The Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts moves to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Mr. Stewart’s fascination and enthusiasm for restoration of the Chateau Dufresne in the Maisonneuve district of East End Montreal included space that could be used for exhibitions. The exhibition program would include travelling exhibitions focused on 20th century design, as well as exhibitions based on the collection. Liliane and David Stewart decided to use the building to house the first museum of decorative art in Canada. Thus, the Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts was born in 1979. Based on the advice of renowned experts, it was decided to collect mid-century international design, from the period 1940-1960. They chose to focus on this period after 1935 because they believed that the earlier periods were well represented by important collections. Few museums had focused on mid-century design.
Thanks to a vigorous acquisition program and the generosity of number of donors, including notable collectors, designers, and manufacturers, by the end of the century, the museum was able to assemble an internationally recognized collection. Mrs. Stewart’s interest in contemporary design enabled the museum to collect contemporary design in addition to the mid-century focus. Contemporary design continued to be an important part of the collection, as well as strengthening earlier periods of the 20th century. The Stewart Collection now numbers over 7,000 designs.
Of all the reasons for the move from the Chateau Dufresne, location was key, along with lack of humidity control and storage. To remedy this situation, the renowned architect Frank Gehry was commissioned to design new spaces within the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. In early 1997, the new facilities were inaugurated and marked a new chapter in the life of the museum. Aware of the value of the Stewart Collection for the study and dissemination of international design, Liliane Stewart offered the collection to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in early 2000 in order to ensure its continued preservation in Montreal. It is one of the major gifts ever received by the museum. The collection is now housed in the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion, in rooms galleries designed to highlight the encyclopedic breath of the Stewart Collection.
The same year she established the Stewart Program for Modern Design, to achieve her vision of collecting international design from 1900 to the present day and making it accessible to a wide audience. It also aims to encourage scientific research in the field of design and the decorative arts by participating in various curatorial and initiatives, including exhibitions, publications, films and digital initiatives that explore important aspects of 20th and 21st century design.
Over the years, the Decorative Art museum organized major exhibitions such as, What Modern Was: Design 1935-1965; Frank Gehry: New Bentwood Furniture, Design for Delight, Messengers of Modernism: American Studio Jewellery 1940-1960. These exhibitions have greatly enhanced the museum's international reputation. Several major awards were given to the museum for its publications, including Eva Zeizel: Designer for Industry, (American Association for Museums) ; What Modern Was: Design 1935-1965, (Georges Whittenborn Award)
Background Photo Credit: Photo MMFA, Denis Farley.
Thanks to a vigorous acquisition program and the generosity of number of donors, including notable collectors, designers, and manufacturers, by the end of the century, the museum was able to assemble an internationally recognized collection. Mrs. Stewart’s interest in contemporary design enabled the museum to collect contemporary design in addition to the mid-century focus. Contemporary design continued to be an important part of the collection, as well as strengthening earlier periods of the 20th century. The Stewart Collection now numbers over 7,000 designs.
Of all the reasons for the move from the Chateau Dufresne, location was key, along with lack of humidity control and storage. To remedy this situation, the renowned architect Frank Gehry was commissioned to design new spaces within the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. In early 1997, the new facilities were inaugurated and marked a new chapter in the life of the museum. Aware of the value of the Stewart Collection for the study and dissemination of international design, Liliane Stewart offered the collection to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in early 2000 in order to ensure its continued preservation in Montreal. It is one of the major gifts ever received by the museum. The collection is now housed in the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion, in rooms galleries designed to highlight the encyclopedic breath of the Stewart Collection.
The same year she established the Stewart Program for Modern Design, to achieve her vision of collecting international design from 1900 to the present day and making it accessible to a wide audience. It also aims to encourage scientific research in the field of design and the decorative arts by participating in various curatorial and initiatives, including exhibitions, publications, films and digital initiatives that explore important aspects of 20th and 21st century design.
Over the years, the Decorative Art museum organized major exhibitions such as, What Modern Was: Design 1935-1965; Frank Gehry: New Bentwood Furniture, Design for Delight, Messengers of Modernism: American Studio Jewellery 1940-1960. These exhibitions have greatly enhanced the museum's international reputation. Several major awards were given to the museum for its publications, including Eva Zeizel: Designer for Industry, (American Association for Museums) ; What Modern Was: Design 1935-1965, (Georges Whittenborn Award)
Background Photo Credit: Photo MMFA, Denis Farley.
