The Toledo Museum of Art is proceeding with the most comprehensive overhaul of its galleries in nearly four decades, a multi-year project that will reorganize the institution’s permanent collection from a geography-based arrangement into a chronological one. Deputy Director Andrea Gardner described the initiative as a “once-in-a-lifetime project” that will transform nearly the entire museum before a planned reopening in late 2027.

Under the new layout, visitors will encounter art organized by historical period rather than by region of origin. Where the museum previously clustered works by continent — African art in one wing, Asian art in another — the reinstallation will place pieces from different cultures side by side when they share a common era, allowing visitors to observe parallel aesthetic developments across civilizations. A French period room that has been off view for more than a decade and a relocated Cloister are among the features expected to return when the project is complete.

Gallery closures have been rolling out in phases. As of early spring 2026, several wings in the west end of the building had already closed for construction. Additional galleries, including Libbey Court and the museum’s main café area, are scheduled to close in subsequent phases through fall 2026. The Glass Pavilion across Monroe Street, the family center, and art education classes will remain open throughout the renovation period. The museum selected Michael Maltzan Architecture, Once-Future Office, and Studio Zewde as its design partners for the project, which began construction in 2025.

Source: 13ABC Toledo