Museum of Primitive Art
| Company type | Museum |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art museum |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Nelson Rockefeller |
| Defunct | 1976 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Robert Goldwater (director) |
| Products | Exhibitions of indigenous and tribal art |
The Museum of Primitive Art was dedicated to showcasing early artistic creations from indigenous peoples spanning Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Established in 1954 by Nelson Rockefeller, the museum was born out of his contribution of tribal artworks and as a reaction to Metropolitan Museum director Herbert Eustis Winlock's refusal to accept donations of non-Western art. Initially housed in a townhouse located at 15 West 54th Street, close to Rockefeller’s childhood residence, it was officially chartered as The Museum of Indigenous Art in 1954 and later rebranded as The Museum of Primitive Art in 1957 when it opened its doors to visitors. Robert Goldwater (1907–1973) was appointed as the institution’s inaugural director. The museum ceased operations in 1976, with its collections subsequently integrated into the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
External links
- Digitized catalogs of the Museum of Primitive Art, available through The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries
Footnotes
- Articles with short description
- Museums in Manhattan
- Defunct art museums and galleries in Manhattan
- Defunct art museums and galleries in the United States
- Tribal art
- Art museums and galleries established in 1957
- Art museums and galleries disestablished in 1976
- 1957 establishments in New York City
- 1976 disestablishments in New York City
- Metropolitan Museum of Art