The Everson was the first major museum building designed by I.M. Pei, marking the start of his prolific museum-building career.
The structure is composed of four distinct concrete geometric blocks arranged around an open sculpture court.
The museum holds a world-renowned collection of American ceramics, containing over 2,500 pieces.
The building was designed to be modular, allowing for future expansion of the galleries.
The Everson is credited with being the first institution in the U.S. to collect video art as a formal category.
The museum complex includes an outdoor plaza frequently used for site-specific installations.
The Everson Museum of Art is housed in a distinctive, sculptural concrete building designed by I.M. Pei, completed in 1968. It is widely recognized as the first museum commission of Pei's career. The collection features a significant focus on American art, with an emphasis on 20th-century paintings and sculptures. The museum maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of American ceramics in the country. It also features a substantial holding of works by local and regional artists from Central New York. The architecture itself is a primary exhibit, characterized by its four cantilevered volumes surrounding a central courtyard. The building is constructed of poured-in-place concrete and serves as a landmark of Brutalist architecture.
The central light-filled atrium staircase, which highlights the dramatic geometry of the concrete ceiling and walls.
Walk the perimeter of the building to observe the varying geometric angles of the concrete volumes.
Check the Everson's website for rotating temporary exhibitions before your visit.
Visit the gift shop for unique items created by local artists and ceramicists.
Do not rush through the building; the architecture is intended to be experienced as a deliberate sequence of spaces.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
No flash photography in galleries; maintain a low voice; food and drink are prohibited inside exhibition spaces.
