The Princeton University Art Museum (PUAM) has announced its two opening exhibitions for the newly rebuilt museum, set to debut on October 31. The inaugural shows are “Princeton Collects,” featuring approximately 150 works donated over the past four years including the largest piece by Irish-American artist Sean Scully, and “Toshiko Takaezu: Dialogues in Clay,” a ceramics exhibition highlighting the late artist’s closed-form works and her connections to teachers, peers, and students. The museum, described by Director James Steward as a “once-in-a-century remaking,” will open with a 24-hour public open house after student and member previews.
These exhibitions matter because they mark the culmination of a major renovation project that reimagines PUAM as a dynamic teaching museum. The shows emphasize the role of philanthropy and individual contributions in shaping the collection, while also honoring Takaezu’s legacy as an influential artist and longtime Princeton educator. The opening signals a new chapter for the university’s art museum, reinforcing its commitment to both historical and contemporary art in an academic context.