Austin Museum of Art – Austin, Texas
Austin has two Art Museums for the enjoyment of the residents and the visitors to the city. The first one is downtown which offers informative and informal art experiences to fill the desires of a general audience. This site is the primary art museum for the city where the exhibitions are varied and the educational programs that showcase an array of twentieth-century and contemporary art.
Sol LeWitt’s artwork is on display at the downtown museum. His Structure and Line documents the full arc of the artist’s career. He is best known for his contribution to minimalism and conceptual art, LeWitt’s pencil drawings, brilliantly colored gouaches, and "structures" made of wood, aluminum, and fiberglass have defined and pushed the limits of art-making in his career of over 40 years. Also on display are selections from his collection of works by Alice Aycock, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Alighiero Boetti, Chuck Close, Gilbert and Geroge, Hans Haacke, Eve Hesse, On Kawara, Shirin Neshat, and Robert Ryman.
Second Saturdays are for Family’s at the museum. You can drop in and create with guests artists for a minimal fee of $7 for the family. All the public programs offered by the museum are fee unless otherwise noted; the only cost is the admission to the museum.
You can get a tour of the museum or wander through on your own. You can attend the different performances, talks and have opportunities to respond to the exhibitions.
The Laguna Gloria museum is the original home to the Art Museum. Visitors can tour the recently restored 1916 Italianate-style villa that was the home of Texas Legend Clara Driscoll. Clara Driscoll was a businesswoman, author, playwright, and politician as well as an avid gardener. Her dedication to beauty makes "her home" a wonderful experience for those wanting to study art. At this museum you will be able to see work of ten featured Austin artists such as Beverly Penn’s cast bronze botanicals and Martha Gannon’s constellation of photographs of Laguna Gloria’s flora and fauna. Well worth the trip to the Museum to just get in touch with nature and see it as the artists see it.
There are tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm. You can also take the Artist Tours where you will hear first-hand how the site inspired their work.
Location of Downtown: 823 Congress Ave. at 9th St., Austin, Texas
Hours: Tues. – Saturday 10 – 6, Thurs. 10 – 8, Sunday Noon – 5 and Closed on Mondays.
Admission: Adults – $5; Seniors/Students – $4; Under 12 Free. Tuesday $1 and First Saturday Pay What You Wish.
Parking: Garage parking at 9th and Brazos. $5 with AMOA validation (two hour limit). Meter parking is free after 5:30 on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Phone: 512-485-9224
The Museum is closed for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Day, President’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For the Laguna Gloria Museum Location: 3809 West 35th St. west of Mopac
Hours: Villa: Tuesday – Sunday 10 – 4, Grounds: 9 – 5 Monday – Saturday, 10 – 5 on Sunday. Weekend Public Tours: 1 pm
Admission: Suggested donation $3
Parking: Free parking on the grounds or along 35th Street.
Telephone: Driscoll Villa: 512-458-8191; Tours: 512-495-9224 ext 313; Art School: 512-323-6380 and Grounds Rental: 512-458-8191 ext 225
There is wireless internet provided for visitors at both locations.