5 Reasons to Visit New York’s Frick Collection This Spring

Known for its extraordinary collection of 14th to 19th century European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts, the Frick offers an intimate encounter with works by artists such as Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, and Francisco Goya, housed in the opulent former residence of industrialist Henry Clay Frick.

With insight from Curator Aimee Ng, here are five reasons to visit the newly refreshed Frick this spring.

1. The Return of Iconic Masterpieces in Refreshed Interiors

Step into the grand first-floor galleries and reunite with some of the Frick’s most beloved works. Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini’s St. Francis in the Desert, stunning portraits by Thomas Gainsborough, Anthony van Dyck, and James McNeill Whistler, and breathtaking landscapes by J. M. W. Turner and John Constable all make their return. Visitors can also admire the monumental canvases of the Fragonard Room, a highlight of the collection.

Also on the first floor, a brand-new Cabinet Gallery will debut, showcasing exquisite drawings by artists such as Edgar Degas, Francisco Goya, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, and Peter Paul Rubens.

2. A Rare Glimpse into the Frick Family’s Home

For the first time in its history, the museum is opening its second floor to the public, inviting visitors to explore the former private quarters of the Frick family and engage with even more art.

“This includes a new gallery in what was the Frick family’s Breakfast Room, while the Boucher Room, once the private sitting room of Adelaide Childs Frick, is being returned to its original upstairs location,” Ng explains. These intimate spaces will showcase smaller paintings, sculptures, and new acquisitions, including French faience ceramics, Viennese Du Paquier porcelain, and a remarkable collection of portrait medals.

This expansion offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the Frick mansion as both a museum and a lived-in home.

3. Expanded Public Programs and Educational Opportunities

The reopening marks a new era for the Frick’s commitment to public engagement. As a start, the museum’s new 220-seat Stephen A. Schwarzman Auditorium will host a Spring Music Festival from April 26 to May 11, 2025 featuring classical, Baroque, and contemporary performances.

For those eager to deepen their understanding of art, the Frick has introduced its first-ever dedicated education room, designed to host lectures, student programs, and workshops for all ages. “These new facilities will enable us to engage with a broader audience and provide more opportunities for visitors to deepen their understanding of the collection,” Ng emphasizes.

Whether through self-guided tours on the Bloomberg Connects app or in-person discussions with Frick educators in the galleries, visitors will have more opportunities than ever to connect with the collection.

4. A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Conservation and Research

Behind the beauty of the Frick’s face-lift lies meticulous conservation and scholarship.

The renovation has introduced state-of-the-art conservation facilities, ensuring the long-term preservation of the museum’s artworks and architectural elements. Restorers have carefully revived carved wood paneling, marble fireplaces, and bronze fixtures, while historic textiles and wall hangings have been recreated by the same firms originally commissioned by the Frick family over a century ago.

Meanwhile, the Frick Art Research Library has been revitalized, offering improved and integrated access to its renowned research collections and creating new spaces for scholars and researchers to collaborate. “The library’s refurbished reading rooms will reopen with new entry points designed to integrate it more seamlessly with the museum,” Ng shares, making research and study more accessible than ever before.

These conservation and research efforts will be evident throughout the reopening—not only in the museum’s refreshed appearance but also in the enhanced ways scholars and art lovers can engage with the museum.

5. A Vermeer Experience Like No Other

The special exhibition galleries will open in June with an exhibit titled Vermeer’s Love Letters, an intimate presentation of three Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) masterpieces displayed together in a single gallery. The exhibit will reunite three paintings by the Dutch artist: Mistress and Maid from the Frick Collection alongside Love Letter from the Rijksmuseum and Woman Writing a Letter, with Her Maid from the National Gallery of Ireland.

Discussing the role of the curatorial team in the renovation, Aimee Ng shares, “Together, we have restored the first floor to its original beauty while carefully designing the second-floor installations to reflect both the Frick family’s personal collecting interests and broader art historical themes.”

This careful balance of preservation and new perspectives awaits you when the Frick Collection reopens on April 17, 2025. Tickets go on sale on March 5, 2025.