Lavazza has launched a pop-up coffeeshop in the lobby of the Guggenheim for the duration of the “Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim” exhibit, now on view.
Italian coffee producer Lavazza has partnered with the Guggenheim Museum in NYC to offer museum-going patrons coffee in the lobby for the duration of a new and encompassing exhibit, Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim, presented by Lavazza. We joined Lavazza for a private morning tour of the museum- celebrating its 80th year- and saw the exhibit in its entirety.
Spanning all floors of the main rotunda, “Visionaries” assembled by Megan Fontanella, is a remarkably vast and varied selection of works- over 170- that together constitute as the Guggenheim’s formative holdings. If anything, the show is a Rolodex of the “who’s who” of the early abstract art world- from collectors to dealers to the artists themselves. A considerable effort is made to draw links between all the parties, many of the artists and dealers were forced to relocate to the United States in the interest of preserving their artistic rights during politically turbulent times.
Absolutely none of this could not have taken place without Solomon Guggenheim and Hilla Rebay’s complex relationship. If the show is any indication, Rebay has made a deep impression on what the Guggenheim is and stands for, and more personally, how she made Guggenheim a lover of non-objective art in a manner that was characterized initially as baseless bravado and an abusive relationship with Solomon. In reality, it was her skill of persuasion and spotting important work that placed her in positions with decision-making power that would arguably cement the Guggenheim as a significant and prestigious space to be shown.
These early years of the Guggenheim would inform the collections on view: Rebay always imagined the environment to be spiritual and engaging. Further, in light of the Guggenheim’s 80th year and architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision informed by Rebay’s understanding of art, it is an important legacy. Critics agree that this building forever altered viewing spaces for art.
The ‘Visionaries’ exhibit is comprehensive and beautiful with works ranging from well known abstract artists like Mondrian and Pollack to lesser known artists like Joseph Cornell. It’s an opportunity to see iconic works in the setting they belong. To wonder whether these artist would appreciate their works in this space. ‘Visionaries’ includes works by artists like Alexander Calder, Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Vasily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and more.
Do a little digging, and you might find, above all, a family reunion of sorts.
Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim is presented by Lavazza, which has been working with the organization since 2014.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Ave
New York, NY 10128
