The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has reopened its American art wing following a US$7.9m (€6.4m, £5m) two-year redevelopment.

The 15,000sq ft (1,400sq m) area has undergone a full renovation, which now sees artworks arranged chronologically with the aim of demonstrating how American artists were involved with art coming from overseas.

The wing’s unveiling also coincides with the reopening of the building’s main entrance, the neoclassically-designed John Russell Pope entrance, first opened in 1929 and closed since 1982.

Renovations are currently underway on the Asian and African galleries, which will reopen on 26 April 2015, the next step in the five-year, multi-phase US$28m (€22.7m, £17.8m) renovation. The plans also include development of a 5,000sq ft (464sq m) learning and creativity centre, with an interactive exhibition gallery and art-making spaces.

In November 2012, the museum unveiled its new contemporary wing including 16 new galleries showcasing masterworks by the likes of Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol.

Baltimore-based architecture firm Ziger/Snead is acting as lead architect for the 2014-2015 renovations, while Maryland’s Whiting-Turner Contracting Company is leading construction efforts and the project manager is Maryland-based Synthesis.

The BMA currently has 90,000 works of art - including the largest holding of works by Henri Matisse. The project is funded in part by US$11.25m (€9.2m, £7.2m) in capital contributions from the State of Maryland; US$2.95m (€2.4m, £1.9m) from the City of Baltimore; and US$21.5m (€17.5m, £13.7m) to date in contributions to the museum’s funding campaign In a New Light: The Campaign for The Baltimore Museum of Art.