The Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris

The Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria

1995 - Whitney Museum - Biennial Exhibition

1995 Whitney Biennial

Exhibition Catalogue
Whitney Museum of American Art
1995

From the Sponsor’s Statement:

“As our business has become increasingly global, we have widened the scope of our cultural programs to serve our communities around the world. With extensive and growing operations in Central Europe, we are especially gratified to help bring the Biennial to Prague and to inaugurate this glorious city’s new museum of modern art.”

Geoffrey C. Bible
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Philip Morris Companies Inc.

[Translation: “As our Marlboro sales are taking off in Central Europe, which has among the highest smoking rates in the world, Philip Morris needs to promote our image as a major supporter of culture in the region and douse any pesky anti-tobacco industry activism.”]

Whitney Museum of American Art

Top: Original Location (1966-2014) on the Upper East Side of Manhattan
Bottom: New Location (2015-Present) in West Village/Meatpacking District Lower West Side of Manhattan

Whitney Biennial 2002

Exhibition Catalogue
(Cover, Front Matter, Foreword)
Philip Morris Companies Inc.
2004

Company’s Fortunes Change, And the Whitney Benefits

Newspaper Article
(3 pages)
The New York Times
February 6, 2009

2002 - The Whitney at Philip Morris - The Whitney Biennial

The 2002 Whitney Biennial

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The Whitney of American Art
Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
The New York Times
2002

2004 Whitney Biennial

Exhibition Catalogue
(Cover, Sponsor Page, Preface)
Whitney Museum
2004

Director’s Statement:

“…the 2004 Biennial is sponsored by Altria. The Whitney has enjoyed a long and enduring relationship with Altria, a company that well understands the significance of the Whitney and the Biennial, but, more important, appreciates the visionary role that contemporary artists play in our society even when they are untried and pushing the boundaries…”

Adam D. Weinberg
Alice Pratt Brown Director

[Translation: “As long as you give us the money, you can keep blowing smoke in our museum.”]

2005 - Whitney Museum of American Art - Altria - Kids Guide

Whitney Kids Guide

Brochure
Whitney Museum of American Art
Altria
2002

2004-05 - The Whitney at Philip Morris - The Lastest in American art

The Latest in American Art

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Whitney Museum of American Art
Altria
May 2004

Robert Smithson

Whitney Museum of American Art
Altria
October 23, 2005

Youth 2 Youth Programs for Teens

Promotional Card
Whitney Museum of American Art
Altria
2006

Day for Night, Sponsor’s Statement, Director’s Statement

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Whitney Biennial 2006
Altria
2006

2006 - Whitney Biennial - Altria - Day for Night, Sponor's Statement, Director's Statement

Day for Night, Sponsor’s Statement, Director’s Statement

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Whitney Biennial 2006
Altria
2006

Matthew Brannon-Where Were We

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Whitney Museum of American Art
Altria
2007

1983- Photograph of opening of Whitney Museum at Phip Morris

In 1983 New York City Mayor Ed Koch, whose trademark question to passers-by was “How’m I doin’!?” cut the ribbon at the opening of the Whitney Museum of American Art branch in the Philip Morris headquarters on Park Avenue. He is shown with Philip Morris CEO George Weissman. The ribbon was part of the cigarette manufacturer’s slogan, “It takes art to make a company great.” Three years later Mayor Koch would call for restrictions on smoking in restaurants and other public places which the New York City Council passed in 1988. A year later Mayor Koch ended cigarette advertisements on city-owned billboards.

Photo Courtesy New York City Municipal Archives

Take a look at the Koch Kicks Butt section of the Big Apple exhibition.

Photograph of Opening of Whitney Museum at Philip Morris
April 8, 1983