The Bass Art Museum Reopens After Closing for More Than Two Years

By: Ismael Rodriguez

After two long years and $12 million worth of renovations, The Bass in Miami Beach has reopened with more exhibition galleries than before.

The project was responsible for expanding the museum’s operating space by 50 percent, increasing the number of exhibition galleries from four to eight.

Other upgrades to the museum included the removal of a large ramp in the middle of the museum to make room for additional galleries and an enlarged lobby and reception area.

The patio was also remodeled and enclosed for events and art installations, while the education center was expanded to include a second classroom, multimedia lab and conference room.

New York architect David Gault remodeled the museum with the help of Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, who designed an addition to the museum in 2001. The Art Deco-style building is a landmark that originally opened in 1930.

The City of Miami Beach donated $7.5 million and the Cejas and Lindemann families donated $1 million towards the $12 million renovations. Therefore, the city currently owns the privately run museum.

The expansion to The Bass also correlates with the addition of contemporary art to its existing collection of Old Masters works, according to the Miami Herald.