North Carolina Museum of Art

Perfect place to visit with family and friends, full of history and art. It’s a large museum with so many things to see. I visited during the winter, but I definitely recommend coming in the summer as well, since there are plenty of walking areas around the gallery buildings. Admission is free, so it’s a must-visit if you’re in Raleigh.

Absolutely love the NC Museum of Art! The galleries are stunning, the curation is top-notch, and the mix of classic and modern art keeps every visit exciting. The outdoor sculpture park is HUGE and feels like stepping into an open-air art adventure especially with cool installations like the Cloud Chamber for the Trees and Sky, which feels almost magical when the live sky appears inside. The café is pricey but delicious. Can’t believe admission to the main collection is free because the experience feels world-class. If you’re in Raleigh, this place is a must-visit. I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could!

The North Carolina Museum of Art is an outstanding cultural destination that blends art, nature, and community. The permanent collection is beautifully curated, offering a wide range of works from European classics and African art to modern and contemporary pieces. Each gallery is spacious, thoughtfully arranged, and enhanced with natural light, creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors. The museum park is equally impressive, with miles of walking and biking trails accented by large-scale outdoor sculptures. It provides a unique opportunity to enjoy art in a natural setting, making the museum experience extend beyond the building itself. Staff and volunteers are consistently friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming, which adds to the overall positive experience. Another highlight is that admission to the permanent collection is free, making the museum highly accessible to the public while still offering high-quality exhibitions and events. Overall, the North Carolina Museum of Art sets a high standard for museums in the region. It is a place where art and community intersect in a meaningful way, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting or living in North Carolina.

This is a beautiful art museum! And it’s free. Except for some special exhibits. But the large portion of it is free. And stunning. The building itself is beautiful and they have some wonderful pieces. I was not expecting for this place to be so big. I will be back.

The free night event was wonderful. Plenty of exhibits . A variety of mediums. A quiet ,clean friendly atmosphere and plenty of on-site parking. The special exhibit...The book of Esther was informative and well put together. The African American exhibit was full of color and very eye-catching. The various mediums (wood, wire, paper, metal)will keep a person intrigued. There are benches throughout for time to reflect or just rest. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. There is a gift shop with a variety of items for sell such as books, jewelry, artwork and trinkets. There is also a dress up photo opportunity near the book of Esther exhibit.

Lovely museum with small sampling of all art movements as well as historic Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities. And the Cafe is superb 👌

This is a wonderful place for walking and trekking, featuring artistic landscapes and impressive ornamental trees. The forested area has small streams, and you may even encounter snakes. In addition, there are beautiful butterflies and the natural sounds of small birds, which make the experience feel very close to nature. Free entrance. There are price ticket in some special areas

Not to be missed art museum. I have seen many art museums in the world, I shall consider this as one the best viewer friendly museums. Everything is explained in English. Not very huge one but collections very good. Saw special exhibit on Rembrandt era’s collection on ‘ Book of Esther - very unusual. Whole museum is free except special exhibits. Do not miss cafe

The North Carolina Museum of Art is free to visit, although special exhibits may have a fee. The museum is divided into two buildings. The East Building is the original museum, and the West Building is the newer building. There are galleries in both that you can view. The East Building is on multiple levels and there is a glass elevator available with views to the letters outside that spell a message. I like that the museum has a variety of artwork to view, so you can see your favorites or explore and discover new pieces. With the redesigned building, some of the exhibits were made more interactive. I am still learning where my favorite pieces were moved, but I do enjoy finding new favorites as they try to showcase more of the collection.

We came here for what we thought was a craft festival but there were very few vendors and none of interest to any of us. We did go in the museum and it had some interesting exhibits but there were very kids were bored. We did find some swings and that was a nice area for kids to enjoy. I came here before for the flower show and it was amazing. We will keep an eye out for other events here

A free museum in the Raleigh area. When you pull in go to the left if you want to go to the museum and right if you want to go to the park area. I found the museum very interesting. They do seem to be in a period of transition. Two different buildings. Free parking. They have a shop and a cafe if you need something to eat or drink. Everyone working there was friendly. You can spend at least a half a day exploring the two buildings.

Absolutely LOVED the NC museum of art - I visited from California and was so impressed by not only a free museum, but one that is so big and offers so much!!! There are two huge buildings of many exhibits and pieces and we truly could have stayed all day. I love the incorporation of everything from historical pieces to modern art and tech, and they even added some high schooler's work from their classes. There is so so much to see here, you will not be disappointed! Would love to come back whenever I'm in North Carolina again!

This is a great museum- they get a lot money from the state which is great. They did a great job with their special exhibits! It is very well laid out- some impressionism, Rodin, Picasso, great Judaica and Samurai exhibits! Well laid out. You can put your coat in a locker and take your key with you j til you want to pick up your coat again! To for a few hours! You'll get lost in it and love if!

such a fun experience to learn the history of art and its background. would definitely come again!

WHAT AN AMAZING PERK OF LIVING HERE! A free art museum?! I was shocked to learn it was free! We had such an amazing day at both of the museums (east and west buildings?)! We were wondered by how large and opulent the spaces were. The diversity of art was truly surreal. Will definitely recommend to anyone and everyone!

Absolutely amazing and calming so going to do it more times the art is just wow I definitely would recommend this to younger and older people

Experience: so many collections of different artwork and have two buildings where one is newer and the other is older art. there is also a pathway and trail that you can walk and see different sculptures. throughout the year they off great collections that are only there for a period of time. Parking: plenty of parking but can get really full on the weekends. there are two different parking lots with one located in the front enterance as soon as you turn in and one that is back behind the buildings Food: they offer two food courts. one is more of a cafe with sandwiches while the other has more of a "fine dining" experience. food at both are enjoyable and both offer plenty of options

Fantastic and helpful staff. Thought-provoking exhibitions. Gorgeous grounds. All handicapped-accessible, though the sculpture garden was a little tricky to get to; one path is all gravel so we had to ask where the paved path was.

Came here a few years ago and at the time we only were able to tour the original building to see the exhibits. This time both the older and the newer buildings were open and WOW the new addition is worth every step. Outstanding exhibits to see, it is huge inside with some outstanding artwork to view. After having the opportunity to own to tour both buildings this is an awesome activity to do or bring people too. And to think... it's free!

We had a wonderful educational time. I am definitely coming back again in cooler weather. Tips: Bring water. Drive to both parking lots to quicker walking access to life size art on the walks due to the heat in the summer. East wing has a darker cooler entrance. Upstairs and downstairs. Cafe on bottom half. I really enjoyed this side due to all of the history. Great customer service at front welcome desk. Employee was so nice greeting us! He recommended for us to make sure we stopped by the musical chairs, even though it was hot out before we left because the little ones would enjoy them. They did and so did I. It was a big hit. Thank you!! He also gave us maps and explained throughly which way to start. This is a huge inside and outside museum!. It can easily take all day to explore. West wing is the biggest. Many different rooms to walk though. Cafe and bathrooms in west wing as well. Great place for a hike. If you love art you will not be dissapointed!! It's 164-acre Museum Park is home to more than a dozen monumental works of art and is the country's largest museum park!

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful museum here. Today I was here for a class trip. Our Spanish Teacher and Art Teacher received a $5000 scholarship! Teachers went to several workshops where we looked at art in a new light. I learned ways to tie in paintings with literature; Main Idea, mood, what's closer in painting -ll, focal point etc... Today there was a sight and sound exhibit that was thrilling for all! There were exhibits for relaxation, stereo sound coming from many speakers. This is a great museum. Look for special exhibits. It's nice to walk around the grounds too.

3.9 restaurant review (not museum) Party of 3 and we all ordered the burger and fries each $17. Over all it was good, the toppings really made it. Homemade pickles, truffle aioli, arugula, and a soft brioche bun. It came with a side and I chose fries. I was very pleased with the crisp and seasoning. The service, while nice was slow. Asking for ketchup to go with fries took so long, half were already eaten. Drink refills did not happen with out waiving down a server. The menu is on the shorter side but the beer and wine menu is vast. The museum is amazing so having lunch here really was enjoyable. We did not have reservations, but noticed how busy the restaurant became at noon.

Great place to stop by, even for a few minutes because it's free! I love the hikes around the museum as well. It's just plain beautiful here.

A wonderful place! Lots of diverse art, thoughtfully curated. A great event schedule for any age, from young kid to older adults and everything in between. Movies, music, special events, they've got it all. Plus an amazing outdoor space with miles of trails. All free except for certain special exhibits. A truly great place to visit.

One of my absolute favorite museums in America. Any genre; any type. The architectural design of the building is breathtaking. The symmetry of the interior is so well designed. The sculpture garden and those around the building are true conversation points. The cafe and gift shop are top notch. Every time I am in Raleigh, I set aside time to go to this museum. That is how big of a fan I am. Go, go, go. Set aside an hour or two. There is so much to see and learn from.

Really one of the best museums I've been to in a long time! I love the mix of outdoor and indoor exhibits. The large scale outdoor exhibits in the garden and park are really spectacular to look at. They really give you a new perspective of what art can be. The interior exhibits are great too. They really do a great job of covering art from various time periods and various regions of the world. They do an especially go job of highlighting African American art and their cultural ties to various African cultures. Truly an amazing place that should be on the list of top places to visit in Raleigh!

10/28/23: I'm not much of an outdoorsy person, but we decided to try something new today. We came here just to take in the outdoors and the beauty of nature. There was plenty of parking available. We didn't go inside the building. We stayed outside and walked the trails & even say on this little bridge that had 2 chairs overlooking the water. It was relaxing. It was beautiful. Outside of the wasp nest underneath that bridge that we were sitting on, everything was great. There were lots of places to take awesome pictures. I would love to go back just to take family photos. I recommend this place for sure.

My wife and I were underwhelmed with our experience at the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). I think we just went at a bad time. Having grown up in High Point and now living part-time in Chapel Hill since 2020, I actually had never heard of the NCMA until recently when my mother-in-law, from Georgia, read about it online and wanted to visit when she made a trip up to visit us. I probably would have given this place two out of five stars, what Yelp defines as, "Could've been better," instead of three ("OK") if it wasn't for the museum being free. During our visit, the West Building was fully closed and the East Building was partially closed. Ultimately, we didn't get to see much. And what we were able to see, eh... wasn't that impressive, I'm disappointed to say. Also, the East Building felt dated and in need of renovation. It felt like an old building from my childhood and adolescence. The day of our visit, there was a local artists market with live music outside, so that was neat. My wife and mother-in-law appreciate museums much more than me. My wife shares my sentiments and we think my mother-in-law thought the NCMA was just okay. Better than nothing. At least it got us out and exploring a different part of the Triangle than we're used to (we mainly stick to Durham-Chapel Hill). The NCMA is located on the west side of Raleigh so if you're coming from the Durham-Chapel Hill area like we were, you don't have to go across, around, or into Raleigh (e.g., the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh). From what I saw, a couple of my favorite art exhibitions and projects at the NCMA included Hugh Hayden's indoor-outdoor "Brier Patch" (2022), a collection of wooden school desks with branches coming out, (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/north-carolina-museum-of-art-raleigh?select=RF2C88bvig5lXNGoPU54NA) and Thomas Sayre's "Gyre" (1999), giant concrete ring sculptures on the Museum Trail (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/north-carolina-museum-of-art-raleigh?select=_U8bFldblPFFmNnHsEHR_w). The latter is probably one of the most-photographed works at the museum. The three rings (ellipses) are each well over 20 feet tall and really stand out. We liked the Museum Park which is big and has paved walking trails. It's not the most scenic nor dense with sculptures. However, it is good if you want safe and decently-long outdoor trails to walk on. The park is 164 acres and has nearly five miles of trails. It also has a picturesque pond. The park is named after Ann and Jim Goodnight. Jim (age 80 at the time of this review posting), an NC State alum, is co-founder and CEO of SAS. One of my high school friends was college roommates with Jim's son at UNC. I learned and used SAS when I was working as a Georgia Tech co-op student at my current employer, but I've digressed. If you've made it this far, you must be bored. The NCMA has plenty of free parking on-site in nicely-paved and landscaped surface lots. Despite our lackluster experience, I'd still say the NCMA is worth a visit if you've never been.

Strategically placed pieces and spacious !!! Revisions to art, here, is also regularly updated with many details on their pieces !

Very few pleasantries upon entry into the East Building of NCMA. The main theme upon entering was specifically towards managing the umbrellas and telling people to leave umbrellas in the storage area. The Museum was clean and had the right amount of lighting. I came to experience the Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter exhibition, which displayed beautiful original garments showcasing amazing costume projects. I enjoyed seeing all the costumes from many movies I have seen at some point in life. Overall, great experience! My review will not do it any justice - all should experience it for themselves. I would like to add the following- It was extremely warm in this exhibition area compared to other building areas. It wasn't crowded, so I assume this temperature was on purpose.

There is plenty to keep you occupied at the NCMOA! The museum is housed in two buildings labeled East and West. The East building houses their permanent galleries, with the West building showcasing the rotational exhibitions. There are sculpture gardens and ponds conveniently placed between the two buildings. The adjacent 160 acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park provides plenty of exercise trails and additional art installations to view. There is a very large parking lot located next to the museum and park. As with parking, admission to the museum is free, but you may need tickets for admittance to view new exhibitions. The museum also offers free guided tours. All in all, the NCMOA provides a wonderful way to spend a few hours or days of your free time.

I am not a big art person, I have to admit. But I love the area around the museum. The park, the trail, the landscape. There are art features scattered around. I have been there several times, but today with my son we found a playground that will play music as you swing. Just another small detail. I love the tall grasses, the gravel walkways, and it gives me ideas of what I would like to do in my own yard. I like to go there especially any time not in the summer because a lot of the open area has no shade. So when I want to see the sun, I go there (many other parks are wooded, so I don't like to go in the wintertime because I like more sun).

I had a wonderful time spent today at the NCMA. I've visited the museum's park on quite a few occasions and consider it one of my favorite places in Raleigh. I visited today with my daughter's Social Studies Middle School classes as a chaperone. Admission is free to all and I purchased online tickets separately for the Ruth E. Carter Afrofuturism in costume design exhibit. I also had an added bonus with Michael Richards' Are You Down ? Exhibit. I spent the full day perusing the galleries in the West Building and later at the East Building where the special featured exhibits are. The West building features Ancient, African, Judaic, and European art collections. The oil paintings are my favorite as they are so captivating in color. This is a fabulous museum that features a lot of black art. I really enjoyed everything. Are You Down by Michael Richards is a extremely powerful and unique exhibit at the East Building along with Ruth E. Carter's exhibit. Richards' exhibit combines sculpture and video to enjoy. Micheal Richards was a creative genius and I am sorry to have lost such a talent to the World Trade Center bombing in New York City. Ruth E. Carter's Afrofuturism in Costume Design exhibit is a must do. Ruth is now a 2nd time Oscar Award winner for her beautiful designs in the Marvel Comics Black Panther. Her designs really came alive in the exhibit. Her collection of over 60 costumes from Selma, Black Panther, Do The Right Thing, Shaft, Roots, Malcolm X., Amistad and I'm Gonna Get You Sucka were breathtaking. I really loved the pop up gift shop as an added bonus. Special thanks to the curators that made this happen right here in Raleigh. The staff was welcoming and excellent offering their assistance if needed throughout the galleries and exhibits. I can't wait to return again. Ruth E. Carter's Exhibit is available until 8/6/23.

I accompanied my mom to the museum of art and actually quite enjoyed myself. There are three floors in the East Building and most of this art was more modern. The top floor where you enter has a lot of different paintings from a multitude of artists. The second floor is where the exhibits are held. Specifically right now they have an exhibit showing all of Ruth Carter's costume designs from multiple different movies. It included the costumes from Black Panther which was super cool to see. The bottom level is mostly the East Cafe (see separate review) which is an absolute delight. The West building had a lot of ancient art from Egypt, Africa and Europe. We saw a mummy cast dating back to 300 B.C. They also had a cafe but we didn't visit that one. And a gift shop with lots of cute jewelry, books and other trinkets. Over all, this was a fun trip!

Such a beautiful museum with a plethora of exhibits. From Italian art to contemporary, they truly have it all. What I was most happy to see, was the huge incorporation of many POC artists! It is wonderful that they were showing off such amazing artwork. Definitely allot a couple of hours or even a whole day if you are an art/ sculpture lover for this place. They have art pieces both inside and outside. And if you are going on a warm day, I recommend bringing some food or drinks and having a picnic outside! It is truly gorgeous!

What a spectacular exhibit. Greco-Roman, local artisans native to Raleigh, PRIDE self guided tour with works by the LGBTQ community and the main draw: The Ruth Carter AfroFuturism in Costume Design! It ends on August 6 and is worth the trip to Raleigh. Her first sewing machine is there, material scraps, costume design sketches, and of course, THE COSTUMES from over 20 years of work: Selma, The Butler, Amistad, Coming to America, Malcom X, Black Panther and Wakanda Forever. Beautiful details along with both audio and visuals. An excellent retrospective!!

We visited the North Carolina Museum of Art in April 2023 while on vacation in North Carolina. The museum was a great experience. We did this museum and several others while in Raleigh. There was plenty of free parking. The museum is very clean and well kept. The displays are well thought out and updated. The sculptures outside of the museum are a wonderful added feature. You can easily spend several hours or even half a day here at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The collection is really well curated. This isn't an enormous museum like the art museums in Philly or New York City. However the place was a great experience. And best of all the admission is priceless. I mean the admission is no charge. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. The galleries were very clean and well kept. Great ambience. There were plenty of clean bathrooms which is always very important There was a cafe and gift shop but we didn't get to really try either of those as we ran out of time when the museum closed for the day. Overall a great experience. I recommend a visit to the North Carolina Museum of Art if you are in Raleigh and looking for a fun and free of charge cultural experience.

Love love LOVE the NCMA! I honestly can't fathom how it could have fewer than 5 stars. Not only does it have 2 buildings full of art - spanning geographies and time periods - there are also expansive grounds with trails, gardens, and sculptures. And the best part... it's all completely FREE. You can easily spend a full day here. I especially enjoyed the East Building with the contemporary art; some were interactive - so fun! This museum is reason enough to take a trip to Raleigh.

As a native North Carolinian, this was my first time at the art museum. It was a wonderful first experience. It was my birthday and this was the main place I wanted to visit that day. The museum is spacious allowing for plenty of viewers to be present without feeling crowded or rushed. The exhibits on display told tales of racial injustice. It was quite a somber and contemplative atmosphere as you viewed the art pieces. As a southern, white woman these exhibits made African American suffering more tangible to me rather than reading about it in books. It made me uncomfortable and made me confront my own feelings of racial injustice. Isn't that what good art is all about? I was able to have honest and insightful conversations with my daughter as we walked through the museum. The museum also displayed some of the original costumes worn by the actors/actresses in the movie Black Panther. They were exquisite and it was so fun to see these up close and personal. I had a lovely visit and came away having learned a lot. It was just the beginning of great conversations and learning what my role may be in fighting racial injustice.

I am an NC native, I grew up with this Art museum as it grew and developed and feel a personal connection to it, having a state run art museums always been something I was proud of. Yet I can't rate it as high as I once did. Besides the controversy over the design of the newer building, with the issues of lighting and potential art damage that have been a matter of concern since it was opened, there were things I noticed this visit that just struck me as sad and made me question the current directors vision. The wording on the exhibits, some were written in a way that implied the reader lacked intelligence, and some were written to try and tell a story about US history but were so carefully worded to avoid offense they lacked clear language. Then in the Audubon section you have paper printouts of comments taped below the book from twitter and the like. Then there are now Gallery walls where the prints can't be seen and when I commented to an attendant was told that's why they had the electronic screens in front so I could see the art. If I wanted to see art on a screen, I would stay home and use my tablet. In other places like the room with the blue wall, the screens reflect on the art and furniture obscuring the beauty. I love the art museum and will come back but I am sorry that the current administration seems to be floundering for direction and hope maybe a new director will come in and get things back on track.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is a Raleigh staple. If you have never been here, you're missing out and absolutely must stop by. You're in for a solid day of beautiful art, in a very unique location. Even if you're a local who has been here plenty of times, you're well aware that the exhibits often change, which makes every visit a different experience. The wife and I have now been here on three separate occasions and each one has been an absolute fun time with new things to see, and it never gets repetitive. The parking here is absolutely HUGE, which is awesome, and another thing I love about this location is that there's a trail that you can walk, which gives you an extra activity to do either prior to the museum, or after. Verdict: The North Carolina Museum of Art is an absolute must see for first timers, and a worthy routine place to visit even for locals, at least on a semi-annual basis, due to their rotating schedule in which the exhibits change. You won't be disappointed! Verdict: 5

This is a really cool museum and you can't beat the admission price of free. The collection features a wide variety of art from around the world, but a few personal highlights were the Jewish ceremonial art collection, the Rodin sculptures, and the contemporary art in the East Building. The museum is also located on beautiful, expansive grounds, with sculptures throughout. Between walking the grounds and visiting the collection, you could easily spend an entire day here (and we basically did). Also, it's FREE.

The Art in Bloom event was fun. Sadly, there's no rule asking for quiet so it has hard to enjoy it.

Two friends and I drove from Wilmington to see the special exhibit on Alphonse Mucha's work. He is famous for his Art Nouveau art and "femme nouvelle". He also designed posters, many of which featured Sarah Bernhardt; as well as advertisement posters for businesses. My favorites were the one advertising Moet e Chandon champagne. The museum had several rooms of his work, to include small copies of Rodin's sculptures (who was one of his close friends). We were a little disappointed in the gift shop, as we wished there were more items on Mucha, such as a book on his work and biography. The museum had other rooms, but I only went into a couple of them. One featured art work by the employees of the museum. Lots of great talent. There is ample parking at the museum. It's free to visit (donations accepted), while the special exhibits have a fee. If you are military (active, retired, or a dependent), you do get a small discount. Outside there are interesting sculptures and a park nearby where we saw lots of people going for a walk with their dogs. While the drive from Wilmington was over two hours, it's worth the drive to see a special exhibit.

Great vibes and location overall offering indoor and outdoor architecture and sculptures that give a feeling of wonder and inspiration to all who lay eyes on them!

Wow! I was so impressed with this art museum, especially since it was free. I love checking out new art museums in different cities when I travel. There was a new exhibit that opened October 23 that you do have to pay for. There's an East and West wing that are separate buildings. The East wing is an older building whereas the West wing has more galleries and is more modern. I personally loved the European art in the West wing and enjoyed how modern and sleek the building was.

So I dragged my college freshman son to the museum near his campus while visiting because that's what moms are for. The first thing I will say to anyone about all museums in Raleigh is that they FREE. Absolutely free - isn't that wonderful?! I highly recommend this museum if you want indoor browsing or to stretch your legs outside. There is a large expanse of green with walking trails and an amphitheater. Again, FREEEEE This is a comfortable casual environment. Visitors are free to wander from exhibit to exhibit. Art is divided into geographic regions. There is a small gift shop and areas for sitting located throughout inside and outside. Docents are scattered throughout if needed but mainly stay near the perimeter, out of the way. In the second building, housing a theater and visiting exhibitions, a cafe is located on the lower level. Outdoors, walking trails wind for miles with structures and artwork, sunflower patches, and many more treasures. What an oasis for anyone looking for a quiet break in the big city.

This place is a gem! It's not only a lovely museum housed in two separate buildings, it is a large park with outdoor sculptures throughout 4-5 miles of paths and walk ways with plenty of chairs and benches along the way. Plus, it's free! Wow, what a gift to visitors. Loved it! Also impressed that the museum hosted a young artists show in the East Building. The young talent was on display. Also loved outdoor music offering of young must on the amphitheater stage on the weekend plus an art fair. There's even a cool playground for kids. Something for everyone. I recommend the Museum Cafe for a nice sit down meal. The manager is a bit off putting in nature, but the food offerings and servers make this a calm and relaxing place for a meal. If you want something more affordable, pack your own food or go to the East Building cafe or the visitor center on the far side of the park snacks.

Fun outing both inside and the outdoors sculpture areas. What a gem for a leisurely weekend adventure

One of my favorite spots to visit. There is so much space to enjoy and walk around. I often times bring my dog to the park, but pets are not allowed in the museum. This is a great spot for a picnic or a good bike ride. For more recommendations follow @raleighunlocked on Instagram.

Enjoyed this museum, the outdoor section was nice for some pics and very dog friendly

How can you celebrate a business that you have never visited? How do give people and places and exhibits that you have never seen 5 stars? Easy, people who work there that go above and beyond for a stranger they don't know except through an email address. Anyone who has spent any time with me knows I'm a huge Avett Brothers fan and recently I discovered Scott Avett had a gallery here of his art. How I missed this, I have no idea as my fandom leans towards obsessive. I thought it was current and ending soon, and because if Covid emailed them to find out what the policy was to view it. I was ready to Mad Max my way through the quarantined wastelands of middle America to go see this before it reached its end. The email back was a punch to the old meat and potatoes, cause I was told that the exhibit actually ended a year earlier. Oh the wailing was immense. The flailing and crying quite destructive. But then. A crack in the darkness. A small light of hope. The Visitor Experience Manager emailed me saying they might have an old catalogue available. She said she would look for this and get me back to me with any news This was a couple of weeks and I really didn't expect her to: a) remember b) if she did, to be unsuccessful What a great surprise today to receive an email saying that she found one and she was sending it to me. Can we talk about a birthday present that made my heart do the Bee Gees disco dance? White suite and bell bottoms and flashing colored floor. Virginia Ambar is a blessing and a golden example of going above and beyond. She has taken this old cynical heart and put a giant smile on it. I can not thank you enough. To NCMA, whatever you're paying her is nowhere enough. You now have an out of state super-fan and will be visiting you every opportunity I get. Kudos, kudos, kudos!

This is such a fantastic museum. I usually end up going 2-3 times a year for special exhibits- most recently for Alphonse Mucha and Frida Kahlo, which were both wonderful. They also frequently have really great local exhibits, so if you live in the area, it's definitely worth checking out occasionally and keeping an eye on their schedule. Their main permanent collection is housed in the bigger building and is definitely quite impressive, with enough to keep you occupied for a full day or at least an afternoon. The outdoor theater and sculpture garden are also great attractions and they have really cool shows out there. Lockers are available to keep your stuff in and there is a cafe that's pretty tasty for when you inevitably get hungry. All in all, I definitely recommend the occasional trip to NCMoA and will continue to check out new exhibits when they come through.

I wandered around the museum park with my family last month. It was hot and there isn't much shade so be aware. There were however ripe blackberries (with vicious thorns) so that was nice for a quick snack. I hope the art park will add to the actual art pieces since it was a lovely big open space but there weren't that many pieces to view. As for the museum itself, one whole building and most of the other were closed. So maybe next time I'll be able to see more. Museum is free. Parking is free and the grounds are huge!

After experiencing many of this country's best art galleries and museums, I can honestly say that the North Carolina Museum of Art has a selection that can complete with them all. This is by far one of my favorite museums with an incredibly diverse range of artists, mediums, styles, and time periods. Their permanent exhibit includes sculpture and 2D pieces from antiquity to present day. With a multitude of rooms and outdoor exhibits to explore, this can easily become a full-day experience. This is one I am happy to return to each year! Pro tip ~~~ I might advise to avoid Saturdays if at all possible, as the crowd may make your experience less enjoyable.

The NC Art Museum has been politicized and is not longer a Museum. Even the commentary on the art has a woke political agenda attached to it. It has been deconstructed and there is no consistency to the exhibits. Very sad to see it go downhill. Restaurant food was awful and chairs uncomfortable. What a disappointment.

COVID protocols when I visited had a whole rigamarole about reserving a time slotted ticket in advance, but the staff barely looked at it when I arrived, perhaps because the handful of people milling around in masks posed no threat to their capacity limits. This is perhaps instructive of the way that safe behavior is generally a bottom-up phenomenon from people's choices rather than a top-down one imposed by institutional rules. In any case, I wanted to explore. The gallery has two unconnected buildings. The older and more utilitarian-looking one had a floor of North Carolinian exhibits with some compelling stories, and an African art collection with a diverse set of media on display, as well as another floor which was closed. The newer and more impressive building had an entire exhibit inside bragging how it was designed by the same architect who did Glenstone, but I've been to Glenstone and it's way more interesting than this building was. There were a few highlights among the exhibits, but a lot of the sort of modern art that looks like a toddler did it, and contrarily some austere European pieces that have more aesthetic merit but of which I've seen as good or better versions in basically every art gallery ever. They were doing something called "intersections" where they'd try to put an art piece somewhere it wouldn't normally be categorized in order to be thought-provoking, which is a decent idea. Overall, I wasn't that impressed, and spent less than an hour between the two buildings. The other important thing to note is that the surrounding grounds connect with local greenway trails, and include some outdoor spaces with a few art objects as well. I got rained on, but it's definitely worth taking a walk around on a nice day. And you can enjoy the fresh air unmasked if you're socially distant (despite signs to the contrary).