Cincinnati Art Museum

Founded in 1881, the Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest and most prestigious art institutions in the United States. Historically, its grand Romanesque-style building, nestled in the scenic Eden Park, stands as a testament to the city’s enduring commitment to cultural enlightenment and the arts. The museum’s collection features over 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years, including world-renowned masterworks by Gainsborough and Monet. A distinct highlight is the Cincinnati Wing, which celebrates the city’s rich artistic grit through exceptional displays of regional pottery, woodcarving, and paintings. Walking through its quiet, sun-drenched galleries evokes a profound sense of human continuity. It is a grounding reminder that while industries and technologies evolve, the human impulse to create beauty remains a timeless, universal language.

The Cincinnati Art Museum is fantastic. The space itself is huge, so you never feel crowded, and the atmosphere is calm and inviting. You can easily spend hours wandering without feeling rushed. The collection is impressively eclectic, with everything from classic pieces to unexpected modern works, so there’s always something that catches your eye. A great place to slow down, explore, and actually enjoy art at your own pace.

Mad Magazine exhibit. I loved it and it brought back a lot of memories , especially as I had bought the paperbacks in the 1970s of the original Mad Comics from the 1950s. Also pictures and descriptions of my favorite Mad Magazine years of late 1960s to Mid- 1970s. The food in the restaurant was good. I got a steak pieces with avocado on mixed greens salad that was pretty tasty. My dad got a grilled cheese and cream of tomato soup from the children's menu and he thought they were pretty good. All the employees were extremely helpful and courteous. Don't hesitate to ask for directions. It is a very confusing maze to find where you're trying to go in this museum.

Unbelievable level of top tier paintings and glazed glass and pottery on display. One of the top 5 free Art Museums in the United States. Come early and take it all in. Staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.

honestly one of the best art museums i’ve ever been to. FOR FREE! i’ve been here 3 times now, and each experience has been excellent. most recently spent 2 hours here and was able to see most of it! nice gift shop. outdoor courtyard. go on Thursday eves to view the paid exhibits for free!

I only took 4 photos throughout the entire building because I was so enraptured by everything! I hadn’t been to the Art Museum in over a decade and couldn’t believe I got to see a mummy in real life, (my respects to the passed soul) a Van Gogh painting, a miniature kitchen, and more! I am DEFINITELY going to make more trips back now that I am an adult and have more time to go!

Beautiful grounds, so peaceful. We were traveling with our dog so I just had 5 minutes to run in and visit the European art section while hubby walked the grounds with the pooch. Breathtaking collection. I wish I had an hour to spend there. Free admission, free parking. Check out the sculpture on the way out.

Great art museum!! They had some beautiful works and we got to see tje bicycles and farm-to-table exhibits, which were awesome. We spent 4 hours there and didn't see everything. Before heading out, we had lunch at the cafe and sat outside in the gorgeous courtyard. The grounds are gorgeous too - we walked around and admired the landscaping and views of the city. Highly recommend if you visit Cinci!

been feeling real grateful lately. i spent a slow sunday at the cincinnati art museum and honestly didn't expect it to hit that deep. it's free (which already feels unreal), but the energy in there feels rich as hell. quiet, calm, like time just moves softer inside those walls. the layout makes wandering easy...each room kinda pulls you into the next without trying too hard. i caught myself just standing in front of pieces for minutes without saying a word, and that never happens. the staff were chill and welcoming too, which always makes the vibe better. the view outside? underrated. grabbed a coffee after and just sat overlooking eden park for a bit. perfect reset. not sure what it is about that place, but it felt like a small pause from the chaos. 10/10 would go again...especially on a day when you just need to breathe and remember you're alive for a sec.

This museum is free to walk around but if you would like to see the exhibits they host it will Cost around $10-$12 and that's not bad for the experience you receive. I love just walking around and viewing all the art work.

This is a fine museum housing many works... classic, Impressionism, modern... today is a special touring exhibition of Mad Magazine. If you grew up with this counter culture periodical, satirical and funny poke at modern culture, you would appreciate this collection. For me, it's a visit back to my younger days.... Did it make me laugh at the paradigms and morays of the world we grew up in? Absolutely! Ya gotta learn to look at the flip side of sanity.... Or was this more of a wake up call for society and its rules... what... me worry?

We visited during winter break during the BLINK show they held in the courtyard. Must say it was a cozy little view that kept you in the spirit with other families around also taking in the view. We also decided to stop on the children's area for some crafts and brief fun. I loved the seasonal play installation they had set up and even us adults got in on the fun and made our own ornaments.

Beautiful and eclectic collection, far too much to see in one visit. Admission is free. Go!

We recently saw the Mad Magazine exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum that was a nostalgic walk down memory lane. Mad Magazine was a humorous magazine filled with political commentary and opinions. I was surprised that I enjoyed it so much to be honest. Besides that the permanent exhibits are excellent and the museum and parking are free with the exception of the featured exhibits. Located in scenic Eden Park makes it a must see for visitors and local residents alike.

It's free and it's massive! The Cincinnati Art Museum is in a great location right next to (in?) Eden park and up on a hill with an overlook of the city. The building itself is beautiful. There are so many exhibits and different types of art from furniture, to paintings, to sculptures, to pottery. I walked around for two hours just to see everything. There are little descriptions next to the art with background and artist information. They have an area for kids and a gift shop. Chairs to sit in spread throughout. Helpful employees always nearby. Parking is free, the museum is free, you can get into the special rotational exhibit for free on Thursday evenings.

This remarkable art museum is a few miles from the city center and is definitely worth the trip! Plenty of free parking and free entry make this a great cultural day out. Art works from many of the masters are part of their beautifully organized collections. Monet, Degas, Picasso, Renoir add to the exhibits currently on display. They have a beautiful cafe that serves up many culinary creations to enjoy indoors or on their patio. Don't forget to see and hop the cavalcade sets of stairs on the corner of the street that look like artwork itself leading up to the main entrance!

The Cincinnati Art Museum is a beautiful place. Like every art museum it has lots of painting and sculptures and so forth, but one of the best things about this museum is there is no cost to enter. What an awesome thing for the community. I do have an art museum membership, but that allows me to get into some installations that do cost. They have some special exhibits that you can pay for at the door, but you can tour the whole rest of the museum without cost. They also have a really nice gift shop there offering many items that would be good for gifts for art lovers. The grounds around the museum are beautiful as well as they have many gardens and sculptures outside. I will continue my membership to the museum as the cost of the membership helps them keep it free for everyone! Oh yes there was also a book giveaway this year and I stopped in and picked up 8 books at no cost of various artist catalogues, nice coffee table versions. Stop in and take a look, I think you will love it as much as I do.

We hadn't been to the Cincinnati Art Museum in years, so decided to check out their Art After Dark event that highlighted their Art In Bloom exhibit. Sixty fresh flower arrangements, each interpreting an art piece, were displayed throughout the museum. There was a DJ, a cash bar, and we even got to choose our own bouquets at the flower bar! Such a fun evening! We'll definitely check out others in the future.

Free year round thanks to generous donors. This is a cross between an art musuem and natural history museum. We saw a strolling opera there. Very interesting. My son has a membership that gets him into special exhibits for free.

It is really a beautiful establishment I wish that they would let local artist put some of their artwork in every couple of months so they would get noticed but it is nice and quiet and you can gain a lot of knowledge from the beautiful pictures and sculptures.

Had a very moving and informative visit at the Cincinnati Museum Center as part of my workplace team's recognition of Black History Month. Volunteer Sallie curated an experience for us focused on the work of Black artists. She told us about the artists and their lives and invited us to reflect on what we saw. Art works we discussed included Slavery Time carved from wood by Elijah Pierce, Two Sisters by Kehinde Wiley, who painted the portrait of President Obama for the National Portrait Gallery, Untitled (I am an Invisible Man) by Glenn Ligon, which quotes Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man, and Blue Hole, Flood Waters, Little Miami River, a local landscape by Robert S. Duncanson, who spent time in the region and was supported in his work by local wealthy arts patron Nicholas Longworth. If you search "Black artists" on the museum site, you will get a PDF that can guide you through your own experience with the museum's collection.

It took me a bit of walking but I did manage to find the exact gallery that I wanted. This is a large museum and I was very pleased with the artwork. As well, admission and parking are FREE. Warhol, Chagall, Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Monet, Pissarro. I'm in heaven. I spent an hour with just this bunch of my favorites. Thank you, Cincinnati Art Museum! [Review 20477 overall - 206 in Ohio - 1457 of 2023.]

I really loved it here. I've been to several different art museums but this one offered a unique experience to create your own journey. After completing a little sign up station at the front you are given certain pieces of art to find on your way. It was really fun to hunt for each piece. Plus they offered a wonderful interactive experience to create your own mummy. Oh did I mention general admission if FREE!

We are here for a floral exhibit after hours party. They had floral artists prepare arrangements to go with selected art pieces, which was really cool and different. Always something new and interesting at the Art Museum. I was pleasantly surprised they have EV charging 8 level two chargers by Flo.

Wow - what an exquisite art museum! Also, the main galleries are FREE. What a treasure in Cincinnati! I spent an entire afternoon wandering the vast hallways of this museum. They have a great collection with a nice variety of art styles. I also enjoyed the Picasso special exhibit (also FREE on Thursday evenings!). I recommend spending a good chunk of the day here - there is SO much to see. Top notch art museum that is accessible to everyone? Yes, please!

My wife worked at a Museum and she thought it was fabulous. It has something for everyone. Great places nicely set up. I will come back.

This museum holds such a special place in my heart - I volunteered here years ago during periods of time where the museum would only open for those with disabilities. I believe they still have those time periods, and this is also a super accessible museum in many ways (just check out their website!). Also - it's free!!! Huge plus considering the wonderful collection of art they have (and that rotates in and out). A very picturesque museum both inside and out. There's also a cute gift shop, and places to eat and drink. Definitely check out this museum, you won't regret it!

A beautiful art museum that reminds me of the National Gallery in DC, given the similar architecture, stunning high ceilings, pristine marble, and free admission. Small but mighty, this art museum is a must-see!

I had high hopes for the museum but was disappointed. We went specifically to see the Chihuly hanging in the lobby and unfortunately that was the highlight of the museum... Their collection seems very limited and is dominated by Rookwood items. While interesting from a local perspective we were expecting much more variety. It's a free museum so you can't pass it up if in the area but it's marketed as much more than what we experienced.

Had a lovely time at the art museum. I bought the Ansel Adams tickets online and saved $2.00 each. Beautiful museum. This was my first time there and I would love to go back. Plenty of free parking on site.

Really, really loved all the art work, glass creations, pottery, etc. I believe we were there about 2 hours and don't think we saw everything. A really nice museum employee approached us and gave us some useful and pertinent info about the museum, like if you get to close to the artwork you will get a voice from somewhere saying to stand behind the dark line on the floor. This happened to us before we were told. Also, you can take pictures of everything including the artwork. The museum is free to visit and on Thursday evenings you can get in free to see the paid exhibits. I wish I would have gotten the employees name, but he was an older gentleman and extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the museum. He did say he had been working there for many years. He also told us about some other places to go in the city. This is another must see in "Cincy"

We have such a nice art museum in Cincy! They get fun traveling exhibits, such as a Burning Man exhibit and recently a hip hop culture and art exhibit, just to name a few. The best part is the regular museum is free!! The special exhibits cost a little bit but sometimes even those have days they are free. It's just a nice relaxing place to go wander around in for an afternoon. Worth checking out if you've never been! I've even been there for a wedding before, which was beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful and so much to see for FREE! Definitely will be back when I have kids of my own since it isn't far from home! A really good place for a cute date/family night, staff were super friendly and it was very clean! Absolutely bustling with people and in a really cute area :)!

Always love to visit CAM and have never had a bad experience. The museum is always very clean, the staff is very friendly, and the art on display inside spectacular. We love to visit Art After Dark which is basically a party at the museum with special food, music and performances. We also love to visit for the special exhibits - most recently coming for Picasso, Charles White and Georgia O'Keeffe, among others. The museum offers something for everyone - the museum spans many different types of art and many many years of art. I would recommend everyone visit and bring their friends and family!

My 8 month old and I had a blast at the CAM today! Started off making holiday crafts at the rosenthal education center and then had lunch at the terrace cafe. Both were so kid friendly equipped with high chairs and friendly staff. Looking forward to bringing my daughter back for more fun!

Visited CAM for the after dark event. It featured Picasso, and his exhibit was really cool and interesting to read about his life. The rest of the museum is a maze, and if you love art you could get lost in the exhibits for some time. The event itself was cool -- cash bar, food, and a DJ.

Beautiful experience. Stopped in for the exibit:"Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass" Wonderful display. Browsed the main galleries as well- just beautiful.

Per Vincent Van Gogh, "Art if to console those broken by life,". I may not have been broken, but I can tell you I came come in the last couple of years to breaking. From changing my life by moving across the country, to discovering my mother had stage 3 breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, to taking care of her during post op/chemo/radiation treatment, it has been hell these past couple of years. My mom certainly feels the same way, Cancer took a great physical, mental and emotional toll on her. I promised her that if she beat cancer, I would take her on a number of trips the year after. I am a man of my word, and so I took her to Cincinnati (along with my younger brother) to celebrate life! One stop we all were going to make was the Cincinnati Art Museum. We are all art lovers, so we really looked forward to losing ourselves in this museum for hours. I have to say that I am very impressed with the breadth of arts this museum has. It has art from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It has from all time periods from Ancient Egyptian and Greek, to the European Middle Ages, to modern times. It also has an extensive collection of Asian art throughout the centuries as well. What is amazing is that admission to the museum is free. The only thing we paid for was admission to a special exhibit they had open from February 3rd to May 7th of 2023, which were pictures from Georgia O'Keeffe. My mother is a huge fan, so we paid for admission to this special exhibit, one she loved visiting. It was a pleasure to just admire painting from Picasso, Van Gogh, Warhol, Cezanne, Monet and so many other legendary artists. The history nerd in me loved seeing the Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman art. I also got to see paintings from other artists I was not familiar with and now have come to appreciate. I also was very excited to see the Japanese weapons and armor they had on display. I certainly was surprised when I finally got to see a real Japanese Tanto as I had no idea they were so small and thin. We spent several hours in here and just absorbed all this wonderful art! Per Fredrich Nietzche, "The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude." Well, I have immense gratitude for the Cincinnati Art Museum for giving my family an amazing few hours admiring great art and brining a smile to my mothers face.

This was a lovely experience. And it's totally FREE! Why not take yourself, the fam, or a date to appreciate the art from centuries? I really appreciated the exhibit about the local black and brown faces of the Greater Cincinnati area. As a new person to the city, this was a bit of an introduction to people who are making a difference in the community around them. The exhibit is available for a another week or so. The operating hours make it possible for a visit after work. There's also and gift shop and rec room for children. You can take your children there on a supervised visit. Tours are also available.

The stark elevations on the banks of the Ohio River give Cincinnati's art gallery a lofty perch. It's dedicated parking lot is not huge, though one could park a bit down the hill and walk up. The interior space is cavernous; at least for two levels. A small third level houses a couple of rooms but for some won't be worth the steps. The collections are varied and on my visit the most impressive elements were glasswork. Entry is free. As has become typical, there was one paid exhibition, but you could certainly get a fulfilling experience with the regular galleries. Visiting the gallery and the neighboring park is a stark contrast from the city itself but not a far trip at all.

I loved the museum, I especially loved the American art of George Washington, I wish they could expand on that the way they did the Cincinnati area, I would love an area dedicated to America or patriotism, with more painting of important people that made America what it is today.

I think the steps are perfect to get the blood flowing! So glad they built them. They are situated at the corner of the entryway of the park so you cannot miss it. We've visited the museum a couple times for a few exhibits and always enjoy it.

Excellent museum with a large collection. BIg enough to fill your curiousity and too big to see it all. The biggest collections focused on Western Art. I enjoyed the temporary exhibit pairing objects from their collection. This time I biked to the museum and took the art walk. All uphill so you had to work for your art! Can't beat the price, free!

What are the chances of my most favorite Van Gogh being located here in the US, just a short drive away from home (relatively speaking). Wasn't Two Figures and Undergrowth housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at some point? In any case - I'm so glad to have visited The Cincinnati Art Museum, because it's here!! Nestled next to Eden Park and Krohn Conservatory, this is such a tranquil place for art and park lovers. I was captivated by their Impressionist pieces mainly and their abstract art also stood out. Renior, Gauguin, Monet, Picasso - they're all here!! In retrospect, they did a good job of allowing you to prebook your visit online and you could really spread out in these exhibit halls. Admission is free and you can pay extra for their special exhibit which we passed on, because of time limitations. Parking is free too. Note: There was some minor construction going on in their parking lot but it was no big deal. In a day and age where the saying "World Class" is often overused, this museum is truly World Class.

Gorgeous museum! Even when you first park, the view of the city is breathtaking. I've been here before but not for Art After Dark event which I attended recently for the artist Georgia Okeeffe. Very good exhibit but I wish there was more! It was nice to grab a drink, listen to some good music and get some food before roaming the halls of this museum. I heard it can take up to 3 hours to go thru! Don't forget to check out the shop in the front. Full of unique gifts! The front desk staff was super helpful too! Highly recommend going around dusk/night so you can see the magical view!

This is one impressive art museum! It's impressive. We paid the extra $5 each to see the Frank Duveneck exhibit. So very worth it. It was so good that most of our time in the Museum was in this exhibit. Along with the special exhibit the Museum is a wonderful collection of great pieces. Picasso, Cassat, Chase, Tiffany, Chihuly, Monet, and on and on. Such a wonderful place to spend some time. It's a huge recommend from me.

What a special treasure for the Cincinnati community! From its lovely architecture to the exquisite collection, this is a definite stop for any art lover. I visited for a few hours on a Thursday afternoon and easily could have spent another day exploring the galleries. I was especially fond of the Eastern art houses on the ground floor. I'll definitely plan a return visit to Cincy to further explore!

Great museum with a lot of interesting pieces! Fun events and lots of different art forms represented.

Tip: always visit an art museum in each city you visit. Outstanding Museum. Free 99! Spacious, tons of light, friendly informed team members and did I mention free admission? Came to Cincinnati for the weekend in the fall and made a visit to this awesome museum. Who knew you could find some of Art history's finest artists here on display! From Georgia O'Keefe and Picasso to Monet, Matisse and Warhol.... The museum also has a large kids arts and crafts room. Each week they have a special art project theme that the kids can decide to work on or create something fun on their own using provided paper, crayons and markers. Way cool.

I really enjoyed this visit. Shame I've lived here all my life and I'm just now experiencing this. Nestled in Eden Park, what more could you ask for. We walked the art steps after visiting the exhibits and walked around the park. Free general admission. If I could do it all over, I would get married here,it's beautiful, the grounds and the museum itself.

Without a doubt one of the city's gem. The Art Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon. Cincinnati's history is reflected through its impressive permanent collection, and the rotating special exhibitions have national acclaim. There is the occasional Art After Dark series during which you may purchase libations while enjoying an evening at the museum. The annual membership is very reasonable and affords you at least 1 free ticket to the special exhibits. Otherwise, general admission is FREE.

I love the Cincinnati Art Museum, and I really love the fantastic new entrance. It's super impressive to drive up the hill and see the museum and the Pinocchio sculpture right at the top! Plus the new parking lot is expansive and contains several EV charging spaces, along with the top access to the new Art Climb, with a sculpture next to it. They did an absolutely excellent job with this, and it sets the tone before you even step into the museum. The museum is also free to enter, with the exception of some special exhibits (check the website or ask any of the friendly staff members). On our recent visit, I was particularly interested in seeing the exhibit Galloping Through Dynasties, featuring the history of the horse in Chinese artwork over the ages. It was free because it included a scroll that is rarely permitted outside of its current home in Japan, and it was really neat to see! I appreciate that the museum made it so accessible to visitors. Other highlights of the museum include the architecture, a fantastic permanent collection (shout out to Undergrowth with Two Figures, my personal favorite), and the REC, which is a super fun area for hands-on activities with kids and families! We got to make some neat dance/party accessories and Art Bar designs with what they had on hand. CAM is always worth a visit. They also offer a gift shop and a cafe if you need nourishment or a souvenir!

An absolute gem in the heart of the city. Classical masters, contemporary rock starts and constantly updated programming. Something for everyone and a Chihuly hanging over the main desk.

10/10 recommend. This place puts on the most wonderful events, and the artwork is beautiful. The building and artwork is very well kept. The staff is amazingly friendly and knowledgeable of the artists and the work. Kudos to all involved with Art After Dark/Paloozanoire Presents Paying Homage to Black & Brown Faces!

After visiting Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, there's no way to convince me that there are better museums than the ones in those cities. P-A has the market taken care of when it comes to art museums. With that being said, other museums in other cities can be fun too. It wasn't until recently that I decided to check for your standard art museum in Cincinnati. I was surprised that there was a standard art museum that I had never heard of so close by. I've been to most of the other museums in Cincinnati and I was surprised when I found this one. To add to that, it's also free! Double score and well played Cincinnati! (Special exhibits can be enjoyed for a small price). I don't think this is the best museum but it does have a lot to offer. I learned quite a few things at this museum. Most museums that are set up like this one... you learn a thing here... you learn a thing around the corner and things are curated in a way that makes you lose interest eventually. This has to be one of the first museums I've visited where I didn't lose interest in anything. Time did start to run short because on that particular day... the agenda was full. I did follow them on Twitter to keep up with upcoming exhibits. I'll easily make the trip back to Cincinnati for this museum again. Maybe it was the day I visited but I noticed something that I've never seen at other museums. Maybe this speaks to the curation. You'll usually visit museums and see people of all ages. There will be people flying solo. People listening to a guided tour. Kids running around. Couples where one person loves art and the other doesn't and the occasional couples where both love art. It was an odd experience because there were plenty of people at the museum that day and they all seemed generally excited about the art and the experience. It was one thing that made the Cincinnati Art Museum standout from other museums I've visited. Many of you Louisville folk make trips to Cincinnati often. Whether your trips are for Ikea, Jungle Jim's, the worst team in NFL football(Go Steelers!), or any of the other things in the Cincinnati area... whatever your reason is, you should start adding this art museum to your list. I'll heavily consider it each time I visit Cincinnati from now on. To conclude... if you live within 300 miles and can make day trips to Cincy, there's no reason not to visit this museum on occasion.

What a large and beautiful museum! Unfortunately, we arrived about an hour before closing so we were only able to get through the top floor but seeing that it was free, we are grateful for the opportunity to see just that! The work is absolutely gorgeous and I highly recommend visiting if you're able to!

Really great selection of Art. A definite visit before leaving Cinci. I do wish they switched the rotation more often but nonetheless, there's always new Artwork in different areas of the grand museum. Love!