On Thursday, January 16, we finally revealed our long-awaited 14,000-square-foot Expansion — and we loved celebrating with our Members! We are humbled to have received so much love from our art-loving community at our Grand Opening.

The culmination of this major project is a dream come true and heralds our next exciting chapter. We are so thankful to all who came out to join us and for all of our Members’ support for so many years. The new wing is as much a testament to the power of art as it is a tribute to all of you.

For our team here at the Museum, it has been an incredible 21 months watching the Expansion emerge as we viewed the construction from our offices. Seeing the new galleries and classrooms come to life — filled with the joy of our Members, who were wrapped around the block waiting to be among the first to experience it all – made a momentous part of Lakeland history ever more memorable and an event we will cherish for generations to come. Truly, each of you inspires us to fulfill our mission as an academic and community world-class museum for all each and every day.

Enjoy the gallery below celebrating all of you! We hope to see you back at the Museum soon and often.

— H. Alexander Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator