Whistle Stop (Spread), Robert Rauschenberg, 1977, mixed media

Traveling shows and other special exhibitions are the mother’s milk of art museums, but they often drive an institution’s own works into storage. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is temporarily rectifying that situation. In lieu of a big-ticket show, the museum is dedicating more space to pieces from its permanent collection through the middle of 2009.

Almost 100 paintings, sculptures and installations will be on display by Jan. 25, when the second phase of The Collection and Then Some opens on the second floor. The first floor is already occupied with 45 works, some of them never displayed since the Modern moved into its new building six years ago. Among them is the Rauschenberg pictured above and this painting by Morris Louis:

Dalet Kaf, Morris Louis, 1959, acrylic resin on canvas

Still, these are just a select few of the museum’s 2,600-strong collection. But what a selection. On the first floor alone, there are pieces by Anselm Kiefer, Gerhard Richter, Francis Bacon, Jackson Pollock, Agnes Martin, Donald Judd and photographer Nicholas Nixon, whose entire Brown Sisters series is on display.

Then Some refers to a few loaned works in the show, including Helter Skelter II by Mark Bradford, Silverstone by Frank Stella and Untitled (L.A.) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

When the second phase opens next month, it will include pieces by Ron Mueck (below), Kehinde Wiley, Eric Swenson and Tabaimo. On the Modern blog, there’s a lot of discussion about new juxtapositions the show creates.

Untitled (Seated Woman), Ron Mueck, 1999, silicone, acrylic, polyurethane foam and fabric