A New Chapter for the Nevada Museum of Art
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A New Chapter for the Nevada Museum of Art

There’s something exciting happening in Reno’s art world. The Nevada Museum of Art has officially opened the Charles and Stacie Mathewson Education + Research Center, a stunning new addition that nearly doubles the museum’s size and opens up fresh opportunities for learning and creativity.

The new three-story, 50,000-square-foot expansion includes a classroom, galleries, a rooftop garden, and a research library. The area is designed to make art and education more accessible to everyone.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, museum leaders, donors, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of a $60 million campaign that made this vision possible. Power of Pollinators

A Building Inspired by Nevada

The new center was designed by Will Bruder, the same award-winning architect who designed the museum’s original building back in 2003. Bruder is known for designs that reflect the surrounding landscape, and this expansion continues that tradition.

A Space for Learning and Connection

On the first floor, visitors will find the new Bretzlaff Book Shop, filled with art, design, and architecture books. Next door is the Thomas and Pauline Tusher Research Library, which holds rare and historic books focused on art and the environment. The library is open to teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more.

Inside the library stands Centuries of the Bristlecone, an 11-foot sculpture by artist and philosopher Jonathon Keats, inspired by Nevada’s ancient bristlecone pine trees, which are symbols of endurance and time.

The ground floor also has a few updates that visitors will love, such as expanded parking with new bike racks and a café operated by the local bakery Perenn. Whether you’re visiting for an exhibit or just stopping in for coffee, it’s an inviting spot to be.

More Galleries to Explore

The second floor offers two new galleries — the Thomas Lee Bottom Gallery and the Jeffrey Morby Family Gallery. The opening exhibitions, The Art of Judith Lowry and The Lowry & Croul Collection of Contemporary Native American Art, highlight the talent and storytelling of Indigenous artists from across the country.

This floor also includes the Clarence and Martha Jones Family Foundation / Charlotte and Dick McConnell Art + Environment Education Lab, where University of Nevada classes are held. Students are able to explore the connection between art, science, and the environment.

Nearby, the Institute for Art + Environment archives store more than 1.6 million items, making it one of the largest collections of its kind in the world.

A Rooftop Garden With a View

The third floor is home to the E.L. Wiegand Feature Gallery, which opens with Eternal Signs — an exhibition of Indigenous Australian Art donated by Robert Kaplan and Margaret Levi. With this generous gift, the Nevada Museum of Art now holds the fourth-largest collection of Indigenous Australian artwork in the United States.

Just outside, you’ll find the Thomas and Pauline Tusher Sculpture Garden, a peaceful rooftop space overlooking the city. The garden features the Great Basin Native American Basket Plantings, where regional plants used in traditional basketmaking are grown. It’s a living, learning garden that connects art, culture, and nature.

New Art and Fresh Energy

Along with all the new construction, the museum has refreshed many of its existing spaces. The atrium now features The Power of Pollinators (And Other Living Things), a colorful indoor art installation by Fallen Fruit that celebrates nature and biodiversity. Outside, you can find the Monument to Sharing, a space for reflection and community gathering.

What It Means for Reno

For Reno, this expansion is more than a new building; it’s a symbol of how far the city has come as a growing arts and culture destination. The new Education + Research Center helps solidify Reno’s place on the national arts map, which will draw visitors, artists, and educators from around the world.
It also gives locals a space to learn, create, and connect. From school field trips and university classes to weekend workshops and family programs, the museum’s expansion ensures that art remains at the heart of the Reno community.

A Cultural Landmark for the Future

With this expansion complete, the Nevada Museum of Art has not only grown in size, but also in purpose. The new space gives visitors more ways to experience art, culture, and community — from thought-provoking exhibits to hands-on learning and quiet reflection.

Whether you’re an art lover, a student, or simply curious, the Nevada Museum of Art’s new spaces offer something for everyone. Stop by, explore, and see how this beautiful expansion is shaping Reno’s creative future.

The Nevada Museum of Art is located at 160 W. Liberty Street in Reno. For more information, visit nevadaart.org.