Best Contemporary Art Museums and Galleries in Austin, Texas

Art Galleries
Written By Sarah Ransome
RichesArt in Austin Texas

Photo Credit: RichesArt

In this blog post, I take a closer look at the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, a thriving hub for contemporary art enthusiasts. Embracing a broad spectrum of artistic styles, mediums, and themes, Austin’s dynamic art scene serves as a hub of inspiration, innovation, and artistic freedom.

In this article, I explore the Best Contemporary Art Museums and Galleries in Austin. This article will provide residents and visitors to Austin the information required to allow them to go out and explore and immerse themselves in the contemporary arts scene within the city.

I have also written a blog post about Immersive Art Experiences in Austin, which you can read here.

The Contemporary Austin

The Contemporary Austin is a museum that showcases contemporary art from around the world. The museum has a wide range of exhibits, both indoor and outdoor, featuring works by different artists that are sure to impress any art lover.

The current exhibitions include “Eamon Ore-Giron: Competing with Lightning / Rivalizando con el relámpago” showcasing paintings from the last twenty years by Eamon Ore-Giron, and “Celeste” featuring the collaborative duo based in Mexico City, María Fernanda Camarena, and Gabriel Rosas Alemán.

Another ongoing exhibition is “Jim Hodges: With Liberty and Justice for All (A Work in Progress)” featuring an outdoor installation by artist Jim Hodges.

The Contemporary Austin is also hosting several exhibitions by other artists, including Jenny Holzer, Aryel René Jackson, and Manik Raj Nakra.

The Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria is a part of The Contemporary Austin. The park is named after the founding grant by the Edward and Betty Marcus Foundation. It presents exhibitions and houses permanent outdoor art installations on the picturesque Lake Austin site.

Blanton Museum of Art

Photo Credit: Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin

The Blanton Museum of Art is located at the University of Texas at Austin and is one of the largest university art museums in the United States.

The Blanton’s permanent collection consists of more than 21,000 works, including European art before 1900, modern and contemporary art, Latin American art, and Western American art. The museum’s European art collection features works by renowned artists like Parmigianino, Rubens, and Claude Lorrain, among others. The modern and contemporary art holdings include works by American artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Alice Neel, and Brice Marden, as well as international artists like El Anatsui, Yayoi Kusama, and Tavares Strachan.

The Blanton Museum of Art has recently undergone a major transformation through the New Grounds Initiative, offering visitors a completely new experience. The initiative aimed to extend the artistic spirit from the galleries into the museum’s outdoor areas, creating an inviting environment for visitors.

The Blanton Museum of Art has recently hosted several special presentations and exhibitions, showcasing contemporary art, Chicano portraits, medieval and modern works, and a film & video gallery, including:

  • "Recent Acquisitions in Contemporary Art"

  • "Cara a Cara / Face to Face: Portraits by Chicano Artists from the Gilberto Cárdenas and Dolores Garcia Collection"

  • "Medieval X Modern"

The thought-provoking exhibition "If the Sky Were Orange" will open soon. The exhibition will run from 9th September 2023 - 11th February 2024, and aims to raise awareness of climate change issues and their contemporary relevance. The show is divided into two parts: The Contemporary Project and Film & Video Gallery, showcasing works by ten contemporary artists addressing climate change’s impact on the planet.

Visitors in Ellsworth Kelly, Austin, 2015, artist-designed

Photo Credit: Visitors in Ellsworth Kelly, Austin, 2015, artist-designed building with installation of colored glass windows © Ellsworth Kelly Foundation

Art for the People Gallery

  • Entrance Fee: Free

  • Opening Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday: 10am - 4pm; Thursday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Art for the People Gallery is a small gallery in Austin, that provides a platform for both experienced and up-and-coming artists from the city to showcase their creative work.

The gallery serves as a platform to showcase various forms of art, including original art, jewelry, home goods, decor, bath and body care, cards, prints, food, fashion, and writing.

The gallery is conveniently located near South Congress Avenue (SoCo), making it an easy destination to visit.

Ao5 Gallery

Ao5 Gallery is the biggest contemporary art gallery in Austin. It is located at the The Arboretum, one of Austin’s top shopping destinations, so can easily be visited alongside a shopping or entertainment trip.

The gallery provides a diverse selection of accessible fine art from all over the world. The gallery frequently changes its display of featured artists. Over the years they have exhibited a diverse collection of work, from Salvador Dalí to Andy Warhol as well as emerging artists from Texas.

In addition to the art on display, Ao5 Gallery hosts multiple art events each month, such as cocktails and talks with the artists, jazz nights, and demonstrations.

Austin Art Garage

Austin Art Garage is small and fun gallery space in SoCo, set within a garage building off the main road.

This gallery promotes local emerging artists, with the aim of making art accessible to all people from all backgrounds, for both budget-conscious buyers to seasoned collectors.

The gallery offers a diverse selection of local art, including original paintings and unique pieces, with a focus on supporting artists in their early careers. New artworks are added all the time, and the collection includes artists such as Jeff Skele, Joel Ganucheau, Judy Paul, Savannalore among others.

Austin Art Garage is another art gallery conveniently located along South Congress Boulevard (SoCo). A visit to this gallery could be combined with other galleries on this list as part of a walking tour of art in the area.

Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery

Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery is an art gallery and studio space located in East Austin. It is situated on East 5th Street in a vintage quonset hut built in the 1940s.

The gallery is home to wood artist, Brian David Johnson, jewelry designer Lolly Harrison, and artists Lucas Aoki and Lydia Garcia.

Alongside the gallery, Cloud Tree Studios and Gallery acts as a local cultural destination that hosts a series of performances, community events, and celebrations, including the “Art Talks from the Tree”. It is also part of the East Austin Arts District and is on the self-guided tour of the District.

A visit here could be combined with a trip to grayDUCK Gallery, Martha’s Contemporary, and/or Yard Dog Art Gallery

grayDUCK Gallery

grayDUCK Gallery is located in an unassuming century-old house in East Austin. This hidden gem has undergone a full interior refurbishment and oozes charm and contemporary flair with its modern open plan gallery. Visitors will get to see cutting-edge works from emerging and established local and national artists.

Recent exhibits include Renee Lai’s art exhibition titled “In The Water You Become”, which explored the concept of anonymity and suspension in water, using paintings and drawings of her body to evoke a sense of mysticism and connection.

Another exhibit at grayDUCK Gallery, “When it suns, it pours” featured artworks by Abby Flanagan and Kerry Maguire. The artists use drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and sound installation to call attention to the subtle facets of their surroundings.

grayDUCK Gallery often host specialist art events, such as art talks. It is part of the East Austin Arts District and is on the self-guided tour of the area.

Lora Reynolds Gallery

Lora Reynolds Gallery is an art gallery based in Austin that showcases national and international contemporary artists in various media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, film, and video.

The gallery organizes several exhibitions annually for its emerging, mid-career, and established artists. It also has a project room that showcases a number of installations each year.

Martha’s Contemporary

  • Entrance Fee: Free

  • Opening Hours: Friday to Saturday: 12pm - 6pm

Martha’s Contemporary is an art gallery that focuses on working with early-career artists, promoting inclusivity, diversity, and community engagement. The gallery hosts solo exhibitions from core program artists, group shows, and special projects across artistic disciplines.

Martha’s Contemporary started in a small project space in East Austin but has recently moved to a larger exhibition space in Hyde Park. It is easy to find with its illuminated pink neon sign.

A visit here could be combined with a trip to Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery, grayDUCK Gallery, and/or Yard Dog Art Gallery

RichesArt Gallery

RichesArt in Austin, Texas

Photo Credit: RichesArt

RichesArt is the only Black-Owned Art Gallery in Austin, offering a wide range of artistic weekly events. The gallery hosts; modeling classes, live figure drawing classes, open mic poetry sessions, custom kicks classes, Behind the Frame sessions, The Art of Punchlines, Jazz in Color, and poetry slams.

RichesArt Gallery also offers Watercolor painting and prints featuring beautiful flowers, historical figures, athletes and fictional characters.

Wally Workman Gallery

The Wally Workman Gallery is a well-established contemporary art gallery, having been open for over 30 years. It is located in a 120-year-old historic house.

The gallery’s exhibition space spans two stories, featuring the works of over 50 contemporary artists. The Wally Workman Gallery represents a diverse range of artists, and provides a supportive and encouraging space for its artists to develop.

The upcoming Helmut Barnett exhibition “Revelations” features geometric and organic forms on large canvases as well as large scale collages incorporating found material.

Another exhibition for later in 2023 is by Sarah Ferguson, “Continuum” will seek to explore the connection between life, death, and the mysteries beyond.

West Chelsea Contemporary

West Chelsea Contemporary is conveniently located in Downtown Austin. This gallery offers a dynamic and interactive experience with world-class art, featuring artists influential to various art movements, such as, Damien Hirst, Salvador Dalí, Banksy and Alexander Calder, alongside emerging and mid-career artists.

The gallery hosts high-quality exhibitions throughout the year, for example, its 2023 exhibition “Concrete to Canvas”, celebrates the transformative art movements, Graffiti and Street Art, which emerged in the 1970s. Its “Icons” exhibit, celebrated renowned artists who have transformed the art of their time and left lasting legacies. The artworks in this exhibition spanned over six decades, featuring American Postwar and Contemporary Masters, and International Icons.

Women & Their Work

Women & Their Work Building in Austin

Photo Credit: Women & Their Work

Women & Their Work is a nonprofit arts organization in Austin, that is dedicated to promoting contemporary art created by women in Texas. They have been active for 45 years, bringing groundbreaking art to Austin through exhibitions, performances, and educational programs.

A number of solo exhibitions for 2023 and 2024 have been announced. Several artists will have their work on show, and here are a few of those chosen to feature:

  • Alejandra Almuelle: Her immersive installations explore the connection between the earth and the body, questioning the perception of nature and humans as resources.

  • Elizabeth Chapin: Interested in how myths shape women’s identities, Chapin uses mixed media on sewn canvases and projection-mapped video to create 3D portraits.

  • Yuni Lee: Her dimensional paintings blend nostalgia with references to Seoul, South Korea, and American culture, using collages of Korean fabrics, copy paper, and other materials.

  • Grace Nicole: Her photographs center on Black female identity and Southern Creole heritage, capturing both pain and resilience.

Dan Jian's The Bow Whispers to the Arrow

Dan Jian's The Bow Whispers to the Arrow

Yard Dog Art Gallery

Yard Dog Art Gallery is a quirky art gallery located in East Austin. It is part of the East Austin Arts District and is on the self-guided tour of the District.

Yard Dog Art Gallery showcases the work of selected artists with influences from Pop Art and Folk Art, including many who are also musicians.

Several artists have been featured in the gallery, such as Tom Russell, Lex Gjurasic, Holly Roberts, Eric Bellis, and Bruce Lee amongst others.

Notable recent art events held here include:

  • "Deborah Baker & Jane Reichle: Little Embroideries"

  • "Scott Griffin & Rita Koos: Two Birds, One Stone"

  • "Harry Underwood - New Paintings 2023"

A visit here could be combined with a trip to Cloud Tree Studios & Gallery, grayDUCK Gallery, and/or Martha’s Contemporary.

I have included opening times for each gallery and museum that are correct at the time of writing this article, but please check the latest information before your visit.

I hope you have found this information about contemporary art museums and galleries in Austin, Texas interesting and helpful. If you have visited any of these venues, I would love to hear your thoughts, please email me and let me know at sarahransomeart@gmail.com.

For more articles about art experiences in Texas, please read here and for details about Immersive Art Experiences in Austin, please read here.

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Hi, I'm Sarah, I sell my artwork through my Art Store. I draw inspiration from my travels and personal experiences, and I believe in the healing power of art and its ability to bring people together.

On my blog, I share inspiration for art-inspired trips and holidays, tips to help improve your art, and ideas for fun craft activities with children.

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Sarah Ransome

https://www.sarahransomeart.com
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