Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the substantial completion of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, one of the foremost modern and contemporary art museums in the world. The $195 million expansion, restoration, and renovation project includes the dramatic new three-story Jeffrey E. Gunlach building and the restoration of two other historic buildings on the campus formerly known as Albright-Knox Art Gallery. AKG is projected to increase visitation by more than 30 percent and attract at least 160,000 visitors per year. It is estimated that the region could experience a sustained economic benefit of an additional $34 million per year as a result of the increased tourism.
“The breathtaking Buffalo AKG Art Museum is one of the world’s finest institutions for modern and contemporary art — showcasing the economic and cultural renaissance Western New York has experienced in recent years,” Governor Hochul said. “Buffalo is very fortunate to have a world-renowned art museum with a reputation that has grown to even greater prominence as it expands its campus and collection of works. The new building and campus are a dramatic work of art that will attract visitors and support the regional tourism economy for decades to come.”
The expanded campus, located at 1285 Elmwood Avenue, features the spectacular new Jeffrey E. Gundlach building named after the financier and native Buffalonian who contributed $65 million to the project. The three-story translucent building, designed by architect Shohei Shigematsu, includes a visitor services desk, a black box theater, twelve galleries, a sculpture terrace, coffee bar, underground parking, and a vast subbasement housing state-of-the-art air handlers.
The radical expansion of the campus also includes extensive renovation of the museum’s existing historic buildings and grounds. An interior community gathering space, multiple classrooms and more than half an acre of public greenspace has been added and integrated within Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, enhancing the extraordinary experience of art and nature. The new John J. Albright glass-walled bridge will connect the Gundlach building with the Wilmers building. The dimensions of the curving bridge enable the museum to transport artworks from one end of the campus to the other. The Seymour H. Knox building features a courtyard that is covered by a new sculpture called Common Sky, a new restaurant, retail space, classrooms, and a 350-seat auditorium. There is no admission charge to the Knox Building. More information on hours and ticket policies can be found at buffaloakg.org.
The museum’s collection of artworks has also been expanded, almost doubling since it closed for renovation in November of 2019. More than 500 artworks by 181 artists and collectives have been acquired. The artists newly added to the museum’s collection are from more than 30 countries and include leading figures across a broad range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, installation, and digital technologies. Each adding to one of the most remarkable collections of modern contemporary art anywhere in the world.
The construction of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is supported by the largest public-private cultural campaign in the history of Western New York. In addition to Mr. Gundlach’s generous contribution, the project is also supported by a shared commitment of $47 million in funding from New York State.
The former Albright-Knox Art Gallery was founded in 1862, as the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, featuring a renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. The Albright-Knox has expanded twice before, with the initial construction of the museum in 1905 and a new wing added in 1962. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the third expansion, adds more than 50,000 square feet of space for displaying special exhibitions and the newly expanded world-renowned art collection.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “As one of the oldest public art institutions in the United States, the historic Buffalo AKG not only enhances the state’s cultural offerings, but also supports the local and regional economies. New York State’s investment in the transformational expansion will boost Western New York tourism, create jobs, promote residents’ quality of life, and strengthen Buffalo’s thriving arts and culture scene.”
Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “The re-envisioned Buffalo AKG Art Museum will welcome domestic and international visitors to explore and experience one of the world’s most impressive modern art collections, expanding on a legacy it has built over more than a century. I LOVE NY is proud to support the state’s world-class arts and cultural attractions like Buffalo AKG, which complement any Western New York getaway, and offer yet another reason why its easy for visitors and residents alike to love New York.”
Mara Manus, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts said, “NYSCA is so pleased to have participated in New York State’s Capital support for the AKG’s transformational campus-wide building project, which will inspire New Yorkers and visitors from around the world while enriching the lives of all who pass through its doors.”
Janne Sirén, Peggy Pierce Elfvin Director of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum said, “With dogged determination and much passion, we here at the Buffalo AKG have aspired to uplift our community by building a museum of and for the people, a museum without walls that segregate, separate, and tie down the human spirit and imagination. We have dreamt of the moment when people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, can walk unhindered through the doors of a new museum, one that harnesses the full measure of its historic legacy along with all the potential it holds for the future. Knitting together the hard work and dedication of hundreds of staff members, board members, volunteers, community partners, elected officials, donors, family members, and many others: this day is now upon us. The Buffalo AKG has always been a bit of a rebel, precociously seeking out, even defining the artistic revolutions of tomorrow alongside artists and other creative spirits who are the wellspring of courageous, radical creativity. Thanks to our new, state-of-the-art twenty-first century campus, we now have the opportunity to empower people to dream big, to actualize and activate in welcoming spaces their own creativity through the transformative power of art.”
Representative Brian Higgins said, “The long-awaited reopening marks a new age for the historic Buffalo AKG Art Museum. Significant updates and additions to the campus, like the Great Lawn, Town Square, and the Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building, bring the museum’s storied past into the future. New and renewed spaces inside and out will reconnect Buffalo’s neighborhoods to the museum, while generating tourism that will benefit our economy for years to come. We are proud to see this highly-anticipated vision come to life.”
State Senator Tim Kennedy said, “The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is a cultural institution, and today’s expansion solidifies that dynamic presence throughout our region and state for decades to come. This extensive renovation is not only a recommitment to our arts community and our greater economy, it’s an investment in opportunity – in education, in innovation, and in the people who call this city and state home. I applaud Jeffrey Gundlach’s vision for the future, and deeply appreciate his ability to work collaboratively with all levels of government in order to strengthen the future of the AKG.”
State Senator Sean Ryan said, “The former Albright-Knox Art Gallery has been the cornerstone of Buffalo’s cultural landscape for generations, with a modern art collection that has garnered global renown. Its transformation into the incredible new Buffalo AKG Art Museum signifies an exciting new era that will allow the museum to showcase more of its incredible collection, with a modern campus that welcomes the Buffalo and Western New York community. This project has been a labor of love for so many people, and I know we are all excited to see the new AKG open its doors.”
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, “The reopening of the Albright Knox Gundlach Art Museum has been the largest cultural undertaking in WNY’s history. I am proud of the role that New York State Legislature was able to play towards the completion of this project, and can’t wait for the public and all of its visitors to be able to experience the expanded collection on display and all of the new amenities.”
Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “The opening of the AKG Museum of Art is the latest example of Buffalo’s inexorable ability to punch above its weight when it comes to our arts and cultural institutions. This new cathedral of internationally-renowned artists and works — supported by the largest public-private cultural campaign in the history of our region as well as a commitment of $47 million in funding from New York State — will stand as a true testament to the results of prioritizing the arts in order to enrich our communities and unite them through a shared vision.”
Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, “The Buffalo AKG Museum is a world-class institution and a beloved landmark in Western New York. The improvements and additions will enhance the AKG and its celebration of the arts, invigorate its economic impact in our community, and firmly establish it as a jewel of Buffalo’s rich architectural, cultural, and artistic legacy. I extend my sincere congratulations to all involved in the culmination of this project, notably my high school classmate Jeffrey Gundlach for his extraordinary generosity, and look forward to enjoying the AKG for years to come.”
Assemblymember William Conrad said, “Completion of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum represents this region and state’s world-class commitment to art, architecture and the natural beauty of our Olmsted Parks. And the impact this Buffalo treasure will have on tourism and our economy is as exciting as the redeveloped campus itself. Here we have yet another example of the transformative power of public-private collaboration and investment, and I congratulate all the partners and stakeholders who made this expansion possible.”
City of Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said, “The reopening of one of the most modern and contemporary art museums in the world is already garnering widespread praise of excellence. From the very start, my Administration and the Buffalo Arts Commission threw our support behind the Buffalo AKG Art Museum expansion and redevelopment project. As a major tourism draw, this museum will grow as a proven economic driver that generates millions of dollars for our community, and jobs for our people. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul and the many other generous supporters who helped bring this project to completion. In the years ahead, we look forward to welcoming art lovers from around the world to Buffalo.”
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “There are very few times during a life that we can be involved in a legacy project that will positively impact future generations. This is one of them. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul and the local members of the senate and assembly who were fierce advocates for this project, as well as my colleagues in the county legislature. Because of our joint investment in the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum, we are a better community for it.”
More information about the Buffalo AKG Art Museum can be found at buffaloakg.org/about.
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