National Gallery of Art - East Building, Modern art museum on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., United States
The National Gallery of Art's East Building is a modern art museum in Washington, D.C., designed with geometric shapes and expansive glass surfaces. The structure combines polished marble floors with natural light flowing into exhibition spaces and includes access to a rooftop terrace displaying sculptures.
The building was completed in 1978 and designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, who positioned it on a trapezoidal site along Pennsylvania Avenue. Funding came from the Mellon family, establishing a significant art center on the National Mall.
The museum displays twentieth-century works by artists such as Picasso, Pollock, and Rothko that visitors encounter while moving through the galleries. These pieces reflect how modern art movements developed and continue to speak to people today.
Visitors can reach all levels via two main staircases or explore the rooftop terrace with art installations. An underground passage connects this building to the adjacent West Building, making it easy to move between both sections.
The building features isosceles triangles throughout its design, a geometric shape that runs through its entire architecture. This repeated triangular form creates a distinctive visual pattern that visitors can discover within the structure itself.
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