The Newport Art Museum is a vibrant cultural hub at the heart of Newport, Rhode Island’s artistic community. It has a rich history that mirrors the city’s own evolution as a center for artistic and intellectual pursuits. Its journey began over a century ago with the founding of the Newport Art Association in 1912. From its inception, the organization has been driven by a collective passion for the arts and a desire to foster a creative community.
The Newport Art Association was established by a group of prominent artists and community leaders, including novelist Maud Howe Elliott and noted sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (who would later found and funded the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York). This founding group envisioned a space where artists could exhibit their work, exchange ideas, and engage the public with contemporary art. In its early years, the Association operated out of various locations, hosting exhibitions and lectures that quickly gained recognition and attracted artists from across the country. The thriving summer colony—with its mix of established patrons and avant-garde thinkers—provided significant support for the institution during its formative years.
Exterior of the Griswold, or Newport Art Museum.
A pivotal moment in the Association’s history came with the opportunity to acquire a permanent home. The John N. A. Griswold House, an exquisite example of “Stick Style” architecture designed by Richard Morris Hunt in 1864, became available. The house had been owned by the Griswold family since its construction, until it was sold to the Newport Art Association in 1916.
Recognizing both the architectural significance of the building and its potential as a gallery space, the Association launched a successful fundraising campaign to purchase and convert it. The Griswold House—considered the museum’s most important work of art—provided an inspiring and distinguished setting for the burgeoning art community. It officially opened as the Association’s headquarters, galleries, and school in 1916.
A detailed interior sits inside this historic architectural structure.
Following the untimely passing of Newport painter Howard Gardiner Cushing, his friend Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney commissioned the firm of Delano and Aldrich to design a separate gallery building to display Cushing’s work and house future exhibitions. This building opened in 1920 and was expanded in 1990.
Over the decades, the Newport Art Association continued to grow in both stature and scope. Its permanent collection expanded to include works by notable American artists with connections to Newport and the New England region. The Association also remained committed to art education, offering classes and workshops for all ages. By the late 20th century, in recognition of its evolving mission and status as a significant collecting institution, the organization adopted a new name. In 1984, the Newport Art Association officially became the Newport Art Museum.
An axon drawing of a project A4 Architecture completed for the Newport Art Museum.
The J.N.A. Griswold House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2000 the highest honor bestowed by the Secretary of the Interior. The museum campus has since expanded to include not only the Cushing Gallery but also a dedicated studio and classroom building on nearby Liberty Street. These additions have allowed for a broader range of exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement. Today, the institution continues to champion both historic and contemporary art, honoring the vision of its founders by remaining a dynamic center for artistic expression and appreciation—deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Newport and beyond.
An elevation drawing of a project A4 Architecture completed for the Newport Art Museum.
A4 Architecture has been honored to undertake various projects across all of the Newport Art Museum’s buildings over the years. Ross Cann was honored to serve on the Board of Directors for eight years, acting as Secretary of the Board for several of those years. The centrality of the J.N.A. Griswold House to Richard Morris Hunt’s early career—and its importance as one of the most prominent examples of “Stick Style” architecture in the country—lends special weight to the Newport Art Museum’s preservation mission. A4 Architecture is proud to have supported the organization in fulfilling this responsibility and would be pleased to assist you in preserving, restoring, or adapting your own historic structure as well.
Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP, holds degrees from Yale, Cambridge and Columbia and is a historian, educator, and practicing architect living and working in Newport. His firm, A4 Architecture has completed a variety of projects at the institution over the years. Ross Cann was invited to join the board and serve as Secretary of the Board for many years and helped guide the major restoration and expansion of the J.N.A. Griswold house building.