National Gallery of Art East Building

The I.M. Pei-designed East Building houses the National Gallery of Art’s collection of modern and contemporary art. The 2016 renovation adds 12,250 square feet of new exhibition space within the existing footprint of the building, including two soaring tower galleries and a rooftop terrace for outdoor sculpture that overlooks Pennsylvania Avenue. Also new are two staircases and an elevator that permit easier access to all levels of the building. In the galleries, a reimagined installation of the collection integrates new acquisitions and includes for the first time photography, works on paper, and media arts in addition to painting and sculpture to tell a more expansive story of modern art. Chronological, stylistic, and thematic arrangements provide new and thought-provoking juxtapositions. The number of works on view from the collection has increased from 350 to 500.

There are several resources available to the media about the renovation, expansion, and reopening. Images, background documents, and factsheets present details and a history of the East Building. Images are available for order. If you need further resources, or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Communications at [email protected].

Available Press Images: National Gallery of Art East Building