The Fort Myers, Florida-based non-profit Art of the Olympians (“AOTO”) Museum and Gallery currently has a traveling exhibit on display at University College London during this Summer’s 2012 Olympic Games in London.
A recent USA TODAY.com article noted that this is not AOTO’s first exhibit at the Olympics. AOTO’s debut exhibit was during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, however, not too many people noticed as the museum’s display was placed by Chinese officials at Prince Jun Palace quite a distance away from all the action. AOTO also shared a room with the World Olympians Association and part of the room was located outdoors, which resulted in the replacement of original works with replica pieces by museum officials. This time around AOTO has been given a generous 36,000 square feet in which to display 33 pieces created by Olympic athletes.
Throughout this Summer’s Olympic Games museum officials will play host to nearly daily functions for dignitaries, among others, in what is hoped by AOTO to be a “coming-out party to the international community.”