The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is a major cultural institution dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting modern and contemporary art. The history of the Guggenheim began in 1937, when Solomon R. Guggenheim transformed his private collection of non-objective paintings into a publicly accessible institution. Over the years, the collection has been significantly expanded through donations and acquisitions.
Today, the foundation operates several museums worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was opened in 1997 and is the result of an extraordinary partnership between the Basque institutions and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. The collection includes works from various artistic periods and styles.