{"id":6863,"date":"2026-03-12T14:52:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mam.org\/info\/pressroom\/?p=6863"},"modified":"2026-03-12T14:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:52:35","slug":"milwaukee-art-museum-reimagines-the-bradley-wing-of-modern-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mam.org\/info\/pressroom\/2026\/03\/milwaukee-art-museum-reimagines-the-bradley-wing-of-modern-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee Art Museum Reimagines the Bradley Wing of Modern Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A fresh installation highlights 20th-century treasures and the Museum\u2019s modern collection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MILWAUKEE, WI\u2014May 12, 2025\u2014<\/strong>The Milwaukee Art Museum will unveil a major reinstallation of its renowned Bradley Wing of Modern Art, featuring a fresh presentation of the institution\u2019s significant collection of 20th-century art. Opening to the public March 14, 2026, the reimagined galleries invite visitors to rediscover the defining movements and artists of modernism, from German Expressionism and postwar abstraction to modern sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reinstallation builds on the success of The Bradley Collection of Modern Art: A Bold Vision for Milwaukee<\/a><\/em>, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Harry Lynde \u201cPeg\u201d Bradley\u2019s transformational collection going on view to the public. While that exhibition explored the collector\u2019s impact, the new installation turns its focus on the art itself, highlighting the Museum\u2019s particular strengths and how they shaped the broader story of 20th-century art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeg Bradley\u2019s generosity gave Milwaukee one of the most distinguished modern art collections in the nation,\u201d said Elizabeth Siegel, chief of curatorial affairs<\/strong>. \u201cThis reinstallation allows us to showcase those strengths in a way that connects past and present, bringing new life to these works and new meaning to their place in our city\u2019s story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bradley\u2019s influence reaches far beyond the work she collected. Her gift of nearly 400 modern masterpieces transformed the Museum\u2019s collection and inspired the construction of the David Kahler-designed wing, with dedicated galleries named in her honor. That expansion laid the groundwork for the Museum\u2019s architectural evolution, later culminating in the Santiago Calatrava-designed addition that made the institution an international landmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The renewed installation will guide visitors chronologically through the emergence and evolution of modern art, beginning with early modernism in Europe and culminating in postwar art in America. Strong holdings of German Expressionism anchor the experience, including eleven paintings by Gabriele M\u00fcnter, one of the most substantial collections of her work outside of Germany. The galleries will also feature eleven celebrated works by Georgia O\u2019Keeffe, whose close relationship with Peg Bradley resulted in one of the most significant groupings of O\u2019Keeffe paintings in any museum, and by Barbara Hepworth, Mark Rothko, Stuart Davis, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Peg Bradley\u2019s collecting journey laid out the foundation for the Museum\u2019s modern holdings, the reinstallation expands the story to include key works to complement the collection she created. Together, these additions provide a more comprehensive view of 20th century art and the Museum\u2019s evolving strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visitors will encounter newly conserved and reframed works, updated interpretive materials, and a more cohesive gallery design. The project underscores the Museum\u2019s commitment to renewing how its collection is presented, ensuring that each generation can experience the vibrancy and power of modern art anew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery reinstallation tells a new story,\u201d said Kim Sajet, PhD, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director<\/strong>. \u201cThis one reveals how the Bradley Collection has become inseparable from the identity of the Museum itself, a testament to how one person\u2019s vision can inspire generations and shape a city\u2019s cultural future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Milwaukee Art Museum extends its sincere thanks to the Visionaries for their support of the exhibition program.<\/strong>
Mark and Debbie Attanasio
Donna and Donald Baumgartner
Murph Burke
Bill and Sandy Haack
Chris Harned and Elizabeth Quadracci Harned
The Helmerich Trust
Kenneth and Alice Kayser
Joan Lubar and John Crouch
Jeff and Gail Yabuki<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Bradley Wing of Modern Art opens Saturday, March 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Admission<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Adults: $27
Students, seniors (65+), military: $20
Kids 12 and under: Free, thanks to an anonymous donor
Wisconsin K\u201312 teachers: Free with valid school ID or pay stub
Members: Free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday Nights at MAM<\/strong>
Every Thursday, admission is pay-what-you-wish from 4 to 8 p.m. Museum admission includes access to collection and exhibition galleries and the Kohl\u2019s Art Studio, which is open Friday\u2013Sunday, 10 a.m.\u20134 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership<\/strong>
Members enjoy free admission, exclusive programs, and special access throughout the year. Learn more at mam.org\/membership<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience the Burke Brise Soleil<\/strong>
Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Museum\u2019s iconic wings open daily with the Museum, close and re-open at noon, and close at 10 p.m. The wings are illuminated nightly from sundown to 10 p.m.; movement is weather permitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the Milwaukee Art Museum<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Milwaukee Art Museum is an essential destination for art and architecture and a vital cultural resource that connects visitors to dynamic art experiences and one another. Housed in iconic buildings by Santiago Calatrava, Eero Saarinen, and David Kahler on a 24-acre lakefront campus, the Museum is Wisconsin\u2019s largest art institution and home to both broad and deep collections, with exceptional holdings in American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; European art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design; folk and self-taught art; and twentieth-century Haitian art. A bold symbol of Milwaukee\u2019s ambition and forward-thinking vision, the Museum is a place for community building, education, and celebration that fosters creativity, free speech, and critical discourse for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mam.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Media Contact<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For more information or to request hi-res images, please contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cortney Heimerl<\/strong>
Milwaukee Art Museum
communications@mam.org<\/a>
414-940-0490<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Image:<\/strong> Photo by Front Room Studios<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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