Clark Art Institute, View from South Street: Design by Selldorf Architects, rendering credit to Playtime

Williamstown, Massachusetts — The Clark Art Institute unveiled Selldorf Architects’ design for the new Aso O. Tavitian Wing, a permanent home for the Aso O. Tavitian Collection, among the most significant private collections of European art assembled in the 21st century and one of the largest gifts in the Clark’s history.

“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,” said Esther Bell, Hardymon Director of the Clark.

Twelve galleries on a single level will complement the exquisite works in the Tavitian Collection, many intended to be seen up close in an intimate setting. The new purpose-built wing will significantly expand the Clark’s gallery and art storage spaces and seamlessly connect the main museum building and Manton Research Center, both previously renovated by Selldorf Architects.

Like the Manton Research Center and the museum building itself, the facade of the new addition will be made of stone, set in a thoughtfully designed pattern of multicolored veined marble in tones resonant with the adjacent buildings.

Reed Hilderbrand, longtime collaborators with the Clark and Selldorf Architects, will accentuate the naturally elegant appearance of the building with a serene landscape design that will help the building blend harmoniously with the surrounding pastoral setting.

“We conceived the new wing as a companion to the Manton Research Center and the 1955 museum building. It is sympathetic to each of the volumes it connects, yet its architectural identity and layout are distinct,” said Annabelle Selldorf, principal of Selldorf Architects. “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. They are focused on the experience of the eminent collection and orient visitors to the surrounding Berkshires and the Clark campus,” said Selldorf.

ABOUT THE ASO O. TAVITIAN COLLECTION

Donated to the Clark in 2024 from the foundation of the late art collector, philanthropist, and connoisseur Aso O. Tavitian, the gift includes 132 paintings, 130 sculptures, 39 drawings, and 30 decorative arts objects, creating an important addition to the Clark’s holdings and more than doubling the size of its sculpture collection. Highlights include portraiture, religious and mythological subjects, landscapes, and still lifes. The gift provides $45 million to endow two new positions on the Clark’s curatorial staff to oversee the collection, support its long-term care, and fund construction of the new wing.

Visitors to the Clark can see the new collection in An Exquisite Eye: Introducing the Aso O. Tavitian Collection. Featuring 150 highlights drawn from the complete collection of 331 works, the exhibition will remain on view through February 21, 2027. The exhibition is organized by the Clark Art Institute and curated by Esther Bell, Hardymon Director, and Lara Yeager-Crasselt, Aso O. Tavitian Curator of Early Modern European Painting & Sculpture.