Atlanta’s Art Museums

High Museum Of Art

The High Museum of Art is an Atlanta highlight and one of the best art museums in the South.

It has a large permanent collection of works of American, European and African art, including southern folk art; modern and contemporary art; art from the African continent ranging from ancient objects to contemporary works; European art including works by important French and Italian artists; 19th- and 20th-century American paintings and sculpture; photography, specializing in American photography; and one of the largest collections of Civil Rights era photography in the country.

The museum also offers many special exhibitions. See details of current and upcoming displays.

Open Tuesday-Sunday (Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Sunday, 12pm-5pm). Closed Mondays.

Admission $16.50 (ages 6+). Admission includes most special exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection.

1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-733-4400
Website

Museum Of Design Atlanta

This small museum has no permanent collection but instead devotes its display space to a single special exhibition, which changes every few months. Exhibits focus on the role of design in everyday life. See the museum’s website for details of current and upcoming exhibitions.

Open Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-7pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Adults $10, seniors/students $8, children (0-11) free.

1315 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-979-6455
Website

Center For Puppetry Arts

The museum at the Center for Puppetry Arts has one of the largest puppetry collections in the United States, with hundreds of puppets from all over the world. Exhibits document the art of puppetry and the huge variety of puppet styles that have been created in different periods and places. There are also filmed interviews with puppeteers and a recreation of a puppet storeroom.

The Center for Puppetry Arts is also a performance venue, with both child- and adult-oriented puppetry performances given. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. Book online or call 404-873-3391.

Museum open Tuesday-Sunday (Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 12pm-5pm). Closed Mondays. Adults $15, seniors (55+) $12.50, children (2-12) $10.

Ticket sales office open Tuesday-Sunday (Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 12pm-5pm). Closed Mondays. Ticket prices for performances vary, but are usually in the range of $15-$25.

1404 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-873-3089
Website

Michael C Carlos Museum

The Carlos Museum, located at Emory University’s Atlanta campus, has one of the largest collections of ancient art in the Southeast. Displays include ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian artifacts (the Egyptian collection is a highlight), plus objects from the Middle and Near East, the Mediterranean, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

A self-guided audio tour is available for a small additional fee. Special exhibitions are also held: see details of current and upcoming displays.

Open Tuesday-Sunday (Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm. Saturday, 10am-5pm. Sunday, 12pm-5pm). Closed Mondays. Adults $8, seniors/students/children (6-17) $6. Audio tour rental $2. Admission is free on occasional afternoons, see this page for upcoming dates.

571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-4282
Website

Hammonds House Museum

This art museum is located inside the historic home of prominent Atlanta physician and patron of African diaspora art, Dr Otis Thrash Hammonds. The museum continues Hammonds’s legacy by collecting and displaying works by artists of the African diaspora, of which it has over 450 examples in its permanent collection. Several special exhibitions are also held each year, see this page for details. For groups of 8 or more, guided tours of the art and history of the home are available by appointment.

Open Friday-Sunday (Friday-Saturday, 11am-5pm; Sunday, 12pm-5pm). Closed Monday through Thursday. Adults $10, seniors $7, students $5, children (0-12) free.

503 Peoples Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
404-612-0481
Website

Museum Of Contemporary Art Of Georgia

This small museum collects and promotes works by Georgia’s most notable contemporary artists. You can see works from the continually expanding permanent collection or one of the many special exhibitions displaying contemporary Georgian works in their artistic context. Details of current and upcoming exhibitions here.

Open Wednesday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. Admission $5.

75 Bennett Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-367-8700
Website

Art Museums At Atlanta’s Universities & Colleges

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art shows art by women of the African diaspora, with hundreds of works in its permanent collection. Special exhibitions are also held.

Open Tuesday-Saturday (Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm. Saturday, 12pm-4pm). Closed Sunday, Monday, holidays, summer and official Spelman College breaks. Check with the museum before planning your trip to ensure that it will be open when you visit. Admission is free, but a donation of $5 is suggested.

Located at the Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby EdD Academic Center
350 Spelman Lane, Atlanta, GA 30314
404-270-5607
Website

Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries

Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries also have a large collection focused on African-American and traditional African art, with more than 1200 pieces in the permanent collection.

Open Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm. Closed Saturday-Monday, and on holidays and official Clark Atlanta University breaks. Check with the museum before planning your trip to ensure that it will be open when you visit. Admission is free, but a donation of $3 is suggested.

Located on the 2nd floor of Trevor Arnett Hall
223 James P Brawley Drive, Atlanta, GA 30314
404-880-6102
Website

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art

Oglethorpe University Museum of Art shows regular exhibitions across its three galleries, including works by artists of national and international importance. Its permanent collection specialises in 19th- and 20th-century French works and in Japanese porcelain. See current and upcoming exhibitions

Open Tuesday-Sunday (Tuesday, 10am-5pm; Wednesday, 2pm-10pm; Thursday, 10am-5pm; Friday, 2pm-5pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 2pm-5pm). Closed Mondays and University holidays. Admission is free.

Located on the third floor of Lowry Hall
Oglethorpe University Campus
4484 Peachtree Road
404-364-8555
Website