The death of an underdog in American art: the tiny Museum of Biblical Art

THE ATLANTIC
By David Van Biema

"Back to Eden: Contemporary Artists Wander the Garden" exhibition

NEW YORK---The tiny Museum of Biblical Art was unique thanks to its secular discussion of art's religious origins. Its closure highlights a stunning disconnect in U.S. museums between masterpieces and the context within which they were created. Immediately following the news of MOBIA’s closing, it was clear that professional commentators knew that they had lost something, but they didn’t seem to know exactly what. It corrected for a massive flaw in museum culture by being a gallery dedicated to the religious nature of religious art. And not only that, but it was a secular museum dedicated to the religious nature of religious art. Now, it's up to art consumers to internalize the museum’s insight for themselves. [link]