The House That Art Built

There’s no such thing as skimping in Aspen, especially when it comes to the opening of a new 33,000-square-foot venue for the Aspen Art Museum. The museum celebrates its public debut on August 9 with 24 hours of music, food, and activities. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Shigeru Ban, the venue is a work of art itself, with a glass elevator, skylights, and an indoor-outdoor grand staircase. It also triples the museum’s exhibition space, with six galleries plus an educational area and a cafe. Among the inaugural exhibitions you’ll find a selection of works by conceptual artists Yves Klein and David Hammons. Passersby can also simply take in the vista of nearby Ajax Mountain from the sculpture garden on the roof—the only unobstructed public rooftop view in town. As if you needed another excuse to head west this summer. aspenartmuseum.org