The Parrish Art Museum is a Long Island institution. The architecturally designed modern museum in a rural setting has its roots in the private 19th-century collection of Samuel Longstreth Parrish. These days, the collection follows through to contemporary 21st-century art, including pieces by local artists.
Samuel Longstreth Parrish, a wealthy attorney from New York, collected Italian Renaissance art and Roman- and Greek-style sculpture. He opened his first gallery in 1897. The museum was bequeathed to the Town of Southampton after his death in 1932, but it was not until the 1950s with the guidance of Rebecca Bolling Littlejohn that the collection began to grow again.
Since 2012, the Parrish Art Museum has occupied an eye-catching rural gallery that is a statement in itself. As you approach, see how the single-floor museum resembles a huge steel farm shed. Set in 14 acres (5.5 hectares) of grassland, it was designed to fit in with its rural surroundings. Browse the sculptures dotted around the barn to get a first hint of the artworks to be found inside.
Enter the museum to see how its design is aligned to make the most of the “Hamptons light,” bathing the galleries in bright daylight. Browse the extensive collection that represents the East End, South Shore and North Shore artist colonies of the Hamptons. These artists come to Long Island to catch the Hampton light and the stunning coastal and rural vistas.
Don’t miss the William Merritt Chase and Fairfield Porter collections, two of the museum’s highlights. Also explore the three galleries with temporary exhibitions, which keep the museum interesting to regular visitors year-round. Stop for a bite to eat in the on-site café to ruminate over the artworks you have seen. End your visit in the museum shop, with its wide range of art books and handcrafted souvenirs.
The Parrish Art Museum is located in Water Mill, approximately 12 miles (20 kilometres) east of the town of Southampton. Free on-site parking is available if you come by car. The Long Island Railroad and Hampton Jitney bus have nearby stops if you are prepared to do the last mile or two by taxi or on foot. The museum is open daily except Tuesday. Entry fees apply.
