Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell Art Museum is an art museum in Fort Worth, Texas, known for its high-quality permanent collection and two architecturally significant buildings. The original facility, designed by Louis Kahn, is widely cited for its vaulted galleries and controlled natural light.

Collections span a range of periods and media with a relatively small but highly regarded selection of works, presented in carefully proportioned galleries. In 2013 the museum expanded with a pavilion designed by Renzo Piano to add gallery, study, and conservation space while keeping the Kahn building as the centerpiece.

The museum was established by the Kimbell Art Foundation and is used both as a public museum and a center for exhibitions and educational programs. The two buildings are studied by architects and museum professionals for their approaches to gallery design and natural lighting.

Located in the Cultural District of Fort Worth, the museum sits near other cultural institutions and is accessible from downtown Fort Worth.

• Architecture: The museum is noted for the architectural quality of its buildings and their daylighting rather than for a very large collection.

What to See #

• Louis Kahn building: The original building designed by Louis Kahn features low vaulted galleries and a celebrated natural-lighting scheme that opened in the early 1970s.
• Piano Pavilion: A modern expansion by Renzo Piano, the Piano Pavilion, opened in 2013 to provide additional gallery space and conservation facilities while preserving the Kahn building's setting.