PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The new Diversity Arts and Culture Museum under construction on the South Side will feature artwork from around the world.
KDKA-TV’s Mamie Barr got an exclusive look at the works and space that will soon be home to the new museum.
“This is a museum gallery and a performance venue,” said Max Mavlovich, president and architect of the project.
The former steel mill is now a blank canvas undergoing transformation across the river.
“It’s on South Sixth Avenue.”
Mavlovic brings Michael Berger’s vision to life.
Berger’s family has been in business on the South Side for 75 years.
”[There is] We need a museum on the South Side because there’s nothing on the South Side,” Berger said.
Michael Berger is an art collector. He has been collecting art for decades since his college days. His vision was for something unique with a name to match.
The Diversity Arts and Culture Museum was born.
The space will be on two floors. It plans to add a second floor and an elevator that will feature artwork from around the world.
You can expect art from Black artists like Kara Walker and Stephen Towns. There are also works that spotlight people of color, such as Hung Liu’s work.
All these works have one thing in common: they are from the 21st century.
“We don’t have works by artists before the year 2000 in our museum. That’s the most exciting thing. It’s the art of today and tomorrow,” Berger said.
Berger aims to be a future art and museum that is ahead of its time.
“Pittsburgh needs to be a cultural center, not a steel center. Steel centers were great back then, but they don’t need to be that anymore,” Berger said.
The museum is scheduled to open later this year.