Coral Springs Museum of Art prepares to open its new Downtown Gallery with 57 original Picasso prints
Coral Springs, Florida – A new chapter for the Coral Springs Museum of Art is about to begin, and it will open with the work of one of the most recognizable artists in modern art.
The museum’s new downtown gallery is scheduled to open next week at the Cornerstone development near University Drive and Sample Road. Its first exhibition will feature 57 original works by Pablo Picasso, giving visitors an opportunity to see prints spanning nearly five decades of the artist’s career.
The Downtown Gallery, located at 3380 N. University Drive, will officially open its doors Friday, Oct. 9. The exhibition, titled “Picasso: A Graphic Journey,” includes works created between 1923 and 1972.
The collection features several different forms of printmaking, including etchings, lithographs and linocuts. It also includes a rare canceled copper printing plate. The works come from the private collection of Timothy Collins of Los Angeles.
One part of the exhibition offers visitors a closer look at how Picasso developed his work. A series follows a single image, “Tête de Femme au Chapeau,” through a number of proofs. The pieces show different stages of the printmaking process, beginning with early color studies and continuing toward the finished composition.
The opening night celebration is scheduled for Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature music inside the gallery, along with a cash bar. Admission includes one drink.
Tickets for the grand opening cost $10, while museum members can attend for free. Tickets are being sold in one-hour time slots.
The celebration will be followed by the gallery’s first full day open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 10. Visitors can attend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission will be free that day. Merchandise will also be available for purchase during both opening events.
The new location represents a significant change for the museum, which previously operated on Coral Springs Drive. City officials have said the move to the Cornerstone development is intended to increase the museum’s visibility and attract more visitors.
The gallery project also represents a substantial investment by the city and its partners. The total cost was about $3.4 million. Approximately $2 million came from the city’s capital budget, while another $1 million was provided through the Community Redevelopment Agency’s capital fund. About $500,000 came through landlord and tenant allowances.
The Community Redevelopment Agency will also contribute toward the museum’s lease. That payment is set at $179,300 per year and will increase by 3 percent annually through 2032.
With its new downtown location and a high-profile opening exhibition, the museum is entering its next phase with a collection that covers a wide range of Picasso’s printmaking work. The exhibition’s long time span also gives visitors a chance to see how his approach to the medium changed across different periods.
After opening weekend, the Downtown Gallery will follow a regular schedule. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The gallery will be closed on Sundays, while Mondays will be available by appointment.
The opening of “Picasso: A Graphic Journey” gives Coral Springs residents and visitors an early reason to explore the new gallery. With 57 Picasso prints filling its first exhibition, the Downtown Gallery is set to begin its next chapter in the city’s growing downtown area.
For additional information, the Coral Springs Museum of Art can be reached at 954-340-5000 or by email at [email protected].
