Tacoma Art Museum: A Hub for Northwest Art

The Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) in Tacoma, Washington, is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and celebrating the visual arts of the American Northwest [2]. Founded in 1935, TAM has grown into a significant cultural anchor in downtown Tacoma's museum district [2, 3]. The museum's collection features over 5,400 pieces, with two-thirds classified as Northwest art [2]. You'll find works by renowned artists such as Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Edward Hopper, and Jacob Lawrence, alongside prominent Northwest artists like Guy Anderson, Morris Graves, and Dale Chihuly [2]. TAM boasts the premier collection of glass artwork by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly, on permanent public display [2]. TAM's history dates back to the Tacoma Art League, which began in 1891 [2]. It evolved into the Tacoma Art Society in the 1930s and officially became the Tacoma Art Museum in 1964 [2]. The museum moved to its current location in 2003, a building designed by Antoine Predock to reflect Tacoma's industrial history and the Northwest environment [3, 6]. Expansions in 2014 and 2019 added the Haub Family Galleries for Western American Art and the Benaroya Wing for studio art glass [3, 6]. Visitors can explore a variety of exhibitions, including both permanent and rotating collections [5]. The museum also hosts events, including free neighborhood nights, yoga classes, and family-friendly activities [7]. The TAM Studio offers a space for visitors to connect, create, and explore art [7].