Sep 25, 2012 A major new acquisition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be unveiled to museum members on Friday, Oct. 12 and to the public Saturday, Oct. 13. The painting, “No. 210/No. 211 (Orange)” by Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko, has been in a private collection since the 1960s and has previously been exhibited publicly only twice. “No. 210/No. 211 (Orange),” painted in 1960, is a work from Rothko’s most sought-after period, featuring large rectangles of rich color. Rothko was one of the most important and influential painters of the Abstract Expressionist movement — a time when American artists made their first major impact on the international art world. At the height of his career, Rothko eliminated all representation in his paintings and became wholly concerned with creating color abstractions aimed at eliciting an emotional response in his viewers. “This is a masterful painting,” said Crystal Bridges Executive Director Don Bacigalupi. “The palette of colors is remarkably vibrant and intense. The work absolutely radiates and draws you into it. It’s a superb example of Rothko’s mature period and we are very excited to add it to Crystal Bridges collection.” The painting makes its debut as part of an exhibition titled See the Light: The Luminist Tradition in American Art, arranged by Crystal Bridges and featuring works from the museum’s permanent collection as well as loaned works from other institutions. See the Light traces the evolution of light as both a subject and a medium in American art. The exhibition is sponsored by GE Lighting. It opens to the public Oct. 13 and will remain on view through Jan. 28, 2013. At the close of the exhibition, “No. 210/No. 211 (Orange)” will be relocated to one of the galleries housing Crystal Bridges’ permanent collection. Click here to read more about the acquisition. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is located in Bentonville, Ark. Additional information about the museum is available online at https://crystalbridges.org. About Crystal Bridges The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of landscape. The museum explores the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate our heritage and artistic possibilities. Opened in 2011, Crystal Bridges was founded by philanthropist Alice Walton, who chairs the Museum’s board of directors. The building was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie and is situated on 120 wooded acres in Bentonville, Arkansas. Crystal Bridges’ growing collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from the Colonial era to the current day. The permanent collection is enhanced by an array of temporary exhibitions. # # #
