Galleries and Art Museums in Austin
Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin is one of the foremost university art museums in the country, and has the largest and most comprehensive collection of art in Central Texas. With more than 21,000 works in the collection, the Blanton showcases art from across the ages, from ancient Greek pottery to abstract expressionism. With a year-round schedule of traveling exhibitions, art lovers are sure to discover new and old favorites at the Blanton.
Admission Fee: (includes access to Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin”):
Thursdays are always FREE
Adults: $12
Seniors (65+): $10
Youth and College ID holders: $5
Members, UT ID holders, Children 12 & under, Military ID holders and Teachers with valid ID: FREE
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 1pm-5pm, Monday & Tuesday: Closed
Visit here: 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78712, United States
The Contemporary Austin
The Contemporary Austin comprises two locations: the historic Jones Center on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, and Laguna Gloria, a unique, fourteen-acre art-in-nature site that includes the landmark Driscoll Villa, the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School at Laguna Gloria, and the Moody Pavilions.
The Jones Center includes two floors of exhibition space and a stunning rooftop deck—the Moody Rooftop—home to exhibition-related films, performances, family programs, and tours, along with some of the most creative private events in the city.
Laguna Gloria transports you far from the bustle of the city—although you are only five miles from downtown. Venture through the grounds to discover art by contemporary artists from around the world, from awe-inspiring monumental sculptures to quiet moments with art in nature along meditative wooded pathways.
Admission Fee:
Both Contemporary Austin locations are free for all visitors on Thursdays.
Members, Under 18 & Military, Essential Workers: FREE
Adults: $10
Seniors & Students: $5
Under 18, Military, Essential Workers: FREE
Hours:
Laguna Gloria: Wednesday: 9am-3pm, Thursday: 9am-9pm, Friday-Sunday: 9am-3pm
Jones Center: Wednesday: 12pm-9pm, Thursday-Sunday: 12pm-6pm
Visit here: Jones Center - 700 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States and Laguna Gloria - 3809 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703, United States
ICOSA Collective
ICOSA is an artist-run nonprofit space that showcases a diverse range of contemporary art and programming.
ICOSA is a network of artists committed to providing exhibition space free of the constraints of the traditional gallery model, as well as a platform for dialoguing with audiences.
ICOSA’s culture empowers artists to develop their creative and professional ambitions, continuously culminating in a wide range of events, from art shows to educational programs, as well as in cooperative partnerships with diverse organizations.
ICOSA’s programming ignites ideas and relationships between the Austin and global art communities: compliments of its member artists who are producing some of the region’s highest-caliber contemporary art and art discussion.
Hours: Fridays & Saturdays: 12-6pm
Visit here: 916 Springdale Road Building 2 #102,Austin, TX 78702, United States
Austin Art Garage
Austin Art Garage was created to expose talented emerging artists and offer art enthusiasts, from all socio-economic backgrounds, an opportunity to invest in art created within their community.
This may be your rare opportunity to acquire beautiful locally made art early in an artist's career while it’s still attainable and become a part of their story. Austin Art Garage has something for everyone, from the cash strapped college student to seasoned art collectors looking to invest in new talent.
Hours: Monday & Sunday: 12pm-6pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 11am-7pm, Thursday & Friday: 10am-7pm, Saturday: 10am-8pm
Visit here:2200 S Lamar Blvd UNIT J, Austin, TX 78704, United States
Wonderspaces Austin
Wonderspaces presents 14 extraordinary art installations and signature cocktails to experience together with friends and family.
Open year-round with regular changes to the artwork lineup.
Admission Fee :
(Purchasing tickets online in advance is highly recommended as many entry times sell out)
Adults (13-59): $24
Seniors (60+), Active Military, Veterans, & Dependents with Valid ID, Healthcare Must Show Valid ID, Teachers Must Show Valid ID, Students Must Show Valid ID: $20
Children Ages 12 and Under: $15
(Children under 3 are free and do not require a ticket)
Hours: Monday: 1pm-7pm, Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday-Friday: 12pm-10pm, Saturday: 10am-11pm, Sunday: 10am - 8pm
Visit here: 1205 Sheldon Cove #2A, Austin, TX 78753, United States
Visual Arts Center
The Visual Arts Center (VAC) is a 13,000 square-foot gallery space situated in the Department of Art and Art History at The University of Texas at Austin. Its mission is to provide a platform for artists, curators, and educators to experiment, test ideas, and take risks. Through exhibitions and public programs, it aims to spark generative conversations about art and contemporary society.
Admission Fee: Free and open to the public
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 12–5pm
Visit here: 2300 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78712, United States
Women & Their Work
Women & Their Work is a nonprofit arts organization located in Austin that serves as a catalyst for contemporary art created by women living and working in Texas and beyond. For 44 years, Women & Their Work has brought groundbreaking art to Austin, with exhibitions, performances, and educational programs.
Known for its pioneering spirit, embrace of artistic innovation, and commitment to Texas audiences and artists, Women & Their Work’s goal is to enrich the cultural experience for Texans by:
- Emphasizing the value and excellence of art by women
- Educating audiences of all ages about contemporary art
- Equipping artists with financial and technical support
- Engaging the community through diverse exhibitions, performances and other programs
Admission Fee: Free, but donations are appreciated.
Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday 12pm-6pm.
Visit here:1311 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Gray Duck Gallery
Located in an art-energized neighborhood, grayDUCK strives to exhibit the work of exceptional artists while creating a welcoming place for everyone: viewers, artists and neighbors. Monthly shows highlight artist’s work from a broad range of experience, both locally and nationally. Their refurbished 100-year old house is a hybrid of new and old, clean lines and comfortable wood. The inviting space with a modern sensibility is a beautiful place for artwork, poetry readings, film, music and performance, a place where art is integral to everyday life.
Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12pm-6pm or by appointment.
Visit here:2213 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Yard Dog
Yard Dog Gallery has a quirky vibe showcasing contemporary American folk art available for purchase.
Hours: Thursday & Friday 12pm-3pm, Saturday 12pm-5pm only by appointment.
Visit here: 916 Springdale Rd Bldg 3-104 Austin, TX 78702
Canopy Austin
Canopy is a creative community set within a redeveloped East Austin warehouse. Artist studios, creative office spaces, art galleries and a café are linked together with communal courtyards and covered breezeways, emphasizing the connectedness between art, culture, and the public.
The central courtyard and breezeway also develop a strong connection between the interior spaces and the exterior through ample daylighting to the interiors. The multi-functional communal spaces open up possibilities for collaboration and community engagement.
Canopy’s creative complex includes the beautiful gallery space for Big Medium and East Austin Studio Tour headquarters.
Hours: Every artist and gallery at Canopy has different hours of operations, reach out individually for appointments.
Visit here: 916 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Big Medium
Big Medium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists and building community through the arts in Austin and across Texas. They provide opportunities for artists to create, exhibit, and discuss their work and connect to an engaged and diverse audience. The hope to make art a part of everyday life.
Located inside Canopy Austin, Big Medium produces:
The Austin Studio Tour — annual city‑wide art event that offer the public an opportunity to meet local artists in their creative spaces
The Texas Biennial — a curated statewide survey exhibition of contemporary art in Texas;
The Big Medium Gallery — a dedicated space for innovative and experimental exhibitions; the
Studios at Canopy — studio space for over 60 artists;
Hours: Thursday-Saturday: 12pm–6pm
Visit here: 916 Springdale Rd, Bldg 2 #101, Austin, TX 78702, United States
Ao5 Gallery
Ao5 Gallery is Austin’s largest contemporary art gallery, and has been committed to bringing a wide selection of accessible fine art to Austin since 1998. The gallery has artists from six of the seven continents. They are constantly changing their display of featured artists to attract new visitors and keep the gallery fresh. With multiple artist receptions and events each month, there is always something new to see and experience, even for frequent visitors.
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, Saturday: 10am-6pm, Thursday & Friday: 10am-8pm, Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Visit here: 10000 Research Blvd Ste 118, Austin, TX 78759, United States
Mexic-Arte Museum
Mexic-Arte Museum was founded in 1984 by artists Sylvia Orozco, Sam Coronado, and Pio Pulido in the Arts Warehouse, in downtown Austin, to share the art and culture of Mexico with Texas.
The Mexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to enriching the community through education programs, exhibitions, and the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture for visitors of all ages.
Admission Fee:
Adults: $7
Senior, Active Military, Veterans, & Students: $4
Ages 12 & Under: $1
Free Admission for Museum Members
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10am-6pm, Friday & Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Visit here:419 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States
Elisabet Ney Museum
The Elisabet Ney Museum is the historic home and studio of Elisabet Ney, a wildly iconoclastic German sculptor who moved to Austin in 1882. The museum enthusiastically celebrates her art, her history and her legacy through exhibitions and events for the whole family. The museum enjoys numerous historic designations and is a cornerstone of the Hyde Park National Register Historic Neighborhood.
The Elisabet Ney Museum houses the World’s largest collection of this remarkable woman’s work, spanning the 1850s through her death at the site in 1907, along with furnishings and ephemera. The Museum also exhibits contemporary artists in the building as well as on the grounds, much of which features a Historic Prairie Landscape Restoration that mimics what Miss Ney found when she purchased the property in 1882.
Admission Fee: Free
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Harry Ransom Center
The Harry Ransom Center is an internationally renowned humanities research center at The University of Texas at Austin. Their extensive collections provide unique insight into the creative process of some of the finest writers and artists, deepening the understanding and appreciation of literature, photography, film, art, and the performing arts.
The Ransom Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections. The Center is the gathering place for curious minds, and a perfect place to launch your next intellectual adventure.
Admission Fee: Free
Hours:
Exhibitions: Tuesday-Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday: 12pm-5pm
Reading and Viewing Room: Monday-Saturday: 10am-4pm
Visit here: The University of Texas at Austin, 300 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78712
Wally Workman Gallery
Established in 1980 and located in a 120 year old historic house in Austin's art district, the Wally Workman Gallery specializes in emerging and collected talent. Known for encouraging their artists' professional and creative growth, the gallery has advanced local artists onto the national stage for decades.
The gallery has two stories of exhibition space where one can view the 50+ artists currently represented, including the contemporary talents of Sarah Ferguson, Joyce Howell and Will Klemm as well as the figurative work of Patrick Puckett and America Martin.
Hours: Sunday: 12pm-4pm, Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
