Crystal Bridges’ Expansion Now Open to the Public

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Crystal Bridges officially opened its 114,000-square-foot expansion June 6 and 7, 2026, welcoming the public into a major new chapter for the museum. Designed by Safdie Architects, the expansion increases the museum’s footprint by 50 percent, creating new opportunities for connection, creativity, and discovery.

Nearly 10,000 people marked the occasion with a two-day celebration featuring live music, dance performances, artmaking and artist demonstrations, teen talks as part of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Heartland Region Showcase, wellness activities, curator and family tours, pop-up performances by Jazz at Lincoln Center, and story time in the galleries. The expansion invites guests to gather, learn, reflect, and experience the power of art in the community.

The opening weekend began with a special ribbon cutting ceremony featuring remarks from Executive Director Rod Bigelow, Board Chair Olivia Walton, and Lead Architect of Safdie Architects Moshe Safdie. Community partners, local business leaders, and supporters attended, along with local students who helped cut the ribbon.

The creative learning Hub welcomed the public into new educational spaces, community gathering areas, a teaching artist-in-residence studio, digital art and ceramics studios, and a community gallery featuring the work of the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners. Teaching artist-in-residence Linda Lopez hosted a meet-and-greet and led collaborative demonstrations throughout the weekend.

The museum’s new temporary exhibition space opened with Keith Haring in 3D, featuring rarely seen works and offering the first exhibition of its kind dedicated to Haring’s three-dimensional practice. Alongside it, the new Contemporary American Art Gallery opened, featuring Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room and Teresita Fernandez’s Manigua(Mirror). In addition, all new and existing gallery spaces feature Indigenous art and craft objects, reinforcing the museum’s ongoing commitment to championing historically underrepresented artists and expanding the narrative of American art.

America 250: Common Threads, an exhibition that both commemorates the events of 1776 and reflects on 250 years of American art and civic participation, remains on view in the museum’s existing temporary exhibition gallery. The exhibition will remain open through July 27.

The expansion marks a significant milestone for Crystal Bridges, expanding access to art, education, exhibitions, and community-driven programming. With new spaces designed to engage visitors of all ages, the museum continues to build on its mission to welcome all and foster meaningful connections through art.

About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

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 nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions.

The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools.

Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion opened to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.