Over the next few minutes we will be breaking down everything we know about art in Austin in full detail and our first section will fully cover the best art galleries and museums near you.
After that we will get into a variety of other topics like art supply stores, events, festivals, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, local sculptures and statues, art classes, studios for rent, and the top frame shops in your area.
You can jump straight to any section that interests you most by using the table of contents on the left and we are also including an Austin art map with all of the spots we mention throughout the post pinned on it.
Those who are interested can also look at our other Midwest city guides right there.
Best Art Galleries & Museums In Austin
If you want to check out the best art galleries and museums in Austin you can head to:
European paintings, prints, and drawings along with modern and contemporary American and Latin American art are featured in the Blanton Museum of Art’s permanent collection of nearly 19,000 pieces and you can check them all out from 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday and starting at 1pm on Sunday.
The Contemporary Austin Jones Center on Congress Avenue is open from noon to 6pm Thursday through Sunday and until 9pm on Wednesday hosting exhibitions by well-known contemporary artists and they also have a comprehensive calendar of cultural events in a historically significant structure. The Contemporary underwent major renovations to its downtown location in December 2016 including a large increase in gallery space and the addition of The Moody Rooftop.
The Mexic-Arte Museum was formed in 1984 in the Arts Warehouse by artists Sylvia Orozco, Sam Coronado, and Pio Pulido to share the art and culture of Mexico with the people of Texas as it began delivering great cultural activities in the fall of 1984 with the Day of the Dead event while it received its non-profit status during that season. It is open 7 days a week and has presented art by the best established and new artists from the United States, Mexico, and Latin America since its inception.
The Visual Arts Center (VAC) in your area is an exhibition space in The University of Texas at Austin’s Art Building which opened in 2010. Throughout the academic year the VAC hosts exhibitions and public programs as well as graduating student displays in the spring while being open from noon to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday showcasing artists-in-residence as well as solo and group exhibitions in its five separate gallery spaces.
The Lora Reynolds Gallery opened in March 2005 after she was working in London and New York with Anthony d’Offay and Matthew Marks Galleries. Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printing, film, and video are among the media represented by emerging, mid-career, and established artists that you can check out from 11am to 6pm Wednesday through Saturday.
MASS is a cooperatively run nonprofit gallery and project space near you that was founded in 2006. MASS is open from noon to 5pm Saturday and Sunday and from 5pm to 8pm on Friday while their members contribute to the daily operations and strategic planning of exhibitions, programming, and events with a cast drawn from this vibrant local community of artists, writers, musicians, and educators.
grayDUCK began in South Austin in 2010 and moved to the East side in 2014 as they aspire to show the work of excellent artists in their art-filled neighborhood while also creating a welcome environment for everyone: spectators, artists, and neighbors. Artists’ work from a wide spectrum of expertise both locally and nationally and are included in monthly displays that you can view from noon to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Elisabet Ney Museum is open from noon to 5pm Wednesday through Sunday and is on the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical significance as Elisabet Ney’s old American studio plus it is a member of the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Unless otherwise noted the portraits and personal mementos in the Elisabet Ney Museum are from the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center of the University of Texas at Austin’s Elisabet Ney Collection.
ICOSA was founded in 2015 and was previously housed in Pump Project’s former studio complex but in June 2018 ICOSA relocated to a burgeoning gallery and studio district and today it is open to the public from noon to 6pm on Friday and Saturday. Track lighting, lofty ceilings, and 1,500 square feet of exhibition space are all features of the gallery.
The Round Rock Area Arts Council was founded in 2009 at The Downtowner Gallery in Round Rock which is usually open from noon to 5pm Tuesday through Friday and the city has given them the space to host galleries and seminars.
The Texas Cultural District includes the Georgetown Art Center which is located in Georgetown’s historic square after launching in the fall of 2013 and all of the activities are managed by Georgetown Art Works which is a local non-profit with an all-volunteer board of directors. Head over to see the rotating art exhibits on display in the main gallery from 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday and from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.
The First Floor Studio hosts art education, camps, and pop-up events on a regular basis plus artist studios are available for rent on the second floor.
Materials & Supplies Near You
The best stores to buy art supplies and materials in your area are:
Austin Creative Reuse is a local non-profit that gathers, sells, and distributes recycled craft supplies. Armadillo Clay takes pride in providing a diverse range of high-quality items, many of which are created in-house. Craig Freiburger, a potter, founded a tiny clay company in a garage in the Clarksville neighborhood forty years ago with the intention of providing an affordable and easy source of clay for Central Texas artists.
Three years later, the thriving clay business was renamed Armadillo Clay & Supplies and relocated to the East side of town, where it has since served all of Texas and the Southwest. For prominent retailers, Chalk Ink is the first choice.
If you spend more than $ 50, you’ll get free shipping, they have a variety of tip sizes and shapes, and a wide range of hues is available. With its enormous collection of paints, brushes, canvases, and more, Jerry’s Artarama has been helping artists keep Austin odd for over a decade.
Not only that, but when you go you’ll be able to see some of the city’s most famous works of art. To offer a colorful backdrop for the community, they’ve covered all of their external walls with murals created by local or touring artists.
The Windberg Art Center in Georgetown, is a gathering place for artists, students, and art lovers. Dalhart Windberg, Michael Windberg, Clinton Broyles, Kyle Polzin, and others are among the featured artists. They also sell Dalhart and many of these artists’ prints.
You probably already know what chains like Michaels, Joann, and Hobby Lobby have to offer.
Shows & Events
Some of the top art shows and events held here in this city would be:
Austin Fine Art Gallery will host the Spring Show from April through June where a small chosen collection of artists from your area and their unique work will be on display.
At the Art City Festival you can expect to find nearly a hundred local and regional artists showing off their latest creations and selling some pieces in the market.
Fusebox is a great non-profit arts organization and their festival helps support the great work they do throughout the year.
Every month live music is performed at Zilker Park on a specific Wednesday for Blues on the Green which is open through the end of August.
The Pecan Street Festival is also put on by a non-profit and is one of the longest running arts, crafts, and music festivals in the country.
On the third Thursday of each month you may see Art for Free at the Blanton Museum for free entry.
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:
Austin Art Garage was founded to bring brilliant young artists to the attention of the public and to provide art fans of all socioeconomic backgrounds with the opportunity to invest in art created in their own backyard. From cash-strapped college students to seasoned art collectors wanting to invest in fresh talent they have something for everyone.
Since its inception in 1964 Austin Galleries has established itself as a reliable source for fine art sales and services while working with a diverse clientele of private persons, small and large enterprises, and offering a wide range of art to fit a variety of purposes and aesthetics
Their extensive collection includes everything from 19th century paintings to 20th century modern prints, Texas landscapes to contemporary abstracts, excellent antiques, and modern sculpture to help you locate the ideal piece of art. Austin Galleries provides a variety of services in addition to fine art sales, such as art appraisals, restoration, consignment, and corporate leasing.
Art for the People began in 2015 and their butterfly logo represents a metaphoric trip that all artists go on when creating their best work plus they have an on site art gallery.
Lux Art Consulting acts as a partner and counselor to their clients producing unique art solutions based on specific goals and overseeing projects from conception to completion. They work with artists from all around the world and are involved in projects all across the country managing art as an asset.
Sheila Burke’s studio has relocated from Sante Fe to Georgetown which has become a booming art neighborhood.
Yard Dog is a unique gallery that sells contemporary American folk art.
Walking Tours
On a pleasant day you can go on the following art walking tours:
Austin Art Walk is a vibrant walk through one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods full of murals, street art, and graffiti.
Live music, food, wine, beer, art, history, and more can all be found at Austin Detours!
The Downtowner Art Gallery holds an Art Walk in November at downtown Round Rock.
Sculptures & Statues
These sculptures and statues provide for great selfie and photo opportunities:
Betty & Edward Marcus Sculpture Garden at 3809 W 35th St
Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum at 605 Azie Morton Rd
The Philosophers’ Rock at 2201 Barton Springs Rd
Monochrome for Austin at 2400 Speedway
Kempelen’s Owls at 600 W 2nd St
Nightwing by Dale Whistler at 300 S Congress Ave
Chisholm Trail Crossing Park at 500 Chisholm Trail Rd, Round Rock
The Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Garden is a contemporary art attraction on the shores of Lake Austin that hosts exhibitions and permanent outdoor art installations.
Over in the Zilker neighborhood you can find many great works by Charles Umlauf in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum.
Glenna Goodacre’s Philosophers’ Rock which was placed in 1994 at the entrance to Barton Springs Pool rests beneath a pecan grove.
Nancy Rubins’ Monochrome for Austin was installed in 2015 near the northwest corner of 24th Street and Speedway.
Kempelen’s Owls was produced by the artist team New American Public Art and unveiled on November 4, 2019 near the entrance to the Proper Hotel downtown.
The sculpture display at Chisholm Trail Crossing Park is located off Chisholm Trail Road.
Austin Art Classes
Whether you need lessons for kids or are an adult who wants to grow his skills you have some options. Some of the best Austin art schools and classes near you can be found at:
Students of all ages are taught how to make fine art at the Austin Creative Art Center where classes in painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, and printing provide inventive thoughts, high-quality tools, and approaches to broaden the mind, improve critical thinking, and increase awareness of life’s possibilities.
Every day the excitement that comes from creative people doing what they were born to do is witnessed at Cordovan Art School which has locations in Austin, Georgetown, and Round Rock.
Art Amore offers art classes in the fall and summer plus they host events.
Classes, workshops, and open studios are available at Atelier Dojo which is a professional arts academy that serves as a gathering place for local artists to gather, be inspired by one another, and build their skills together in a safe setting. Their professors provide intensive training in the principles of classical art and are dedicated to their members’ and pupils’ personal development.
Kim Hoerster is the owner of Artsea and comes from a long line of artists in her family including her mother who was an artist and her father who was a member of the Art Guild at Texas Christian University.
The Blanton Museum, Windberg Art Center, and Jerry’s Artarama also have art classes.
Fastframe takes pride in being able to frame almost anything near you from prints and limited editions to original pieces of art and even 3D objects of all kinds.
Blue Skies Frame Company provides a welcoming environment in which to explore the many and varied moulding and enhancement options available for your artwork.
For four decades DTW Art & Framing has been providing custom framing in your area.
Local artists can use Images Of Austin’s framing gallery which has a large range of boutique custom frames, landmark prints, upmarket Texas style gifts, and jewelry.
Arrowhead Custom Framing can help you with art framing, conservation framing, shadowboxes, custom pedestals, custom plexiboxes, custom mirrors, canvas stretching, dry mounting, professional art installation, and commercial framing projects.
Since 2004 Framer’s Gallery has provided full-service custom photo framing to the Central Texas area with over 2,500 frame moulding options and 1,250 mat options in a variety of colors and finishes to choose from.
Photography framing, museum quality packages, diploma framing, memorabilia, canvas stretching, mirrors, heirlooms, sports jerseys, and framing hardware are all available at Central Texas Art and Framing Gallery.
Michaels, Joann, Hobby Lobby and Jerry’s Artarama also can do picture framing in your area.
At the moment that is all we have to share about the full art scene near you. We listed the best galleries, museums, events, shows, supply stores, dealers, appraisers, walking tours, sculptures, classes, studios, and framers that you may want to check out.
Anyone who has stayed this long may have a good understanding of the local art scene. We and our readers would be grateful if you could let us know if anything was incorrect, or if you provided your own local advice in the comments section.
We hope you enjoy your time at the best Austin 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.
