ARTS & CULTURE
Text and photos courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Crystal Bridges Celebrates 14 Years of Art, Architecture and Nature; Prepares for Landmark Expansion in 2026
Fourteen years ago, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened its doors in Bentonville with a bold mission: to offer access to world-class American art, stunning architecture and the natural beauty of the Ozarks with no cost for admission. Since Nov. 11, 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 14 million visitors across its spaces, transforming the cultural landscape of Northwest Arkansas and the national conversation around what an art museum in the Heartland can be.
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As Crystal Bridges marks its 14th anniversary, it continues to be a place of inspiration, education and community. Nearly half a million students have visited through the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit Program, which provides enriching educational experiences at no cost to schools. The museum’s commitment to accessibility and lifelong learning remains at the heart of its mission.
Over the past year, Crystal Bridges has continued to push boundaries with exhibitions that challenge, delight and expand perspectives. Highlights include Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture, an exhibition of art and design that explores sports in all their glory, highlighting the ways the brilliance, discipline, power and sacrifice of athletes have inspired artistic and technological innovation.
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The museum also hosted KAWS: FAMILY, an exhibition featuring the artist KAWS’ cast of iconic characters. The artist’s Arkansas solo exhibition debut featured drawings, paintings, sculpture, advertising interventions and product collaborations that showcased the relationships between KAWS’ figures that can be complex, familiar and astonishingly heartfelt entryways into human emotions.
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Beyond the galleries, Crystal Bridges continues to serve as a dynamic classroom and gathering space. Public programs — from lectures and performances to hands-on workshops — invite visitors of all ages to engage deeply with art and ideas. The museum’s trails and outdoor installations, such as Time Loop by Klip Collective: A Forest Light Experience, further blur the boundaries between art and nature, offering moments of reflection and discovery at every turn. ​
Photo by Edward C. Robinson III
Photo by Tom McFetridge
Rendering by Sadfie Architects
In 2025, the museum broke ground on a new trail-wide playscape. The playscape, set in a wooded ravine between the museum and the Campus Parking Plaza, will be a multigenerational space that invites families and visitors to engage their senses and immerse themselves in a unique outdoor experience. Visitors will be able to splash and explore in a flowing water feature and creek, interact with a rotating boulder, lounge on oversized swings, race down a family-sized slide and more.
Photos by Tom McFetridge
As the museum celebrates 14 years of expanding access to American art, it is also laying the groundwork for a transformative future. In June 2026, Crystal Bridges will unveil a major expansion, which will add 114,000 square feet of new space including galleries, educational spaces, art studios, a community floor, a new café and an outdoor plaza. The expansion will allow the museum to showcase more of its growing collection, host more ambitious exhibitions and deepen its commitment to inclusive storytelling.
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In anticipation of the expansion, the museum has already begun refreshing its permanent galleries, offering visitors a “behind-the-scenes” look at Crystal Bridges’ process. Visitors can get a rare, interactive glimpse into the daily life of the museum’s art handlers and the hidden journey of artworks.
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Looking ahead to its 15th anniversary, Crystal Bridges is poised to enter a new era — one that builds on its legacy while embracing growth. The museum’s story is still unfolding, and its impact continues to ripple far beyond Bentonville. Whether through a child’s first encounter with a painting, a scholar’s deep dive into American art history or a family’s stroll through the trails, Crystal Bridges remains a place where art sparks imagination and community flourishes.
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Crystal Bridges is a space where the past, present and future of American art come together. After 14 years of providing access to art for all and with an expansion on the horizon, the best is yet to come.
Photos by Jared Sorrells
