Tacoma Art Museum Tacoma, WA

Founded in 1935 by a group of volunteers known as the Tacoma Art Association, Tacoma Art Museum has undergone five expansions, transforming into a national exemplar of regional, mid-sized museums. TAM’s exhibitions have been diverse and remarkable, featuring art and artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, ranging from medieval illuminated manuscripts to avant-garde Soviet Union art, and prints, paintings, and ceramics by Pablo Picasso. In May 2003, TAM moved to its present location from a former bank building constructed in 1920, designed by Antoine Predock, which allowed the museum to showcase more of its permanent collection. The new building is double the size of its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the area’s light, water, and industrial history. In November 2014, TAM opened the Haub Family Galleries, with the donation of the Haub Family Collection of Western American Art. The addition doubled the museum’s exhibition space, designed by Olson Kundig Architects, referencing the area’s railroad boxcars and Native American long houses. The wing regularly exhibits works from the Haub Family Collection, including iconic American artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Thomas Moran, among others. Another significant gift was the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Collection, donated in 2016, featuring Northwestern and international studio art glass, paintings, and sculptures by regional artists. It includes a 7,390 square-foot gallery addition, designed by award-winning architect Tom Kundig, which opened in January 2019. With these gifts and expansions, it is an exciting time to be part of the Tacoma Art Museum family.