The Tampa Museum of Art is taking the concept of a grand opening seriously.
Opening day on Feb. 5 at the new Tampa Museum of Art will showcase the works of legendary artist, printmaker and sculptor Henri Matisse (1869-1954).
"We wanted the first show to be as spectacular as the building itself," said Todd Smith, executive director for the museum. "He is someone we felt has set a standard for 20th century artistry."
The exhibit, "A Celebration of Henri Matisse," we feature a double set of works on loan from The Baltimore Museum of Art plus the "Matisse as Printmaker" touring exhibit by the American Federation of Arts.
The "A Celebration of Henri Matisse" exhibit will be on display in Tampa Feb. 5 through April 18. It is the largest collection of works by Matisse, known for his use of color and his influence on contemporary art, to come to the Tampa Bay area.
"He's one of those artists that when you open the text book there he is," Smith said. "Almost every major movement in contemporary art can be linked back to Matisse or Picasso."
The AFA exhibition is the first to be drawn from the Pierre and Tana Matisse foundation, which includes works bequeathed from Matisse to his son Pierre.
The museum is currently erecting a $33 million replacement building. The museum doors officially closed to the public in December with plans to open the 66,000-square-foot facility in February 2010.
The building is about 75 percent complete and things are on schedule, Smith said.
"It seems so far away and also seems like tomorrow," he said. "You want it to come but you're scared, too. But we couldn't be happier with the progress and the exhibit."
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