London’s National Gallery Announces Opening of New Wing

London’s National Gallery, known for its Western masterpieces spanning from the 13th to the early 20th centuries, announced a significant transformation initiative involving the construction of a new wing. The project, estimated at £375 million (~$500 million), is backed by two significant donations of £150 million (~$200 million) each from the family foundation of billionaire Michael Moritz and the trust of the late philanthropist Julia Rausing, marking the largest publicly reported donations to any museum globally.

The expansion, titled “Project Domani,” will create flexible galleries to accommodate both modern acquisitions and works in the Western tradition before 1900. While traditionally the National Gallery has not collected art created post-1900, a spokesperson acknowledged it holds a small collection from after 1900, including Picasso’s “Fruit Dish, Bottle and Violin” (1914).

With these new developments, the National Gallery is negotiating collaborations with the Tate, historically responsible for post-1900 artworks, to facilitate artwork loans and ensure cohesive public displays. The expansion will utilize the St. Vincent House property on the National Gallery’s current campus, with a new wing expected to open in the early 2030s, following an international architectural competition.