Today we will all be going on a deep dive into art in Atlanta and our opening section will fully cover the best art galleries and museums near you.
After that we will get into a variety of other topics like local art supply stores, events, festivals, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures and statues, art classes, studios for rent, and the top frame shops in your area.
If you are after any specific section you can jump straight to it using the table of contents on the left and we are also including an Atlanta art map with all of the various places we mention throughout the post pinned on it.
Anyone that is interested is welcome to read more of our posts on cities around the Southeast at that link.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Atlanta
Many would agree that the best art galleries and museums in Atlanta are:
The High Museum has an extensive collection of nineteenth and twentieth century American and decorative art in its permanent collection along with significant holdings of European paintings, a growing collection of African American works, and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography, folk, and African works. The High is also committed to promoting and collecting the work of Southern creators and hosts a Friday jazz event on third weekend of every month. Check out all they have to offer from 10am to to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and starting at noon on Sunday.
Atlanta Contemporary was founded in 1973 as Nexus and presents approximately 200 significant creatives from the local, national, and international scenes each year through their many exhibition, project spaces, and events. It annually hosts approximately 125 activities including contemporary kids, contemporary cocktails, contemporary talks, and more. Through the studio artist program Atlanta Contemporary offers 13 on-site subsidized studio spaces to active artists and the museums hours are usually from 12pm to 5pm but they are closed all day Monday, stay open until 8pm on Thursday, and close an hour early on Sunday.
Alan Avery Art Company is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and was founded in 1981 in a downtown Trinity Avenue warehouse. Today it represents dynamic and technically adept emerging, mid-career, and internationally known artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jim Dine, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and others.
Mason Fine Art accepts private and corporate collectors and has a constant availability of a diverse range of works that you can take a look at from 11am to 5pm Tuesday through Friday and starting at noon on Saturday.
Kai Lin is a modern and contemporary art gallery dedicated to fostering creativity, conversation, and connection. Yu-Kai Lin founded the gallery in 2008 and it has been named a Top 50 Cultural Destination in your area by the internationally famous Wallpaper Magazine as well as Best Gallery by Creative Loafing and Jezebel Magazine. Visit them from noon to 6pm on Thursday or Friday and from noon to 5pm on Saturday.
ZuCot Gallery is the Southeast’s largest African-American-owned fine art gallery and they are open to the public on Saturday from noon to 6pm and throughout the rest of the week by appointment only.
The Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a non-profit community center that offers classes in the visual, literary, and performing arts to people of all ages. Callanwolde is open from 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday and from 9am to noon on Friday and Saturday while also hosting arts events and the space can be rented for private functions.
Jackson Fine Art is a well-known international photography gallery specializing in 20th century and contemporary photography where curating, collection management, framing, and installation are among the services offered from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Whitespace is a very experimental commercial gallery with hours of 11am to 5pm Thursday through Saturday that currently features a diverse range of unique contemporary art, sculpture, and photography by local, national, and international creators.
Arnika Dawkins Gallery is dedicated to showcasing great art from emerging and renowned photographers with a focus on photos by and of African Americans which is open to the public from 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Thursday.
Abernathy Arts Center is Fulton County’s oldest neighborhood arts center dedicated to offering quality instruction in a pleasant and welcoming setting but be warned they are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Dakoro is a gifted artist who makes thought-provoking abstracts with vibrant colors and hefty textures for art collectors all over the world. Oil paintings, art murals, pop portraits, television and movie set design, photography backdrops, book illustration, and private art instruction are among the services offered.
For a passionate community of dedicated artists and enthusiasts that are actively working to expand the city’s venues, experiences, and relationships head to ArtsAlpharetta.
Still Point is a dynamic, non-profit, formal art gallery in North Atlanta located within the RZIM headquarters that supports local and international creators and you can see what they have to offer from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
Wild Hope Art Gallery opened in 2014 and if you need help finding great art for your house Wild Hope offers a home tour to discover prospective art requirements, a personal interview to determine preferences and taste, and the establishment of appropriate places, colors, styles, and budget.
Chic Evolution in Art showcases new talent from all over the world while offering challenging, ever-changing selections of modern paintings, blown glass, sculptures, and other media. Custom commissions are also available from the painters and you can head over to see what they are showing from 11am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5pm on Sunday.
Materials & Supplies Near You
The best local stores to buy art supplies and materials in your area are:
Binder’s Art has an outstanding assortment of handmade arts and crafts from across the world.
Sam Flax sells a comprehensive range of fine-art equipment and accessories in Atlanta including fine pens, drafting tools, handmade paper and paperie, presentation materials, bespoke framing, boutique gifts, studio furniture, Tachen books, and much more.
Blick Art Materials in the Midtown neighborhood is a great place to buy a diverse selection of art supplies, craft supplies, and one-of-a-kind gift products.
Specialty paper, personalized invitations, gift wrap, craft supplies, and other items that stimulate creativity are available at Paper Source.
We doubt we need to tell you what the chain stores like the Michaels and Hobby Lobby near you are all about.
Shows & Events
Some of the top art shows, festivals, and events held here would be:
The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is managed by the Atlanta Film Society which is a nonprofit organization. The festival began in 1976 and takes place every spring featuring a wide selection of independent films with a focus on women-directed films, LGBTQ films, Latin American films, African-American films, and films from the American Southeast. ATLFF is one of only a few festivals that qualifies for the Academy Awards in all three short film categories.
The Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival is a two-day outdoor event that focuses on the visual arts and family enjoyment that is open to individuals of all ages, races, customs, and interests. Up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalworkers, glass blowers, jewelers, and craftspeople will participate while demonstrations, live acoustic music, an emerging artists pavilion, a children’s play area, festival food, and beverages with healthy options will also be available.
For more than 80 years the Dogwood Festival has featured practically every type of art imaginable including a nationally famous juried fine artist market with sculpture, paintings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and much more. This three-day outdoor event has great live music, a Mimosa 5k, a VIP experience, foreign performers, disc dogs, and more.
The Buckhead Fine Arts Festival is a two-day outdoor fine arts festival held in Buckhead which is rich in culture and has one of the highest and richest demographics in town. Featuring over 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalworkers, glass artists, jewelers, musicians, and other creators.
High Museum of Art hosts Friday Jazz on the third Friday of every month.
We are mentioning this again later but you should also check out the 3rd Saturday Art Walks from noon to 5pm at the West Side Arts District in your area.
Art Dealers & Appraisers
When you are ready to find a new piece for your collection or when you want to know how much a piece is worth you can go to art dealers and appraisers near you like:
Since the early 1980’s De Fine Art has been able to acquire works from a diverse variety of current emerging to established international and American artists as fine dealers.
Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery connects sellers and buyers so that both parties can achieve their objectives. Whether you’re a seasoned auctioneer or you’re thinking about working with an auction house for the first time they’ll walk you through the entire procedure.
Art Initiative, Inc. is a local art consultancy organization that works with designers, architects, and corporate clients to develop appealing schemes for a wide range of projects ranging from corporate offices to fine hotels.
Pizer Fine Art will choose the best pieces for you based on your demands and budget with an eye toward investment.
For a variety of one-of-a-kind handpicked original paintings and prints ranging from the late 1800’s to the early 2000’s check out Monkey Arm.
Kendall Art Advisory offers full-service purchase consulting as well as private sale, consignment, or auction in addition to independent assessments to ascertain fair market value.
Walking Tours
Take advantage of a beautiful day by going on an art walking tour:
Off the Wall Mural Tour features a carefully curated selection of eleven renowned artists and over 25 murals throughout the city.
The Westside Arts District 3rd Saturday Art Walks is held every month from noon to 5pm and comes highly recommended.
Sculptures & Statues
There are some really nice sculptures and statues in your area like:
Atlanta from the Ashes at Peachtree St
Einstein Statue at 349 Ferst Dr NW
Trilon Fountain at 101-169 15th St NE
Atlanta Botanical Garden at 1345 Piedmont Ave
The bronze statue The Phoenix was commissioned in 1969 by the Rich Foundation to mark the 100th anniversary of their historic downtown department store.
The Albert Einstein Statue is a 3,000-pound sculpture of renowned physicist and Nobel laureate Albert Einstein on the Georgia Tech campus.
The Trilon Sculpture was created by local artist Steffen Thomas in 1966 and in 1975 it was clad in copper and installed in the middle of a circular fountain near Colony Square by the Woodruff Arts Center.
Since the inception of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in 1976 nine permanent sculptures have been installed throughout the grounds combining art and nature in surprising ways.
Atlanta Art Classes
Whether you are searching for lessons for kids or are an adult who wants to grow their skills you have some options. Some of the best local art schools and classes in your can be found at:
Savannah College of Art and Design is a private liberal arts college that prepares outstanding students for professional creative jobs since it offers more degree programs and specializations than most other art and design universities.
Martin Dawe and his apprentices have extensive experience in the areas of concept, design, sculpting, mold building, casting, and execution.
Cherrylion has a reputation for quality and creativity in everything from life-sized bronze sculptures to intimate impressionistic bas reliefs. The studio has carved out a distinct niche in the creative world by bridging the gap between fine and commercial art.
Comics, animation, illustration, and a professional career in the arts for the gifted are all taught at Amario Art Academy who also has after school programs for all of those topics for students in grades 3–12.
Dawn Art Studios provides painting classes in Midtown, painting studio programs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, private lessons, and weekend workshops.
Atlanta Clay Works is a gallery and studio for ceramic artists and clay workers that also offers classes and community outreach.
For visual and creative art programs, camps, and workshops for children of all ages head to La Dee Da where the small class sizes and degreed instructors create a supportive environment.
Othels Art offers educational programs that allow students to discover, explore, and develop confidence in their creativity and artistic skill.
High Museum of Art, The Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Abernathy Arts Center also offer art classes.
Studios For Rent Near You
When you can’t wait to get that next project started rent some space at one of these art studios:
Mutiny Artwrx is the largest for-profit art collective in the world and they provide artists with possibilities to create and cooperate as well as sell and promote their work.
The Artists Atelier Gallery & Studio located in Buckhead is the longest running artists studio near you housing space for people to paint, collage, sculpt, and exhibit their work.
The B Complex offers cheap artist workspaces as well as an 8,000 square foot exhibition hall for rent to the local arts community.
Blue Mark Studios can provide a creative atmosphere and setting that suits the work ethic and needs of artistic creators in your area while also providing safe and secure studios and work suites, a new and interesting venue, and the full support of a knowledgeable and capable team.
Remember that Atlanta Contemporary also has some studio space.
Framing
A frame can turn a regular looking piece or picture to something special and the best places for local art framing are:
Briarcliff Frame Shop offers consumers high-quality super frame services ranging from photo framing to canvas stretching and unique things.
The Framers on Peachtree is a premier picture frame gallery in Atlanta providing conservation framing, professional design, and art consultation.
Lionheart Framing is comprised of two craftsmen that are committed to delivering their clients with the highest quality bespoke hand finished frames. One of their specialties is designing one-of-a-kind pieces for any budget.
FastFrame of Buckhead provides goods and services for any custom framing requirements. Whether you want to beautify your home, commemorate a significant occasion, or enhance your business the expert designers will work with you to produce the ideal framed item.
If you want to find over 1,500 mouldings, hundreds of mats, and several glass options to make your custom project one-of-a-kind Thompson’s Frame and Gallery can assist.
Custom frame value packages, custom frame express, specialty prints, value canvas, same-day service, expedited delivery, and engraved plates are some of the services offered by Aaron Brothers.
Remember that many of the art supply stores in your area like Binders and Sam Flax also do quality custom framing.
By the way anyone who is interested is welcome to read our posts on:
For the time being that is all we have to share about the full art scene near you. We listed the best local galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers that you may want to check out.
Those who are still reading this probably love the art in your area as much as we do. If so go ahead and use the comments to share your own tips or to let us know if you think we got anything wrong.
We hope you enjoy your time at the best Atlanta art galleries, museums, supply stores, or doing whatever else you plan to do with the info.
This post and all of the posts on our site are edited by Dan Soloman who has been a huge fan of art since he was a little kid. His mother was a good local artist, and she taught him the trade from a very early age. He studied art and its history in both high school and college, has worked at multiple galleries, and recently has begun creating and editing online content for this site and some other online media platforms.
