Tucson Museum Of Art

My third fine art museum in Arizona, it's okay but of the three it is the least. The first one I ever went to was the "University of Arizona museum of art" much smaller than this museum, but a way more finely curated collection. I was impressed with the O'Keeffe, the Jackson Pollock, and the Robert Rauschenberg. Three major semi Dada artists. It was a much much smaller museum than Tucson but way more impressive. Of course my first favorite was the Phoenix art museum it was wildly impressive. But oddly enough southwestern artist Georgia O'Keefe was only best representative of the University of Arizona not even in Phoenix. This Tucson museum is beautiful architecture, went here on a warm winter day in December and there was no heat at all from the night before the inside of the building was downright frigid. There was a great contemporary show in the main gallery as soon as she came in beautiful giant abstracts extremely colorful. Honestly the rest of the museum was pretty mediocre. I had heard that there were some great European contemporary Masters of modern art, but there were only a few that I did not recognize it was pretty unimpressive to be honest with you. Still I did enjoy myself I went on a culture pass for free, so did drive 90 miles so? It was free parking the University of Arizona you can't park near the museum at all and even then it costs quite a bit of money to see that for parking anyway. I don't know I recommend it for the architecture more than anything and the parking is free it's very convenient. Don't go expecting seeing any famous great masters from Europe. There are some minor masters from Europe but not much. There is a display I think it's permanent in the main lobby of a Puerto Rican contemporary abstract expressions that is very very impressive, good enough for the MOMA in New York City, IT IS ACTUALLY WORTH THE TRIP JUST FOR THOSE, if you're into wildly colorful abstract expressionism and I am it was amazing. But other than that ho ho ho ho ho ho I was really expecting to see some beautiful southwestern landscapes mesa's mountain escapes Arizona scenery paintings this museum was sadly deeply lacking and representation of the beauty of the Arizona landscape very shocking there are a few pieces but not many at all. What's so many tremendous great local artists who do incredible landscapes some of which are very famous, much to my dismay there was nothing maybe 5 or 6 southwestern landscapes scattered throughout the or not impressive. Soooooooo Oh well. It's worth going to but don't expect much. It is about the right size for City of Tucson it is a nice museum. Good luck finding your way from the parking lot to the main door there are no signs. But once you're inside it is a real big City museum at least the architecture and the layout. The architecture is pretty impressive. So I could not give it 4 stars. It was hard enough giving this place 3.

Well I haven't been in a while but it was nice to revisit and see that the art has completely changed! I love how there was both modern and ancient mesoamerican art on display. There's a powerful temporary exhibit on migration with good signage. And the modern contemporary permanent exhibition selection was better than I remember.

Beautiful building with ice cold AC and a diverse collection of art. The Christian blood cult section was illuminating, for sure. We spent a little over an hour and were able to see the whole museum. 5/5 stars.

The Momentos exhibit was really nice, but I found myself taking more pics of the downstairs exhibits since they fit my taste more. The little guide with conversation cards was a fun touch and made us think more about the art. It’s a great spot for a date night, has an awesome gift shop, and is a cool, relaxing place to enjoy art during the summer.

I had a great time at this summer event and found it very enjoyable. The rotating exhibits were especially educational, and the guided tour with its reflective questions about the artists and their work added depth to the experience. I recommend it as a refreshing escape from the heat and a chance to meet new people.

Beautiful little museum that contains many varieties of art and art forms. It is laid out in a wide spiral staircase, with each floor displaying different art forms. When you enter, they give you a little map and suggestions for best routes to follow. But you really don't need that as you get the hang of it pretty quickly. A very modern, clean building that is user-friendly. We did the entire museum in about 2 hours or so. Recommended

This is a small but darling art museum, with a few notable classic pieces (a Mary Cassatt!) plus more contemporary art - photography, abstractions, Native American exhibits. A really lovely museum that’s definitely worth a visit.

Very beautifully designed museum with rotating exhibits. The structure is reminiscent of the Guggenheim in NYC as it spirals down with smaller open galleries along the way. Current showing a large amount of pieces from the Quinn family collection. Lots of really interesting portrait commissioned pieces from very famous artists. Basquiat, Warhol, etc.

My friend and i came after getting culture passes from the library that included two free entries. TMS is celebrating their centennial year which means special pieces are being showcased for this event. There's another showcase highlighting Latin American artists celebrating their roots and views during the current political climate. There were many powerful pieces that spoke to me and I highly recommend going to the exhibition!

Had an afternoon to check this out finally. So much old & new and outdoor & indoor art to see. I really enjoyed the Native American pieces from nearly all the tribes? Native American room st the very bottom end. Cafe was good- but got there late so they were a bit grumpy. Come eat earlier if you are hungry. My apricot cream cheese pastry thing was amazing. And my ultimate favorite discovery was the home outside that was long owned by a pottery family/ and is still being used to teach pottery!( the Museum owns and prototypes 5 historical homes) There was a shelf out doors to take something by making a donation. When I tried to pay -all the cash I had- the super awesome lady there was like, "here, take 2 things!" I got two amazing mugs and lost my favorite one to my daughter but- literally- I would come to visit that shelf if I ever return again. Loved partaking in supporting the arts at that level and having something truly unique and functional. The gift shop to the museum was okay. Staff was friendly. The museum was nice and cool.

Attended the opening of a new exhibit curated in the 60's at the cutting edge of pop/modern art. Quite a coup to snag this traveling exhibit. I highly encourage you to go and check it out!

One of my favorite museums! New exhibits regularly. The first Thursdays are pay what you want. It's so nice to have the museum open late and there is a food truck and other restaurants nearby. This is a must see.

Art is subjective. But I'm not sure who curates this museum, and why most of it is modern or politically driven. It would be nice to escape for the constant political atmosphere or the plain Jane modernism that leaves the brain empty and searching for more. Either way the incredible cultures, beauty, and vibrancy or the southwest, this place could stand out as unique. Not worth the visit.

I really enjoyed this Summer event. It was a lot of fun. Very informative, especially on the rotating exhibits. I really enjoyed the guided tour in the thought-provoking questions regarding the artist and the ideas presented on canvas. I would highly recommend this since it's a reprieve from the heat and you get to meet new people.

A blend of Native American and European art including a couple of Rodin statues. What captivated me more than anything were the Native American oil paintings and statues. I could have visited here for hours.

Yelp was invited to Momentos at the art museum today. I hadn't heard about this series of events this summer, so was pleased to take part in it today. We started with a little talk given by a woman who works at the museum. She took us into the gallery featuring Raphael Collazo's work. We stood around the first piece on the gallery and talked about what we saw and how it made us feel. Then we had a bit of time to explore the rest of the art in the gallery. We then moved back into their lobby area where we were able to make a candle with Di Luna candles. The rest of the time we completed a scavenger hunt in conjunction with Tucson Symphony Orchestra and walked through the rest of the museum. It was a fun way to get out of the heat of the summer and see some beautiful artwork.

This was a shopping day around the museum. This is a once a year event. Many many art booths. Glass art, metal, jewelry, and a little clothing. 5-1800 dollar items. No food court, but restrooms were available. We found some unique things for friends, nothing for us.

Took my 5 year old granddaughter to the museum today, and she totally enjoyed herself! We strolled through the sculpture garden outside, and strolled the paintings, and gift shop treasures, and she loved the kids room that had a lego table, books, colored pencils and paper to make her own art that was able to to clip on a line. I got a year membership, so I'm looking forward to visiting the seasonal galleries!

The momentos exhibit was so nice. I took more pictures of the others exhibits downstairs because the art was more "me". Upon arrival we had a small guide that gave us some conversation starter cards and it got us thinking about the art more deeply. The museum is such a nice place for date night and I loved all the curated gift collections in the museum shop. It's a nice place to stay cool in the summer. Such a beautiful museum with a great vibe and art for everyone.

Full disclosure..... I am currently very proud to be a part of TMA's docent program so I guess that makes me "affiliated". I'm posting this review before I graduate in May 2025 because loooong before I got involved, I was hooked on TMA! The galleries run the gamut of artistic preferences and styles. They have amazing permanent collections.... everything from indigenous to the Masters. They also rotate their galleries out every four months or so, in a way that makes it a fresh visit every time. They have public tours available for anyone to join on Thursdays and Saturdays (1030 and 1330) but they also offer scheduled tours and all you have to do is give them a call or use their website to set it up. The Staff are some of the nicest people I've ever met and soooo helpful. They also have a great gift shop which is filled with affordable items to commemorate your visit like pottery, glass art, jewelry, art supplies, cute scarves, hats, on and on! The Cafe next door (see my review of Cafe La C'art for more info) has the most amazing food but there are tons of places well within walking distance, so you could make a day of it. I go to TMA often, even though I live across town, because sitting in front of Rodin's Adam, falling into a cliff side by Renoir, or wandering around the Biennial to be exposed to something new is better for me than therapy! Remember that the art starts in the parking lot so don't just walk on by........ I cannot wait to be a bonafide Docent so I can share my love for TMA in person but for now, I too am a patron, I hope you will be too. Check out the website to stay up-to-date and make sure to sign up for activities or tours today. https://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org/tours/

We attended the Tucson Museum of Art on a Thursday night. Sure they have a Picasso, but they also have lesser-known artists with extreme drama of hair pulling, savage dogs, and a stern-looking moon. They also have musicians who play well. If you go on the first Thursday of the month, they have a few benefits such as a food truck and pay what you wish. I like how military members and veterans get free admission and a reduced rate for college students. The staff were friendly. I recommend visiting them as art is important for a community!

We went to see downtown and decided to check out the art meuseum. We're glad we did. We happened to go when it was free admission, but we still offered a donation. The art was very nice and easy to stroll around. The staff was very friendly. We'll be back when we visit Tucson again.

I spent three hours here yesterday afternoon looking at all the current exhibits. The museum has a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits, and also a mix of Latin American, Native American and general American art including art of the American West. There are only a few pieces by famous artists. Some of it is good stuff, although the text on the walls is annoyingly PC and obsessed with fashionable identity politics.

Received complementary tickets from the library (did not know that veterans were free) - you should check out the program at Library. Did not know what to expect as we live near the Smithsonians in DC, I was pleasantly surprised. The museum was much different inside that expected. It is very spacious with a very interesting layout and design. I love the flow and the modern use of concrete and the raised industrial ceilings. There is a large sampling of art and artists represented throughout from traditional, historic to modern. There is also a courtyard with sculptures. Meter parking is available on the street and a nearby parking lot with some beautiful murals. We enjoyed our visit and definitely worth checking out.

What a beautiful Tucson treasure!! The museum has three stories and it is reasonable to see everything in about two hours. I love the Southwest Art section and was impressed with the French artists. This is on my list to visit again soon! The staff was friendly and the gift shop is impressive! I bought some Christmas gifts!! I highly recommend this museum!

Today was my first time at this museum and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. My 12 year old daughter wanted to go to a museum and it's free admission the 2nd Sunday of the month so we checked it out June 11th. It was very quiet and peaceful and spaced out well. There were 2 art projects that the kids could participate in, which my daughter enjoyed. I wouldn't take younger kids here but over 10 I think would enjoy it. The cafe was so busy next door.

Yes, Tucson has a Art Museum. So many people are unware of this due to not going downtown or just lack of information. Downtown has a lot of surprise, which you have to know where to look. The Tucson Museum of Art has rotating displays with the main exhibits being displayed from the first floor and down a large walkway down into the earth. The Historic Block also has the gift shop and additional displays. You have to explore around to go into some patios to find all the art. There are free days sponsored by various organizations. It is a great place to visit. The current exhibit by Brad Kahlhamer, 11:59 to Tucson, is maybe not one for children, but it does create interest and pushes your thinking about an artist's exploration of his cultural identity. Free for Children 12 and under, Museum members, Veterans + active military, American Alliance of Museums members, North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) members. DISCOUNTS for Seniors and Students. Also FREE on 1st Thursday Evenings and 2nd Sundays (Second SundAZe!). Family activities and events. Don't forget to visit Cafe a la C'Art for meal or go to the other area attractions like Old Town Artisians, the old Justice Court Museum and January Memorial. There is a visitor center in the Old Justice Court.

What a great museum! Modern Art, Fine Art, Folk Art, Sculptures. Something for everyone. Very well laid out. No crowding of pieces. A very relaxed atmosphere. Informative. Wonderful collection.

This was a great museum to explore, with a range of different artwork and pieces. For anyone who enjoys art and likes learning about different cultures, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block has much to offer. We visited on a Friday in the late afternoon, 45 minutes before it was closing. With that said, the friendly employee who sold us tickets gave us a discounted admission price since our time was limited. 45 minutes is definitely not enough time to explore the museum. It's a large museum, but isn't as large as others, so is doable in a couple of hours if you really want to take your time. But I can see others taking an hour or so if you want to quickly browse through. For me, I love taking my time at museums, so I missed out on much of the artwork. But I was able to see a lot of cool pieces and learn about the Indigenous and Latin American artwork from this area. In addition to more historic and native pieces, they had modern prints, an exhibit of southwestern-themed artwork, reminding you you're in the dessert and classic pieces like Rodin sculptures and Monet paintings! There are multiple levels to this museum, located close to the El Presidio neighborhood. Parking was easy to find on the street. I recommend visiting Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block if you're an art lover, as there is a lot to see and admire here.

One of this city's most dazzling attributes is its support of artistic expression, and the Tucson Museum of Art is a tiny but resourceful powerhouse in expanding access to creative content. The First Thursday program is geared toward offering the full community the opportunity for meaningful access to the institution's diverse holdings. The events also host a happy-hour courtyard, with live music and art demonstrations. When we attended Patrick Martinez's "Look What You Created" exhibit, we were impressed by the captivating work and powerful messages for social equity and engagement. It's the type of show you expect to see in LA, Chicago, or New York, and it speaks to the team's deep commitment for curating exhibits that encourage thoughtful exploration of contemporary issues with immediacy and impact.

The museum isn't air conditioned in the summer. It's miserable inside the buildings you'll pay full price but risk a heat stroke going. Wait until winter months to visit.

Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) is conveniently located in downtown Tucson with multiple entry points (some of them do not lead directly to admissions). However, it is closed for two days each week, which may make your trip planning a bit tricky if you are not a resident. TMA does not have much European art that you typically see in art museums in the US, but its regional focus, such as the Latin American folk art exhibition, makes up for that because you don't get to see this kind of art too often. The Museum's Pre-Columbian collection is very good, though some interesting pieces of work were not on view when I visited. The main criticism from my visit to the TMA is that in a significant number of display cases, the artworks are not numbered, rendering it difficult to match objects to their corresponding label text at times. Additionally, as a quibble, I feel that seating is few and far between in some of the galleries. On the plus side, exhibit labels are generally quite well-written. Overall, although a modest admission fee is required to get into this museum, it makes a good escape from the desert sun for one or two hours. And did I mention there's a lovely café attached to the TMA?

I am not necessarily a 'museum' person, but on a recent quest to stay cool and do something fun with visiting family we landed here. The admission was free as my Dad is a military vet, and apparently during the summer they are free and so are their family! Given we love to support the arts, there is a donation box which we happily put money in given the free admission. The layout is on a block, with the museum falling in multiple buildings and a courtyard (which was under renovation when we visited) It is split up into many different "galleries" in the main building. I was truly impressed with the quality of the exhibits and how engaged I got in it. Lot's of lovely western art, along with some fantastic Indian and Mexican flavored exhibits. My favorite were the masks (not sure if they are there all the time) This museum is the real deal (I was skeptical) which lots of rich culture contained within it's walls. The gift shop is a must -- not normally for gift shops but this one had lots of handmade and beautiful items in it.

The Tucson Museum of Art was a great stop. We took three generations of our family to visit it. The layout of the museum is expansive. We covered a lot of ground (not all of the buildings were open, so we didn't get to see everything) over a two hour period. The exhibits on display were definitely thought provoking and got us talking about topics that may not have come up otherwise. I'm glad we made the trip there for the discussions it invoked. Wear comfortable shoes and plan enough time to really soak everything in!

Surprisingly broad collection, with both local and far reaching pieces, a beautiful little museum. Don't visit Tucson without going.

We like to visit art museums in any city we can and we enjoyed the Tucson Museum of Art. It has a nice mix of new and old, contemporary/modern and ancient pieces. The museum itself is nicely designed and not very big. At first we were hesitant about parking at a 2hr meter on the street, which is the only parking available, however, it was plenty of time for the size of this museum. We had plenty of time left over. We did have to move to find a second spot because the first meters we tried to park at were coming up as invalid when there was clearly an open spot. I also wish every city in AZ would use the same parking app. It's annoying to download these different apps every time you want to park somewhere nowadays.

Our family really enjoyed our visit to the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. The museum's exhibition gallery design promotes good flow, and the variety in the collection is good. Is it the Met in New York or the Louvre in Paris? No, but a lovely way to spend a few hours out of the heat or on a rainy day. Of special note during our visit was the Western Sublime: Majestic Landscapes of the American West exhibit with work from Ansel Adams and Thomas Moran to more modern Native American artists like Shonto Begay and Kay Walkingstick. Well worth the trip!

Decided to explore the town and stopped by this museum. The best time for me to visit during the week and it was awesome. There is construction going on and when you purchase your ticket you will be told where to go and given a site map. There are 3 levels in the main building and stairs or an elevator to reach the galleries. My favorite gallery was the bottom floor because there's Western art and I love seeing the cowboys, cactus, horses and Native Americans. What tickled me was one with a bucking bronco and the cowboy kicked out of his saddle. When you move the next space had Rodin sculptures. I've seen pictures but never in person. The sculptures were fascinating. The top floor had Modern Art. I have to confess that's just not my favorite style but some I found quite interesting. Overall I enjoyed the sculptures here on all the floors and when the new construction is completed I plan on returning . Small but a nice gem in Tucson.

The art is amazing. The diversity of art is incredible. The only thing I didn't appreciate was literally being asked to leave the cafe at 3pm while we rested outside in the table area. If the museum is open till 5pm, the cafe needs to be open till 5pm. Also, the museum staff is a little antisocial; very Gestapo-like; watching your every move with these big wide serious eyes. To be honest that became a little uncomfortable. I hope next time I bring my grandmother early enough so that she will be able to rest and have a coffee halfway through the museum instead of being asked to leave.

The museum is pretty small but they do have a lot of wonderful art. They also have some questionably art so take that as you will. The gift shop is very cute and staff is nice. They don't let you bring backpacks in but they do give you a free locker. I think it's worth the price of coming here.

I went to check out the 30 American Exhibit on its last day at the museum. 2nd Sundays and the 1st Thursday of the month are free to Arizona residents so that was a plus. They also offer crafts on the 2nd Sundays as well. The gift shop features trinkets, art and jewelry from local artist for sale. The museum is small but not necessarily intimate but spacious. There is ample parking in the street or in the metered parking lots. There is also more than one entrance so park on either side. The staff was friendly and the exhibit was exquisite and honestly not something I expected in a Tucson museum, welcomed surprise.

The museum has a broad range from historic South American art to contemporary local artists. That being said, the collections give a taste of the different areas but don't go particularly deep in any of them to give a rich background on what you see. I also found the main traveling exhibit from Olivier Mosset with the large monochromes uninspiring or particularly artistic (think large black canvas rectangle, three large yellow circles) and many of the permanent collection fell flat for me. Art is in the eye of the beholder, but at other museums typically the art inspires reflection or new ideas (vs what you see is what you get). One image that was our favorite was of Native American kids running through a field of modern windmills.

The museum had a very nice display of artwork, sculptures, and textiles from around the country. Nice and cool inside made for a perfect day to avoid the hot AZ sun. Museum is set up pretty cool, so you can zoom through the exhibits in a nice approach all the way down the walk way and return to the other attraction via the elevator. Had a great time here and scored some cool artsy souvenirs.

The Tucson MoA is a great way to shelter from the blistering mid-day sun and kill a couple-few hours. It's the perfect size; you can manage the whole thing in half of an afternoon. There's a good mix of two- and three-dimensional work, and they change up exhibits relatively often. Military admission is free, and there are discounts for students and several other demographics. The attached Cafe ala C'Art offers great food and a really nice little shaded patio for pre-browsing breakfast or post-visit peckishness!

This is one of the most beautiful museums I've ever been to! It was nice seeing pieces I've never seen before from cultures and history I never knew about! I would definitely come back and even bring a friend. I'm not much of a museum person but this was a wonder experience and I would definitely come back.

When I visit the Tucson Museum of Art, I always feel like I'm entering a silver mine. Once inside the main section of the museum, daylight has been banished and canned lights hang from a black ceiling like flashlights. Dimly-lighted art on display surrounds a Brutalist-style ramp that descends into the ground below. Nuggets of art await the visitor in subterranean galleries. It's an odd gallery experience and the interior could certainly use a design overhaul. Poor lighting, shadows, and really bad plexiglass cases make viewing the works on display challenging. Why do I gladly return? This isn't a stellar collection, to be sure; however, like a miner with a pickaxe, diligence pays off and you can be pleasantly rewarded with some wonderful gems. For example, I saw a small painting of a tavern scene that Pablo Picasso created when he was just 16 years old. I've seen some expansive Picasso exhibitions and none had such an early painting. Louise Nevelson was an artist known for her large wall-mounted monochromatic assemblages of found objects. On display here were two of her small, simple pieces: a cat and dog. There's more to see here, too. The museum also maintains an historic block of buildings that display other small collections of art and offer art education opportunities. That's an incredible resource for the local community.

Glad we came in and checked it out while in the area. Not crazy big but a good selection of holdings and exhibits . Liked the rooms and vibe . Nice that veterans come in free . Check out the cafe too. Very good as well. Excellent location .

This place is a quiet gem. It was so much more than what we expected. Masterful artworks are carefully displayed. I'm no art expert but I found this museum to be an excellent way to spend a relaxing few hours. Although as an introvert I found myself exhausted after exploring the many displays. Go if you haven't been! We also enjoyed salad for lunch at the attached café.

TMA is a great institution and is only getting better with a recent renovation, really unique temporary exhibitions, and a completely new installation of artworks from their permanent collections. There is something for everyone here: modern art and old masters, great selection of folk art and craft with an emphasis on Latin America, and an impressive amount of work from notable and diverse contemporary and living artists. There is A LOT to see! Some of my favorites from my last visit were a large-scale print by groundbreaking feminist artist Harmony Hammond, a mysterious photo from Graciela Iturbide, and one of Nick Cave's giant, over-the-top soundsuits (definitely Google it, and then hurry to the museum because I think it's only here on loan!) There are also historic homes from different eras to check out, and a "creative space" with activities and community art on display (this is kind of hard to find, tucked away in the same wing as the new gift shop). I personally like the Casa Cordova which has an amazing GIANT handmade nacimiento/nativity diorama (great for kids and a game of "I spy...") and displays about the impacts of urban renewal in Tucson's barrio. They do free evenings and free Sundays, each once a month, usually with performances, art projects, and sometimes food/drinks for sale.

I'm a huge fan of art and I love bringing my family to this museum. They have exhibitions and feature artists a lot and their classic art section is very educational. Also, they offer military/veteran families free entrance so it's a nice place to go if you have a limited budget. I highly recommend that every Tucsonian goes at least once.

It seems like this is a small-scale museum, so I hesitate to be too harsh in my review. There were a couple of interesting exhibits when we visited. However, the museum does not have an extensive collection on display. It is worth a 30 minute visit if you are in the area, but I wouldn't plan my day around it.

I really enjoyed visiting this museum! I've been to a variety of art museums across the U.S. but this is by far one of the best. My partner and I were greeted with warm welcomes and I am glad they enforced their mask mandate. One thing I really appreciated was that they made their effort to be truly accessible to all. They had a ramp and wheelchairs for guests. They also had a little place for drinks such as coffee so you don't have to throw it away! The student discount was really great -- make sure to bring your college ID. The exhibits were gorgeous and I loved the layout of the exhibits. Very unique. The main exhibit spirals down into the basement and there is also an elevator for those who don't want to do that. Great place and I'd love to go back. Highly recommend to those interested!

Second time I've been to Tucson, second time I've been to this museum. They have a great mix of exhibits and admission to some historic buildings on the block is included. Wandering the block and the sculpture gardens is also a delight-- especially if you don't get to experience the Southwest plaster/adobe mixed with big cacti much. I also love the little cafe in the same block- Not TOO big of a museum, worth your time even if you only have a couple of hours.

I enjoyed this museum, the exhibits were cool. I haven't seen much Latin American Art so it was really cool. I also enjoyed all the descriptions and walk through history that this museum provided. I would recommend this museum to anyone interested in Latin American art. The featured artist was also really cool.

Even though we felt the current exhibition was well done, we found much of the other exhibits to be disjointed and poorly put together. We are avid art enthusiast and visit numerous museums and galleries so we feel we are qualified to make a judgement on what we saw. One other review I read said she found the signage to cast a political viewpoint on the theme, artists and subjects that reflected to much on the opinion of the writer instead of letting the viewer come up with their own interpretation. I would agree with this. Also, at one point while my husband was viewing a painting by Renior, a docent yelled loudly down from the balcony that he was standing too close to the painting. Not only was this embarrassing and rude, it left us with a bad feeling and we left the museum. I don't recommend this museum except perhaps for their current exhibition, and if you would like to spend your afternoon seeing some great blown glass work instead, go to the Philabaum Glass Gallery, https://philabaumglass.com/

This place is a joke. First of all, it's so small that hardly any art can fit in it, the design is from the 70's so expect curved interior walkways ala Guggenheim (NYC). What art that is here usually deals with dumb cowboys or cheap abstract "ism" done by some wealthy recluse who thinks their art is fabulous. They spend about $23 million on an extension, that is four feet by 8 feet it seems, just to get in a small overpriced art store & toilet inside. Art snobs only go here, judging from the strong perfume smell. Staff are volunteer snobbish senior citizens who are sticklers for detail, "Sonny, wear your art sticker at ALL times!" They should tear the whole place down and build a real Museum of Art but in Tucson, that would take 75 years and the art would probably offend everyone.

Wow, some of these reviews are harsh. I think people forget that they're in Tucson, not a major city in the country. For us to even have an art museum, especially one as nice as the Tucson Museum of Art, is a huge plus and should be appreciated. Just because you don't like their current exhibits doesn't mean it's not art and it's worth tearing the building down in disgust. As a person who appreciates art, I appreciate the effort that this museum puts into giving the community art. They don't get a ton of funding so they do what they can. If you want better, donate to them and put your money where your mouth is. All that being said, the Tucson Museum of Art is one of my favorite places in Tucson. At least a few times a year, they have exhibits that interest me and my husband. They often have extremely popular and great artists on display, as well as great local artists. Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, just to name a few. The collections are not always very large, but they're decent, and for some people, they're a once in a lifetime chances to see original works of art by the great artists of the past. Their website does a great job of listing past, present, and future exhibits with their starting and ending dates, which helps us plan trips there. The museum itself is very clean and cared for. The staff has always answered our questions and have never been rude about it. They're not the most talkative people on the planet, but I don't mind, because I don't really want to chit chat anyway. The gift shop is just ok. They have lots of little southwestern knick-knack type things. I would like to see more gifts related to the artists currently on display. When they had the Ansel Adams collection a few years ago, the gift shop had a ton of smaller reproduction photos for sale. I haven't seen anything like that since for any of the other artists we've seen the works of there. So, that's a bit of a let-down for us. But not a huge deal. My least favorite part of the museum is the separate building that is used for mainly Western art. (during the holidays it has El Nacimiento). I'm not a huge fan of it, and I like variety, so I'd like to see something else in that building soon. They have a private parking lot which has never been too full for us to find parking in, and it's free and close to the museum itself. Their fees are fair. Membership is actually a good option if you go frequently. As a member, you also get invited to other exclusive events, and you get special perks for things like their Millionaire Raffle. Overall, for a city like Tucson, the Tucson Museum of Art is a decent museum. They can only get better with support from the community, so visit them or donate if you want to see more in the future. Regardless, if you appreciate art even a little, it's worth a trip there once a year.