and engaging installations have given new life to the museum’s 18 galleries. The original 1965 galleries were last updated in 2013, but substantial changes were not made until this year, which coincides with MFA’s 55th anniversary.
MFA Executive Director and CEO Kristen A. Shepherd said that she has been anticipating a redesign of the galleries since she arrived at the museum in 2016.
“We are tremendously excited for visitors to rediscover the Museum of Fine Arts,” Shepherd said. “With major acquisitions in recent years, it was the right moment for us to showcase our important and evolving collection, which has been completely reinstalled to reimagine how we tell the story of art.”
More than 100 works that were not previously on display have been added to the galleries; some are on display for the first time and others have returned after several years in art storage.
Courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
The museum’s redesigned layout guides visitors through a cohesive timeline of the permanent collection’s history. Five new self-guided tours with titles like “Flower Power” and “Form & Function” offer further insight about the collection.
Increased natural light and repainted walls are among the galleries’ many cosmetic changes. MFA curators rearranged works so that they are, quite literally, presented in a new light and against complementary backdrops to enhance visitors’ impressions.
Engaging displays and videos have also been added to highlight some of the collection’s most spectacular details.
MFA collaborated with The Florida Orchestra to present its new program, Resonance, in conjunction with the renovation. Recorded performances from the orchestra play in specific galleries throughout the day, encouraging visitors to explore the relationship between sound and visual art.
Shepherd calls the renovation “a thrilling moment” in the museum’s history and “a step forward for the MFA, for the arts and for the Tampa Bay region.”
A phased renovation was set to begin this summer, but the museum’s temporary closure due to COVID-19 allowed for acceleration of the project.
MFA’s student and educator admission is $15 and standard admission is $20. The museum is closed Monday, but open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. MFA Café and the museum store remain closed.
Face coverings, social distancing and temperature checks are required of all guests and tickets must be purchased in advance online.
Find the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg at 225 Beach Dr. NE.
