The Whitney Museum of American Art is a modern and contemporary art museum located in Manhattan, New York City, in the Meatpacking District. Founded in 1930 by artist and patron Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting 20th- and 21st-century American art, with a strong emphasis on living artists. Its current building on Gansevoort Street, designed by architect Renzo Piano, features expansive galleries, outdoor terraces and views of the Hudson River. The Whitney is also known for the Whitney Biennial, a recurring exhibition that highlights new directions in American art and remains one of the most closely watched events in the contemporary art world. - AsNotedIn