New Orleans Museum of Art in New Orleans, Louisiana

Known as NOMA to the locals, the New Orleans Museum of Art is an excellent regional visual arts museum that boasts a permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects valued at about $200 million. Known for its excellent French and American Art collection and its glass and Japanese pieces, NOMA strives to instill a love of art in all who visit and to educate the community-at-large with a variety of art-related educational experiences. More than 90 years old, the museum remains a popular gathering place for those who enjoy the fine arts and a great “field trip” location for those who want to browse the many paintings, sculptures, and other works of art here.

The museum’s permanent collection is divided into ten galleries. The European Art gallery showcases pieces spanning more than six centuries and includes an impressive 19^th Century French collection that features works by Baron Antoine-Jean Gros, Jean-Leon Gérôme, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin. The Italian portion of the European Art gallery includes mostly works from the early Renaissance through the 18^th Century. There’s also a Dutch and Flemish section and an excellent Impressionism display as well.

In the Asian Art gallery, visitors will find pieces from the Japanese, Chinese, and Indian traditions including screens, ceramics, bronzes, jades, and scroll paintings. The African Art collection at NOMA includes tribal arts of sub-Saharan Africa such as masks, figures, textiles, jewelry, costumes, and furniture.

In the Art of the Americas gallery, guests can view pieces from all over North, South, and Central America, including pre-Columbian pieces and an amazing display of art from all over the United States including an excellent 20^th century collection. In the Oceanic Art gallery, the collection includes tribal arts from Polynesia, Indonesia, and Melanesia.

NOMA also boasts an amazing collection of Louisiana Art where both French and Spanish influences are apparent. Works range from the 19^th century until the present time and include not only painting but also sculpture, pottery, decorative arts, and more.

The Decorative Arts area at New Orleans Museum of Art is quite impressive. It includes one of the top five collections of glass in the United States and also features silver, portrait miniatures, Meissen (German) porcelain, Faberge eggs and other pieces, ceramics, furniture, and American Art Pottery.

The Paintings and Drawings exhibit includes almost 7,000 individual prints, books, portfolios and unique works on paper, mostly from the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Finally, the Photography gallery has been growing since its inception in 1973 and now includes more than 7,000 photos.

The outdoor sculpture garden is home to more than 50 pieces but as of 2009 was closed for renovations.

Aside from the galleries, NOMA offers a wide variety of educational opportunities for visitors and locals including school programs and even an art therapy program used to reach children and adolescents that have experienced trauma.

New Orleans Museum of Art is open five days a week from Wednesday through Sunday with evening hours on Wednesdays. There’s a museum shop on the premises.

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