The Momentary: the museum that brings contemporary art into everyday life

The Momentary is a one-of-a-kind contemporary art experience creatively reimagined from a 70-year-old decommissioned Kraft Foods plant in Bentonville, Arkansas. A museum that flips expectations of a traditional art museum, it houses exhibition spaces, concerts, theater, cinema, and studio spaces that support an artist-in-residency program.

A new access to cultural spaces

The Momentary welcomes visitors through its courtyard, abandoning the idea of a monumental entrance and encouraging a more open and fluid experience. The Wheeler Kearns Architects studio worked on a careful combination of past and present, seeking to preserve the existing structure as much as possible and introducing new volumes through contemporary materials such as glass and steel. This intervention is part of a series of renovation projects aimed at transforming a former factory into a dynamic cultural center. The result is an architecture that combines industrial and modern elements, generating a dialogue between the built environment and the surrounding landscape.

Contrast between pre-existing and new elements

The scale of the building appears accessible, while the new architectural elements stand out distinctly from the existing factory. The use of glass allows for greater transparency and connection between interiors and exteriors, creating an overlapping effect between the old and the new. If in the past the factory was a closed and introspective space, the new additions completely reverse its character, offering broad views that invite the public to explore the place. On the east side of the garden, a 15-meter-high and 13,000-square-meter canopy serves as a focal point for outdoor events and festivals, providing a functional and scenic shelter for the public.

Art blending with conviviality

Inside, The Momentary intentionally overlaps artistic spaces with areas dedicated to conviviality, redefining the role of contemporary art in everyday life. Here, visitors can experience art in a fluid and informal way, moving between installations, exhibitions, social hubs, and dining areas. The concept is that of an immersive cultural experience, where food, drinks, and social interaction merge with the exhibitions, transforming the center into a reference point for contemporary creativity. Thanks to its programming and the quality of its spaces, the Momentary is now a key destination for artists and art enthusiasts from around the world.

Gallery

PEOPLE

Wheeler Kearns Architects

343 S Dearborn St #200, Chicago, IL 60604, Stati Uniti