Official Public Opening: Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin”

Join us for this FREE celebration of “Austin,” the monumental last work by renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly. We’re thrilled to have this beautiful building as a cornerstone work of art in our permanent collection and look forward celebrating its opening with you. Share your experience on social media using the #KellyAtTheBlanton hashtag.

12:30pm
Opening Remarks
•Simone Wicha, Blanton Museum Director
• Austin Mayor Steve Adler
• Greg Fenves, President of The University of Texas at Austin
•Jack Shear, Director of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation
Music
The University of Texas Longhorn Band
1:00 pm
Building and Museum Open
Please note that due to occupancy regulations, there may be a wait to enter “Austin.” We invite the public to sign the guest books available on the tables directly outside “Austin,” and to visit the accompanying exhibition, “Form into Spirit,” in the museum.
2:00 pm 
Curator Talk (Auditorium)
Carter E. Foster, Blanton Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, will discuss the forms and motifs found in “Austin” that were explored by Ellsworth Kelly over many decades, including his formative years in 1950s France. Foster will examine these topics and delve into the more specific history of the building’s creation, which began in California in the mid-1980s.
3:00 pm
Public Tour (Museum)
Take a tour of the exhibition “Form into Spirit: Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin,” and learn how “Austin”’s conceptual origins began during Kelly’s time in post-war France (1948-54), when he immersed himself in the country’s artistic traditions and monuments. See first models and designs for the building’s initial conception in the mid-1980s and explore Austin’s four main motifs: Spectrum, Black and White, Color Grid, and Totem.
RSVP is Requested but not Required. RSVP Here: http://bit.ly/2rT8NuQ
Please note: Entry to the museum and to “Austin” is free today, in honor of its opening. After February 18, 2018, entry to “Austin” will be included with admission to the Blanton Museum, and guests must check in at Visitor Services to secure a ticket before entering “Austin.” This includes UT ID holders.
The Blanton is located at the intersection of Congress Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Paid parking is available in the Brazos Garage on Brazos Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Parking is $4; bring your ticket with you to the museum.
Please also note: traffic closures related to the Austin Marathon
may affect travel to and from the Blanton. Check route information here: https://youraustinmarathon.com/traffic/