Asheville – A new exhibition series, titled Legends of Art & Innovation at Biltmore, is gracing the famed estate. The exhibition features three different large-scale, multi-sensory experiences stretching from now until Jan. 2023. Each experience highlights the work and life of a famed artist: Van Gogh, Monet and da Vinci.
Van Gogh Alive
Exhibits of Van Gogh Alive have swept the country over the past year—immersive displays of the artist’s work were hosted in cities from New York to Los Angeles. Asheville welcomed the exhibit at the Biltmore Amherst at Deerpark exhibition space this autumn. It is on display until March 5.
“Our guests have really enjoyed it. We conduct guest surveys, and some of the recent comments about the experience include, ‘Spectacular! We could have stayed to watch the exhibition for hours and hours. Very well done!’ I also appreciate this comment, ‘Not like typical art exhibits but I did walk away feeling educated and enlightened. ‘This is a very different type of experience that we’re offering to our guests, and we are happy to learn that it is resonating with them,” says LeeAnn Donnelly, senior public relations manager at the Biltmore Company.
Van Gogh produced over 2000 works of art in just 10 years. The exhibition highlights and showcases a broad range of his artwork. Van Gogh Alive uses projections of the artist’s work to transport visitors into the creative mind of the esteemed artist. Described as “an unforgettable multi-sensory experience,” it’s a vibrant mixture of light, color sound and scent.
“This collection of exhibits at Biltmore – Legends of Art & Innovation – is the first of its kind at the estate. It’s an opportunity for Biltmore to host an innovative digital art experience that compliments the traditional Biltmore House tour. Your tour through the house introduces you to a home that served as a stunning setting for the art and antiques collected by George and Edith Vanderbilt. The Van Gogh exhibition – and the upcoming Monet and Friends – Life, Light & Color; and later this year Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius – provides a wonderful contrast. It’s a multi-sensory experience that often feels as though you are actually a part of or inside of one of Van Gogh’s paintings. We look forward to seeing Monet and da Vinci as the series continues,” says Donnelly.
Monet’s Masterpieces
Claude Monet is occupying Biltmore from March 9 to July 10, 2022. The exhibit is a homage to the French painter and his Impressionist peers of the mid-19th through the early 20th centuries. History of the Impressionist movement amid the social and political turbulence of the time accompanies the art.
“It transports you back to a time when European art was poised to change forever, and immerses you in the Impressionists’ masterworks as they come to life in a rich display of light, color, and sound. Breathtaking paintings are projected on an enormous scale, illuminating the bold brushstrokes of Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, and more,” says the Biltmore website.
The exhibit links the Vanderbilt family to the life and work of Monet.
“When we open Monet and Friends – Life, Light & Color on March 9, guests will be able to observe two seldom seen Monet landscape paintings from George Vanderbilt’s private collection during their Biltmore House tour. The paintings will be on view in the Salon. Biltmore’s Floral Displays Team will create a grand floral display in the Winter Garden and vibrant arrangements throughout the house, inspired by Monet and other artists known for the Impressionist style,” says Donnelly.
Dive into da Vinci
Marvel at the visceral genius of Leonardo da Vinci through his illustrations and sketches. The Italian painter, engineer and scientist (among other endeavors) is heralded as one of the most influential artists and mathematicians of all time. He was the epitome of a Renaissance man. His theories are considered by many to be the groundwork of the inventions of the tank, the helicopter, the flying machine, the parachute and the self-powered vehicle. This immersive exhibit explores the genius present in both his scientific sketches and intricate paintings. Gain insight into the mind of a genius who established fundamental scientific and artistic principles.
“500 Years of Genius, elements about the architectural and mechanical aspects of Biltmore House will be highlighted, as many were considered innovative at the time the house was built,” Donnelly says.
Ticket Information
The series is included with regular daytime admission. Reservations for the exhibits are required. Tickets are available on the Biltmore website and are discounted for Biltmore Annual Passholders. Visitors can also pay for an audio guide or expert-guide admission. Each exhibition lasts 45-75 minutes. Non-flash photography and videography is allowed. Limited bench seating is available at a first come, first serve basis in the exhibition hall. For updates, visit www.biltmore.com.