One of the nation's foremost galleries, representing all of the essential art movements of recent centuries.
There are many reasons to visit the campus of the University of Texas, and the Blanton Museum of Art is one of the best. It is open every day except for Mondays and national holidays. The Blanton has been called 'an essential US art destination' by the Austin Chronicle, but it isn’t for art lovers alone all who appreciate beautiful things will want to make a stop at the Blanton Museum when they visit Austin.
Several hours are necessary to fully explore the 17,000 plus works of art in the Blanton collection, located on just over one hectare of land in central Austin. The Blanton Museum houses one of the first and most comprehensive art collections in the United States. Visitors will discover pieces from the Italian Renaissance, the Baroque period, and North American Art from 1875 to the present day. There are prints and paintings as well as new media pieces. The museum is popular for its Latin American art, but it features over 2,000 works created by 600 different Caribbean and South American artists, too. Artistic styles vary greatly, and visitors will enjoy classic realist paintings, urban prints, and everything in between the more contemporary collections include video and installation art. Exhibitions are always changing, so be sure to check out the website for information on the featured exhibits while you are in Austin.
The onsite café in the Edgar A. Smith Building offers a range of gourmet snacks such as pizzas, sandwiches, and, of course, coffee. The museum shop is a great place to browse for a refrigerator magnet to hold up your child’s report card or a piece of contemporary art for your home.
In addition to browsing stellar collections and snacking on gourmet delights, visitors can also attend public programs such as lectures and workshops. The Blanton offers several truly unique activities like yoga in the gallery and talks with artists. Parents will love the family-oriented programs such as the art lab and story time. Tours are always available and are included in the price of admission.
