This June, the Picasso Museum in Paris will reopen following a five-year renovation. The institution, which holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Pablo Picasso's work, initially closed for a two-year refurbishment, but once underway, the scope of the project expanded. The renovation cost around $71 million to complete.
Prior to the renovation, the Picasso Museum could only display a fraction of its 5,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, and documents. The project nearly doubled its exhibition space, allowing the institution to exhibit more of its illustrious collection. The museum will also be able to accommodate more guests than ever before and annual admission figures are expected to rise from 450,000 to 850,000.
The museum, which is located in a 17th-century Baroque mansion in Paris' historic Marais quarter, first opened to the public in 1985. Most of its collection was left to the French state upon Picasso's death in 1973. A number of works were also donated by the artist's family, including his widow Jacqueline.
In mid-2015, The Picasso Museum will begin holding one major exhibition each year. The first annual show will be in collaboration with New York's Museum of Modern Art and will focus on Picasso's sculpture.
