Blanton Museum completes $23 million fundraising for Ellsworth Kelly's Austin building

The University of Texas's Blanton Museum of Art has successfully secured $23 million to construct a freestanding building envisioned by Ellsworth Kelly. Named Austin, this 2,715-square-foot edifice will include radiant glass windows and showcase wooden totem sculptures alongside black-and-white marble panels that reflect Kelly's iconic shapes. Kelly, who passed away shortly after, provided the design to the museum in 2015. The building is set to open in February 2018, featuring an exhibition that situates the work within the context of Kelly's extensive career. The museum hopes Austin will become a global attraction, likening it to Houston's Rothko Chapel and France's Matisse Chapel, despite Kelly noting it has 'without a religious program.' The fundraising effort commenced with Kelly's design donation in 2015.