Glenstone is a private contemporary art museum founded in 2006 by Mitchell and Emily Wei Rales in Potomac, Maryland. It combines art, architecture and nature in a tranquil and contemplative setting, offering visitors a special experience that goes beyond a classic museum atmosphere.
The collection includes around 1,300 works by post-war artists from around the world, such as Cy Twombly, Richard Serra, Mark Rothko and many others. The museum extends over a 93-hectare campus. Large art installations can be found both indoors and outdoors, creating a harmonious connection between the exhibits and the surrounding nature.
A special characteristic of Glenstone is its architecture. The original building, a modernist limestone structure covering 2,800 square meters, was designed by Charles Gwathmey and added to over the years. The museum’s pavilions, which are arranged around a central water garden, look like separate buildings from a distance.
Glenstone’s interior and exterior spaces have been designed to facilitate meaningful encounters with art. Glenstone’s founders drew inspiration from several iconic buildings when planning the museum, including the Ryoan-ji Zen Temple in Kyoto, the Menil Collection in Houston, the Beyeler Foundation in Basel and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark.
Visitors can tour the museum free of charge and experience art, architecture and nature in a unique, calming atmosphere. Glenstone is a place of tranquility that inspires deep reflection and presents its artworks in a way that heightens the senses and expands awareness of art and the environment.
