What’s the best way to navigate an art museum? Some people seek out the highlights of the collection first, others take their time and enjoy each work of art in peace. And then there’s a museum backed by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings that takes an unexpected approach: what if you could ski past numerous works of art on a mountainside? It may seem unorthodox, but converting a power station into an art museum probably sounded strange at one time, and today Tate Modern is an iconic place.
As The New York TimesTed Loos reports that Hastings was inspired by a visit to the Storm King Art Center and the wide selection of outdoor art. And the idea of combining art experience and physical activity has several precedents: In addition to Storm King, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville has a 1.5-mile sculpture trail with works by Jenny Holzer and James Turrell – both of whom will also be represented in Hastings’ Utah project.
Hastings purchased Powder Mountain in Utah last year; adding a contemporary art element is one of the ways he’s transforming the space. The first two pieces of art in the collection are by Griffin Loop, Gerard & Kelly and Susan Philipsz, and more will be added this winter, leading up to the grand opening in 2026. And yes, for contemporary art fans who don’t ski, the art can be viewed without skis, depending on when you come.
The Powder Art Foundation website states that the art collection will be open to the public (and free) in the summer and fall, and can be accessed with resort admission in the winter. Hastings told the Just that his visits to Storm King “changed the way I see art.” Will Powder Mountain’s collection have a similar impact on visitors there in a few years?
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