Introducing Our New Welcome Gallery

How can I approach an artwork I know nothing about? Was this painting purchased by Duncan Phillips? Why is the art at The Phillips Collection always changing? You can find the answer to these questions, and more, in the redesigned Welcome Gallery. There, you can explore what’s on view, learn more about The Phillips Collection’s approach to gallery installations, and consider how artworks can be in conversation.  

Duncan Phillips had the pioneering idea of creating a museum where one could encounter the art of the past and present on equal terms. He frequently rearranged his displays by juxtaposing works from different time periods and places and with different styles. He hoped that regularly changing installations would allow for fresh perspectives and new conversations. The new orientation gallery aims to create a more active spirit of welcome and invitation by highlighting the museum’s unique qualities, offering insight into the values, principles, and strategies that distinguish the institution through an inclusive and accessible design. The revamped entrance sets the stage for the visitor’s journey, orienting guests to the galleries ahead and providing them with strategies to make the most of their engagement with the art. We hope guests will enjoy discovering how artworks can be in conversation and leave the gallery with the tools to feel comfortable looking at any work of art. 

For the project, The Phillips Collection worked with Topos Graphics, a design firm founded in 2005 with offices in New York and Atlanta that has worked with institutions across the country. Roy Rub, Co-Founder and Principal, explains: “The Phillips Collection’s distinctive approach to displaying art, through visual and thematic connections rather than chronological order, served as our inspiration. This method creates unexpected pairings between artworks, sparking curiosity and surprise. However, these juxtapositions can feel enigmatic without context. Our goal was to design an experience that embraces this sense of discovery while providing visitors with tools to navigate the collection’s unique presentation. We wanted to encourage exploration and wonder as visitors engage with the art and its many connections.”

The interactive gallery offers a variety of ways to learn about the museum and engage with art, including: a brief background about Duncan and Marjorie Phillips and the founding of their museum and collection, a selection of artworks with questions to consider, a “curate-your-own-gallery” game with works from the collection, a touchscreen map to see which artworks from the collection are on view and how to navigate the building, and a sitting area to browse books and relax.

As you consider the artworks in the gallery and throughout the museum:

• Look for interesting juxtapositions. What do the works have—or not have—in common? 
• Notice the colors. Find other colors that connect the paintings to each other. 
• Pay attention to how each artwork makes you feel.
• Consider if you are drawn more to one artwork than another? Why is that?

We invite you to feel at home exploring the Phillips!