This is the right page for anyone that wants to learn more about art in Akron. Galleries, museums, supplies, schools, shows, events and more will all be covered thoroughly right here.
Our goal is to make this a one stop shop that has all the information that you need. We will begin by diving into the best Akron Art Galleries and Museums where you can see some of the finest exhibitions and collections the city has to offer.
Up next we will let you know where you can find all of the supplies you need at some of the best art stores near you. Shows and events that are held annually or more frequently will be the topic of our next section.
Contents
Art walking tours in your area can be a great way to see a variety of styles in a short amount of time, plus we will mention where you can see some of the coolest sculptures in the city. Akron art classes and lessons will need to get its own section and there are plenty of classes for both kids and adults that are available.
Some of our more experienced readers may not need any lessons so we will tell you where you can find art studios for rent near you as well. And our final section will list the best shops for framing around town.
Check out more of our posts for cities around the Midwest at this link.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Akron
If you want to visit the best art galleries and museums in Akron you can go to:
- Akron Art Museum at 1 S High St
- Akrona Galleries at 1765 W Market St
- Zeber Martell Clay Studio at 43 Furnace St
- Ro3 at 117 E Market St
- Emily Davis Gallery at 150 E Exchange St
- Don Drumm Studios & Gallery at 437 Crouse St
- Curated Storefront at 526 S Main St
- Bluff Blue Door Gallery at 152 Bluff St
- Summit Artspace at 140 E Market St
You can find over 5,000 works at the Akron Art Museum which often have a strong focus on contemporary painting, sculpture and photography. Akrona Galleries are a full service art gallery that provides appraisal service and curation of both personal and corporate art collections. They even offer art classes near you for children ages 5-15 as well as for adults, plus they can do framing.
Anyone who wants to step up their sculpture game can do so by taking one of the pottery classes at Zeber Martell Gallery & Clay Studio. The Don Drumm Studios & Gallery have a gallery for over 500 artists and studio space for three resident artists.
Curated Storefront received a public art network award in 2019. Summit Artspace holds major events like the Akron Artwalk every first Saturday of the month. They are also home to competitive events like the Kaleidoscope Juried Art Exhibiton, plus they are another place to find art classes in your area.
Materials & Supplies Near You
When you need to buy art supplies and materials you can head to:
- Joann at 1500 Canton Rd
- Dollar Tree at 1038 E Tallmadge Ave
- Michaels at 697 Howe Ave, Cuyahoga Falls
Shows & Events
Some of the best shows and events held here are:
- Akron Arts Expo Weekend in July
- E. J. Thomas Christmas Arts & Crafts Show in December
- Art & Ale in March
- Kaleidoscope Juried Art Exhibiton in November-December
- Market on Market Holiday Edition on Saturdays in November-December
Held every July, the Akron Arts Expo Weekend is something you won’t want to miss. In December you will also want to go to Thomas Hall for the E. J. Thomas Christmas Arts & Crafts Show.
Art & Ale can be found at the Akron Art Museum, and the Kaleidoscope Juried Art Exhibiton in November and December at Summit Artspace is also a local favorite. Don’t forget about the monthly first Saturday Akron Artwalk either.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
If you want to add a new piece to your collection or find out how much a piece is worth you can go to Thomas French Fine Art at 463 Holliston Rd which is one of the best dealers and appraisers near you.
The Akrona Galleries and Zeber Martell Gallery & Clay Studio from the main list both also sell art.
Walking Tours
The Akron Artwalk which starts at Summit Artspace on East Market is a great way to see what is going on in the area as you’ll be able to visit local galleries and stop by local artist studios.
Sculptures & Statues
You can also find some really cool sculptures and statues in your area like:
- Portage Path Indian Statue at 1431 North Portage Path
- Polymer Molecule Statue at 170 University Ave
- Harvey Firestone Statue at 1200 Firestone Pkwy
The Portage Path Indian Statue Known is often referred to locally as “Big Chief” and you can find it at the Cuyahoga River. The Polymer Molecule Statue aka the Chihuly Sculpture was created by artist Dale Chihuly and is now a landmark sculpture for The University of Akron.
The Harvey Firestone Statue has been up since 1950.
Akron Art Classes
We are all at different levels and sometimes a lesson or two can give you a tip or trick that takes you to another level. Some of the best Akron art schools and classes can be found at:
- Palladian Palette at 106 N Main St
- Mary Schiller Myers School of Art at 150 E Exchange St
- Akron Artworks at 1684 Merriman Rd
- Artful Expeditions at 1031 W Market St
Mary Schiller Myers School of Art has been doing their thing for 150 years and is one of the largest academic art facilities in the region. Akron Artworks offers classes for all ages whether you are a kid, teen, or adult.
They have adult night classes, provide open studio events, and specialize in Integrating art materials into wellness programs to reduce stress and anxiety. They also have art camps for kids aged 7 -14 years old.
Artful Expeditions has art therapy and painting parties. You can find more lessons and classes at The Akrona Galleries and Summit Artspace from our first list.
Studios For Rent Near You
Summit Artspace and Akron Artworks both have studios for rent.
Framing
A frame can take a normal looking picture a long way, and some of the best places for art framing in Akron are:
- Tomorrow’s Treasures at 333 W Cedar St
- Hazel Tree Design Studio at 143 W Market St
Tomorrow’s Treasures Picture Framing & Gallery specializes in photo restoration. Hazel Tree offers community centered design services for public places, has won awards for their interior design skills, as well as being able to handle your framing needs.
Akrona Galleries, Michaels, and Joann from previous sections can also handle framing in your area. By the way, we have written other art guides for nearby cities like:
Have Fun Enjoying the Akron Art Scene
Well guys, we tried to break down the full art scene near you to the best of our abilities. We listed the best galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers in your area.
Feel free to share your own local art tips and tricks in the comments at the end of the post, or please also let us know if we got anything wrong or if anything we posted has become dated. Have fun going to the galleries, museums, buying supplies or doing anything that has to do with art in Akron!