Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, Louisiana

Situated at the University of New Orleans, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is a Smithsonian affiliate that showcases the largest collection of Southern American art in the world. It is the mission of the museum to “broaden the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South through its permanent collections, changing exhibitions, educational programs, publications, research center, and its Goldring-Woldenberg Institute for the Advancement of Southern Art and Culture. To that end, the museum will collect, conserve, exhibit, study, and interpret the art of the South within the context of the region's history and culture.”

The basis of the collection at this unique museum comes from the extensive collection that belonged to the Ogden family, begun about 40 years ago when Roger Ogden and his father began awarding Roger’s mother with a gift of Southern art each year for Christmas. By the mid-1980s, the family had amassed an impressive collection and it was soon recognized as one of the most significant collections of its kind. The Ogdens soon decided that it should be shared with the general public and began by offering traveling exhibits of the collection. Soon afterward, plans for a permanent home had begun. Today, the three-structure complex that makes up the Ogden Museum of Art has been lauded as one of the most architecturally-significant in the South.

Both inside and out, this museum is quite interesting, especially for the art aficionado. Its 47,000 square feet is filled with fascinating collections including paintings and prints by great Southern artists like William Dunlap, Frederich Trenchard, Will Henry Stevens, William K. Greiner, Ellsworth Woodward, William Woodward, Reed Elliot, Eugene Delcroix, and many more. Visitors can also view vases by Anna Frances Simpson, “spirit poles” by John Geldersma, pottery by Cynthia Littlejohn and many more interesting pieces. There are also sculptures, works in glass, and other works dating mostly from the 19^th through 21^st centuries. Temporary exhibits are also on display. Past examples include Southern Photography, Southern Modernism, portraits, and much more.

Ogden Museum of Art provides a host of educational opportunities for young and old alike. Kids can enjoy two-week summer camp experiences that are led by local artists in a number of fields including both the visual and performing arts. There are also a number of arts- and craft-related classes for kids and other offerings more appropriate for adults, including “Thursday After Hours”, a wonderful concert and lecture series featuring traditional music of the South. School field trip excursions to Ogden are frequent and local teachers may incorporate Southern art into their curriculum with the help of the museum’s education guides.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm and a discount admission fee is available for seniors and students. Louisiana residents can visit for free on Thursdays. The Museum Store and Center for Southern Craft and Design is open during museum visiting hours, offering a wealth of beautiful objects d’art, gifts, and more. The facility is also available for rent for special events.

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