Princeton University Art Museum Will Reopen On Halloween

PRINCETON, NJ – It's official. The Princeton University Art Museum (PUAM) will open its new 146,000-square-foot facility to the public on Halloween. The occasion will be marked with a 24-hour public open house.

The announcement was made by the PUAM website. The building close just before to COVID-19 pandemic for the construction project.

The building, designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson, doubles the Museum's exhibition and educational spaces.

Located at the heart of Princeton's historic campus, the three-level structure features nine interlocking pavilions with 80,000 square feet of gallery space.

The design includes two interior "artwalks," extensive educational facilities, a Grand Hall accommodating up to 265 people, conservation studios, and a restaurant with outdoor dining options.

"This project represents the coming to fruition of dreams that date back thirty years for a museum building that would be worthy of this beautiful campus and our collections," said James Steward, the Museum's Director.

The Museum will launch with two special exhibitions: "Princeton Collects," featuring donated works by artists like Mark Rothko and Joan Mitchell, and "Toshiko Takaezu: Dialogues in Clay."

Future exhibitions will include focused shows on Willem de Kooning and mid-century photography, with a Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition planned for fall 2026.

The new facility also incorporates commissioned artworks by Nick Cave, Diana Al-Hadid, Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn, and Jane Irish, plus outdoor sculptures by Jun Kaneko and Rose B. Simpson.

Rather than organizing collections by traditional categories alone, curators have taken collaborative approaches that interweave geography, chronology, and themes.

"Our new Museum offers many ways to have intimate encounters with art, to pursue curiosity, engage in meaningful dialogue, and to find solace or belonging," Chief Curator Juliana Ochs Dweck said.

For more information visit the PUAM website.

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