Museum of Art in Orlando

Each year, the Museum presents 10-12 exhibits on-site and 13 exhibitions off-site, award-winning art programs, gallery tours, lectures, and more. 

The Museum has collections of American, ancient Americas. Africa, contemporary art, and graphics. The American Art Collection is the pillar of the Museum's programming and features impressive works of art from the early Colonial period up to the 1960s. 

The African Art Collection provides a look into the visual language of the country. Many pieces conveyed special meanings about the owner, such as dolls carried by eh Tsonga women signifying they were marrying age. The headdresses worn by the Karamajong warrior followed the rules for color and design, which indicate his age and rank. This is a fascinating look at our shared humanity.

The Art of The Ancient Americas Collection has more than 900 worked of art, including pottery, carved jade, stone, silver, and gold. The objects were made for ceremony and wearing more than 35 ancient cultures. The best known of the many cultures represented is the Aztecs of Central Mexico and Peru's Inca. 

The Contemporary Art Collection is the largest of the Museum's permanent collections and is the most substantial collection. It includes outstanding works from 1945 to the present and consists of some living artists from the past 30 years. Some of the well-known artists included in the collection are Philip Pearlstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and John Chamberlain. It also includes a substantial collection of prints dating from the 60s to the present. Leave lots of time for this collection! 

The Contemporary American Graphics Collection is the most substantial in Florida. The collection of over 270 prints includes major artists' work in the visual medium, such as early work from Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, and Jasper Johns. 

Louis Dewis: An Artist's Life in France

The Museum has a robust calendar of exhibitions. Vistors before May 2, 2021, will enjoy "Louis Dewis: An Artist's Life in France." He was inspired by Some of the French masters of landscaping such as Money, Cezanne, and Corot, and his work includes painted scenes of villages, cities, and the French countryside. Dewis was considered one of the most distinguished landscape painters of his time and contributed to a revival of traditional landscape painting in the period between the world wars. The vast collection includes more than 35 paintings, drawings and prints, and memorabilia from his life. The exhibit showcases his style of realism and connection to the landscape with his animate brushwork, broad tones, and a strong sense of place. 

American Journey: Two Centuries of Art and Culture 

Visitors before June 30 will have the opportunity to experience "American Journey: Two Centuries of Art and Culture which explores history through paintings, cultures, prints, and photos from the 18th century to the present. The exhibit is divided into thematic sections showing the past and present side by side, allowing the visitor to view the shared and contrasting ideas. The thematic sections include The Land, The West, the Sea. The Farm, The City, The Family, and The People. This is a fascinating cultural and artistic walk through time. 

A Boundless Drop to a Boundless Ocean

 These are simultaneous exhibitions in the US and Cairo of Us based Arab and Iranian artists. The exhibition's title is taken from Kahlil Gibran's book, The Prophet, and begins with a drawing by Gibran. It portrays the immigrant's artist journey. 

1st Thursday at the Museum is a full year of shows of artists, fun, and entertainment. Check the calendar for other events and exhibitions. 

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The Museum is handicap accessible and provides complimentary wheelchairs. 

Free parking is available and open to the public. There is no cafe or restaurant on-site, but there are dining locations just a few minutes away. Photography is not allowed in some of the galleries. 

Docent-guided or self-guided tours are available. Check before you go. 

"Museums on Us" is a special program for the benefit of Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholders that allows one free general admission for an eligible MOU day. It applies to the first full weekend of every month. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch associates are also eligible for the program. 

This district is especially meant for art-lovers. Don't leave Orlando without a visit to the Orlando Art District. Discover local Orlando art and browse the many art galleries and performance venues in downtown Orlando. 

Visit the many galleries, including the Signature Gallery, Spotlight Gallery, Young Artists Gallery, Themers and Dreamers, and Special Exhibitions. On the third Thursday of every month, visitors meet downtown to celebrate art and music. Visit for a great night of sights, sounds, food, and shopping.  

Still ready to explore more Orlando art? 

Don't miss the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts for a fine mix of traditional and contemporary art and culture. Enjoy the works of Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God) and artists of African descent. 

Just 20 minutes from Orlando, you'll find Winter Park, which is home to Rollins College's Fine Arts Museum, where you'll see more than 5,500 works ranging from an ancient sarcophagus to the latest in 21st-century art. And admission is free! 

While in Winter Park, visit the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which is home to the world's most extensive collection of work by American designer Loius Comfort Tiffany. There is an entire wing that recreates the essence of Laurelton Hall, Tiffany's Long Island Estate. 

Other notable museums of art and history are the Maitland Art Center, a national landmark, the Victorian-era Waterhouse Museum, the Telephone Museum, and the Carpentry Shop Museum. 

As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans." When in Orlando, visit Disney's Art of Animation Resort. For the authentic Disney experience, stay at the Resort, where you will be immersed in the art and magic of Walt Disney and Disney-Pixar movies. You'll see the storybook landscapes of Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. Themed suites, detailed outdoor space and courtyards, help you and your family be part of some of your favorite animated movies. 

When it comes to art, Orlando is a well-kept secret. Whether you're a fan of classic art, enjoy the more contemporary, favor a particular medium, or want to get to know the flavor of local Orlando art, you are sure to find plenty of ways to get your "art fix" and while away the hours in Orlando and the surrounding area. Exhibits, hours, and events are always subject to change. Be sure to check before you go and purchase tickets in advance when possible.