Berkeley - 2155 Center Street - CA 94704
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, known as BAMPFA, is a vibrant center for art and film located at the University of California, Berkeley. As the university’s visual arts hub, BAMPFA serves both the academic community and the wider public, offering an extraordinary range of programs that spark curiosity, encourage dialogue, and connect audiences with creative expression from around the world.
Each year, BAMPFA presents an impressive roster of exhibitions, screenings, and events that reflect its commitment to both tradition and innovation. With more than 19,000 works of art and 17,500 films and videos in its holdings, the institution is home to a collection that spans centuries and continents. Highlights include outstanding examples of Chinese painting from the Ming and Qing dynasties, Indian miniature paintings from the Mughal era, Baroque masterpieces, and significant works of American and European art. The photography collection documents the rise of the medium in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, while Conceptual and contemporary art explore the shifting boundaries of modern creativity.
The film archive is equally remarkable, with an internationally recognized collection that encompasses everything from Soviet cinema and Japanese classics to avant-garde West Coast experimentation and early video art. The scope of its film holdings, the largest collection of Japanese films outside of Japan, has made BAMPFA a vital resource for scholars and film enthusiasts alike.
Anchored by fifty works from Hans Hofmann, the museum’s modern collection also features works by Rothko, Pollock, Still, and Frankenthaler, affirming its place as a leader in the study and display of Abstract Expressionism. More than just a museum, BAMPFA is a cultural gathering place where art, film, and conversation intersect, creating an environment that both honors history and embraces new ways of seeing.
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