About Crystal Bridges

The Permanent Collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art spans five centuries, featuring masterworks by artists from Colonial times through today. The collection on view in the Museum’s main galleries used to be arranged chronologically, providing guests with an overview of both the art and the history of America. Recently galleries that cover the oldest time period, have been rearranged into a mixture of old and new art.

I've been told that Crystal Bridges did this for the sake of diversity and inclusiveness but I feel they got it wrong. There are many wonderful works of art by people who are not "white men" which is what they wanted to get away from. They used pieces from other eras to incorporate women and black and other ethnic groups of men into the display.

If the curators had spent more time and effort, they could have found wonderful works of art by these groups of people that fit into the timeline of those galleries instead of making it a mishmash of time periods. Women and men that would have satisfied these requirements were doing great art but it just wasn't recognized back in the day. How terrific it would have been if Crystal Bridges had taken the time to find this art and finally give these artists the recognition they deserve. That art is out there. Why can't Crystal Bridges find it? I don't think they bothered to look. I try to overlook what they have done to the first few galleries and I hope you can too.

Temporary Exhibitions enhances the guest experience of the Museum by providing opportunities to enjoy traveling exhibitions from other institutions, or special presentations of artworks from our own and other museum collections, organized by Crystal Bridges.

In an effort to be "woke", Crystal Bridges has exhibited some art that is controversial to say the least. Lately, their efforts to be "inclusive" and "diverse" have been (in my opinion) over the top. There must be a way to be "woke" in a more kind and gentle way. I have the feeling they are trying to jam it down our throats and that is not a good thing. Nobody reacts in a positive way to that. Don't they realize in their desire to be "inclusive", they are "excluding" a big part of their audience? I think they just flat out don't care.

Having said all this, Crystal Bridges is still a wonderful place and well worth a visit. You can and will form your own opinion of the art I'm sure.

Crystal Bridges was designed by internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who envisioned a building that would complement the surrounding Ozark landscape. Nestled into a natural ravine, the Museum integrates the element of water on the site through the creation of two spring-fed ponds that are spanned by two signature bridge structures and surrounded by a group of pavilions housing Museum galleries and studios.

The trails and grounds of Crystal Bridges are a must-see part of the Museum experience. More than 3.5 miles of trails wind through the Museum’s 120-acre site, providing guests with access to the beautiful Ozark landscape as well as the outdoor artworks