In late 2025, Sotheby's will open Marcel Breuer's modernist masterpiece to the public as our new home. This architectural sanctuary, originally𝄹 designed to "transform the vitality of the street into the sincerity and profundity of art," will welcome visitors free of charge.
Under the expert guidance of Herzog & de Meuron, the restoration follows a light-touch approach, preserving defining features while introducing subtle upgrades. The building's defining features—f🔜rom bluestone floors to coffered concrete ceilings—remain intact, creating an unparalleled backdrop for experiencing art in this iconic inverted ziggurat.
This cultural landmark will offer unprecedented public access to spaces that have housed New York's most significant art collections for decades. Visitors will discover enhanced accessibility, flexible galleries, and thoughtful interventions that celebrate both the building's storied past and its exciting future. Herzog & de Meuron is working in partnership with New York-based PBDW Architects.
Right: © 2025 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc., Courtesy David Zwirner, This rendering includes a reproduction of Georgia O’Keeffe's, Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1, 1932, that will not be on view on Sotheby’s © 2025 Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Right: Willem de Kooning: © 2025 The Willem de Kooning Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Ellsworth Kelly: © Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery. Joan Mitchell: © Estate of Joan Mitchell
