New Orleans Art Museums

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Updated on 06/03/19

Whatever genre of art you love, you'll find it in New Orleans. There's the classic New Orleans Museum of Art, a fine contemporary art museum, and a beautiful outdoor display of sculpture set under Live Oaks that are over 700 years old. On your next visit to New Orleans, be sure to visit one of these great art museums.

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The New Orleans Museum of Art

Exterior of the Art Museum — TripSavvy / Vincent Mercer

This 25,000 square foot Beaux Arts style museum was endowed in 1911 by Isaaac Delgado, a sugar cane planter and a great educational philanthropist. Since then the museum has greatly expanded and now includes the Sydney and Walda Besthhoff Sculpture Garden. Its extensive collection ranks it among the top 25 percent of the Nation's most significant museums.

The Museum is located at One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.

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The Contemporary Arts Center

The Contemporary Arts Center is a not to be missed experience for visitors to New Orleans. It is a multi-disciplinary arts center featuring bold experiments in painting, theater, photography performance art, dance, music, video, education and sculpture. The CAC is a unique celebration of our time.

The CAC is in the New Orleans Warehouse Arts District at 900 Camp Street, one block off of Lee Circle (and the Saint Charles streetcar line), and just steps from the National D-Day Museum and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

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The Odgen Museum of Art

The Ogden Museum of Art — TripSavvy / Vincent Mercer

Roger Ogden has a great appreciation of paintings of southern artists. Thanks to his generosity we may all get to appreciate these great works. As a private collector he acquired sculptures, photographs, and other artistic media, eventually coming to realize the importance of the collection. He collaborated with the University of New Orleans, and the museum came to life. The mission of the Ogden is to broaden knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South. The Ogden has a number of permanent collections, and also sponsors educational programs. In addition, it has a research center, and the Goldring-Woldenberg Institute for the Advancement of Southern Art and Culture.

The Ogden an affiliate of the Smithsonian. It is located at 925 Camp St.

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Sculpture Garden at New Orleans Museum of Art

The Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum in City Park is open to the public. It contains over 50 contemporary and modern sculptures. There's no charge for admission and it is located behind the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. Pass through a pair of cast stone and bronze pavilions into the Sculpture Garden and begin a tour of this world-class exhibit. In the pavilions you will find docent services and all the information you need to enjoy your visit, including guided tours.