A remarkable collection of more than 400 art pieces by 300 artists has opened to the public free of charge at Atlanta's newest art gallery. The collection, assembled by prominent Southeast homebuilder John Wieland and his late wife Sue over four decades, focuses on the unique theme of "House and Home" and represents one of the first collections of its kind in the United States.
The gallery, appropriately named The Warehouse, is located in Atlanta's Westside and was founded by John Wieland, who transformed a former storage facility into a world-class art space. The collection fulfills a long-held wish of the Wielands to share their extensive art acquisitions with the public, spanning more than 40 years of collecting artwork from around the world.
Philip Verre, director of The Warehouse, expressed confidence in the collection's uniqueness within the United States. "We have scoured the world, and we think we are the only collection that is themed to 'house and home,'" Verre explained. The gallery's founder, John Wieland, saw a natural connection between his homebuilding profession and art, which he and his wife sought to memorialize in the space.
"My profession is home-building because I think that a homebuilder is trying to create something beautiful," John said. "I think the same is true for an artist." This philosophy drove the couple's decades-long effort to curate artwork that explores themes of dwelling, shelter, and domestic life.
The collection features several remarkable installations that demonstrate the breadth and creativity of the "House and Home" theme. One particularly striking room was built to let visitors experience the exact dimensions of 100 one-room apartments in Hong Kong, with 100 photographs displayed along the walls to provide context for the cramped living conditions. Another room was specially constructed to accommodate 17 massive wall panels titled "10 Minutes After the End of Gravity," which depicts the chaos that would ensue in Los Angeles if gravity were to suddenly fail.
Visitors to The Warehouse have been impressed by both the quality and uniqueness of the exhibition. Marcus Mitchell, a Georgia State University student who toured the gallery, was particularly struck by the cohesive nature of the collection. "I've never experienced an exhibit quite like this and it's nice there is a central theme that connects each piece," Mitchell said.
Faatimah Tucker, another gallery visitor, found a deeply personal connection to one of the artworks. "There was definitely one house that looked like a beach house, and I am originally from Florida," Tucker shared. "It looked yellow with little window shutters that came open, and it made me feel like I was a 5-year-old on the beach again."
With such an extensive collection, John Wieland particularly enjoys when the featured artists visit The Warehouse to see their work in the context of the broader exhibition. He recently spent time with photographer Andrew Moore, studying his piece "The Yellow Porch," an expressive photograph captured in the High Plains region of the western United States. These interactions between collector and artist add another dimension to the gallery experience.
Despite having more than 400 works of art collected over more than four decades, John Wieland still maintains a clear favorite piece. It's a smaller version of a house sculpture by renowned pop artist Roy Lichtenstein that creates an optical illusion. Notably, this piece sits on the front lawn of Atlanta's High Museum of Art, where it was donated by the Wieland family, demonstrating their long-term commitment to sharing art with the Atlanta community.
The Warehouse operates on a unique schedule, opening its doors to visitors on the second Saturday of each month, with completely free admission. No reservations or tickets are required, making the collection accessible to anyone interested in exploring this one-of-a-kind artistic exploration of home and domestic life. The gallery was scheduled to be open on Saturday, August 9, with additional information available on their website for future visiting opportunities.
