Identifies as women-owned
Yes
Blanton Museum of Art in Austin
Categories
Location on the map
Austin, Travis County, Texas, US
From the business
Highlights
Active military discounts
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible lift
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Amenities
Gender-neutral toilets
Yes
Good for kids
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Restaurant
No
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Phone: +1 512-471-5482
Site: https://blantonmuseum.org/
Site: https://blantonmuseum.org/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:Closed
- Wednesday:10AM–5PM
- Thursday:10AM–5PM
- Friday:10AM–5PM
- Saturday:10AM–5PM
- Sunday:1–5PM
Comments (199)
Excellent museum on grounds of UT. Unfortunately, the grounds are unsightly because of extensive renovations ongoing.The collection is focused on postmodern art, though it does have an eclectic collection including some Greek artifacts and Western art.
A very simple museum that take you an hour and half to 2 to complete an entire tour. The artists selection are interesting and worth noting. Works by some big name artists are also on display.
Last Friday, a few friends and I had some free time and we decided to visit the Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas at Austin campus.I am a lucky UT grad who also lives in Austin, but I usually would only be on campus for game day. However, I do love art, and I wanted to experience one of Austins premier art museums.Unfortunately, my initial impression was not positive. The Blanton Museum of Art is undergoing a massive update to its outdoor grounds. I am excited for what the future will bring, but for now, access to the Blanton is confusing and is basically a construction site.The entrance to the museum is now on Brazos St. between Martin Luther King and Jester Circle.Entrance for adults is $12, $10 for seniors and $5 for Youth and College ID holders. Parking in the Brazos Garage right across the street is only $4 with museum admission; however, you need to bring your parking ticket with you as you enter the museum.When we were there, they had a one-day-only popup exhibition, which they mentioned they do about once a month.On the first floor, there is an exhibit by Luis Jimenez, whose artwork is also on permanent display at the Denver International Airport.The second floors contains copious amounts of European and American art throughout the ages, and is well organized.I think you can probably see everything in this museum in about two hours, and that is if you take a nice leisurely stroll through.The museum didnt seem busy but had a regular trickle of guests over the course of the afternoon until they closed at 5pm.If you are looking for art in Austin, the Blanton Museum of Art should definitely be on your list, especially if you are on UT campus. If you are, then you should also check out the Harry Ransom Center and LBJ Presidential Library, which are also on campus and within walking distance. Across the street from the Blanton lies the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, so you really have four museums all within a close distance to each other.
Super cool spot, took about 2.5 hours to complete, good range of art and lovely building. Kind staff, free for veteran/military and students. There is construction outside, but follow signs for blanton museum, the entrance is hidden.
Excellent modern art collections! Also heartened to see the many pieces by women artists! Austin installation was amazing! Also enjoyed the history and images from the Black is Beautiful special exhibit.
Small but beautiful museum. Free with military & $4 parking all day if you parked in Brazos Parking Garage. Plenty of rooms to explore and get lost in on the second floor. Right when you walk in there’s a beautiful ombré blue wall. Would recommend if you’re looking for something to do in Austin, great option to get out of the heat.
This is a gem of a museum located in downtown Austin. I enjoyed my visit to the museum on a quiet Friday afternoon... It offers several galleries of modern art. I think if you enjoy art and viewing a quality collection, you will enjoy a visit to the Blanton. Admission prices are modest, but access is challenging in the construction zone that surrounds the building currently.
It’s a very small museum! It feels a little cozy compared to bigger museums like the DMA. It’s on campus in west campus so it’s within walking distance to the actual campus. It has different sections but it has a separate exhibit with cool colored tiles that glows different colors (according to the stained glass) when it’s bright outside. I went today and it was raining outside so the light reflected off the glasses wasn’t at its full potential but it was still really pretty! The pieces are selective! If you park at brazos and pay for parking inside its only $4 and it lasts all day! Admission for UT students is free but if you’re a student from a different university be sure to bring your ID so admission is $5.
A small but mighty art museum that manages to have a little something for everyone. Youll see pieces thatll confuse you and others thatll inspire you. Honestly the entrance when you first walk in might be the most impressive part. The natural light comes in from above and bounces off the blue tones which give vague feelings of the sea. I could have sat there and just taken that in forever. The piece entitled Austin is interesting (and most photographed as you can clearly see) and gives off a feeling as though youre inside a church. Overall, I found The Blanton to be inspiring and a creative breath of fresh air.
You can get in free here on Thursdays I believe. That’s a great time to visit if you get the chance. They have a nice collection of ancient/renaissance/modern/contemporary art, so they have a little bit of something for everyone. They are currently working on an exhibit or two, and the massive construction made the entrance a bit more difficult to access, but I can definitely recommend.
Its beautiful has a great view of the capital theres art from almost every period from many different cultures Id say its worth the trip
This is a nice museum with a small collection of American, Latin and European art. I would plan a stay of 1~2 hours for your visit.
I have never been here before. It was very awesome. There is a French exhibition that was very fascinating. You could spend hours in here. There is quite a bit of construction around the museum and it is somewhat confusing to find the entrance. Currently the entrance to the museum is on the East side (San Jacinto). Very nice. Currently on Thursdays there is no admission fees. However they are reasonable. Great experience.
Saw so much amazing art! No way can one get through the entire museum in one day!
This was my first time at the Blanton.. I went to see the Black Is Beautiful: The Photography of Kwame Brathwaite exhibit. I really enjoyed it. Your ticket allows you to view all the exhibits that they have. Looking forward to other traveling exhibits.
We really enjoyed this despite not being huge art connoisseurs. We all found pieces we appreciated and some that were confounding; I think the museum has something for every taste and also exposes you to styles you normally wouldn’t look at. Do park at the Brazos garage for easier access during construction and $4 parking which they validate at admissions.Picture included is of the Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, which is included in admissions and is quite beautiful on the inside.
A great experience! Some of the art is breath-taking and most is thought provoking, all of it is inspiring. My only complaint is all the construction -cant wait to go back when finished! Also, the upstairs galleries have a very unusual (confusing) lay out. It took me a bit to make sure Id seen it all. The maps are important! Overall I was impressed 👍👍
It was an amazing place, with people who care and want to help you. It was difficult to park, and although the Blanton has no control of the Brozos garage, since it was game do we were not allowed to park there, even though we are handicapped and had the tags on our vehicle to prove, this state owned garage refused us entrance because we were not UT Foundation members.
A beautiful space overall and a stunning array of both traditional and contemporary art. I especially appreciated the pace of the exhibits - each gallery had just the right amount of art on display, so a visitor can stroll at a leisurely pace and never feel bogged down or overwhelmed. Definitely worth a stop for out-of-towners.
Really nice museum (under construction so I cant wait to see whats coming) and its also non expensive.
My husband and I enjoyed this museum so much. Love the essence of the space and how everything was set up. My favorite would have to be European art! It’s so fascinating and to see the beauty of it all up close was amazing. Would definitely recommend this museum !
The Blanton Art Museum was our last stop on our way back to Houston. We definitely enjoyed the place and they had a great variety of art.The staff was friendly and the exhibits were interesting enough to keep our attention.Unfortunately, one of the buildings was closed down for renovations, but that just means well have to return later. :)
A solid collection that will give one a perspective on the visual art history, techniques, and ideas. Special appreciation for the chapel.
Wonderful, peaceful experience. Very easy to get lost in (in the best way possible). Thursdays are free admissions so take the whole family and add a little culture to yalls lives.
Getting tickets online was a little confusing but overall friendly people and a good experience museum wise. In total believe we spent a little over 2 hours here. Im Not sure why some say that it took them less then an hour maybe they didnt see the other areas? As upstairs can get a little confusing. There was even a section shut when we visited and it still took us some time and found It worth the price. We arent the kind to stop and look at every single piece either, but we loved the whole experience.
Great setting on the grounds of U.T. campus plenty of trees for beauty and shade. Parking available across the street at Brazos garage; pay at museum for discounted fee. Free bag check. Museum has eclectic art, from modern, to Central American, to European, and more. Layout inside is a little confusing so its easy to miss sections. For those with just a general interest in art, the entire experience can be done in an hour.
Such a beautiful array of art. there are so many exhibits, both interactive and not an amazing place to go and relax. we went on a sunday, parking is in a garage! you can pay at the gate of the museum where it becomes a fixed fee for the day. a must see in austin especially for the price.
Went on a free day (Thursday) with my older brother! So many incredible installations, exhibitions, and more on display right now. Was a former volunteer during my undergrad and can say that the museum is just as exciting as before!
Nice museum that is, as of May 2022, under a bit of renovation. Exhibits are broken into periods and areas of origin, which gives viewers a contrasting vision of how much art is affected by the time and place in which it is produced.And hour to 90 minutes is all that is needed to see all the Blanton has to offer.
You’ll love it here. This is a beautiful and meticulous art museum. We will be back!
Nice place to visit. Great art work.
Beautiful, well designed gallery with some interesting things to see, but i left without feeling like I learned or experienced something special. Im not sure why? Perhaps it was the current exhibits. Im also not a modern art fan, which there is some space devoted to this. Its worth a visit, but dont expect too much.
Exceptional collection - especially of Latin American artists.
Smaller art museum than others. Clean. Nice staff. Recommend buying tickets online first to save time. Also if you park in the brazo garage, bring the ticket stub in to get $4 parking all day rather than paying by hour.
This was an interesting museum. A must visit if you are into arts! Its got arts of all kind(classical paintings to sculptures, modern to abstract kinda). This place also has a building that is also an art installation. Pretty cool place to walk around and appreciate classic works of art. Plus, you get free access if youre a student at any University of Texas campuses. Just have your Id on you.
Really delightful experience. I loved the range of artworks shown from latin american modern art to ancient Egyptian, and the minimalist curation that was applied throughout. And the Ellsworth Kelly building was a real treat
Great place to visit. Lovely paintings. I would not go or recommend to go due to the condescending childish staff. The person who checks you in before you enter was nasty. Raised her voice due to the 6Feet rule, regardless I was at 6 feet. I asked her about the student discount. She explained it with a difficult tone and could not clearly explain if grad students qualified. After asking 3 more times, we got an answer. The words I could use to describe her attitude. 🤮❌ We finally checked in and paid. She gave us the mask speech. Then followed us around for 1 hour while we were there and starred us down ever time we made contact.Great place to visit. Nut job staff member. Couldn’t really enjoy the art.
So I’ve have been to a lot of art museums now. DMA, Trammel crow, Houston museum of fine arts, MOMA, The Met, the uffiZi - whenever I go to a big metropolis (or Italy) I always go and visit their art and culture district. I’m kind of into libraries and art as a fun hobby and past time. As far as art museums go… this one ain’t too bad. It’s a little small but given that Austin isn’t a huge city that’s understandable. Their permanent collection is fairly educational and it’s fun to walk around for maybe thirty minutes or an hour looking at European art, contemporary art, modern art, western USA art. They didn’t have a lot of ancient art or stuff fromAsia or Africa. I’d recommend stopping by here then going to see the UT Austin campus. It pretty cool for a nice introduction to the Austin scene.
Tried to visit this museum today but it was closed even though google said the museum was open. The whole site is under construction but there are still signs pointing to the museum entrance which was fully blocked off. Paid for parking at the garage across the street for nothing. Super disappointed because it was a waste of time. Other people were there too trying to get in and were just as confused as we were.
Loved it. I brought my 12 year old daughter here with me and it was just perfect. A terrific mix of art that captivated us both. Each section was unique, well thought out, and breathtaking. What a great spot to visit again and again.Locals!! Keep in mind admission is free all day on Thursdays. Also, the museum gift shop is a terrific spot for reasonably priced, locally made artifacts.
This museum is amazing! One of the must visit places in Austin if you love art and museums in general. I wouldnt say the collection is exhaustive but definitely enough that you can cover in a few hours ranging from contemporary to modern. Some local artist and some legends in its permanent and timed art collections. Cameras are allowed without flash so remember to get them along. Very well maintained and you can see the occasional school kids and UT student classes here. This is part of the UT system and Thursdays are free to enter. You can park in the Broncos garage nearby and get the ticket validated for the day for just $5. Great for groups as well and solo and it has something for everyone. If you are on UT campus, this is definitely a must visit.
Great museum with a mix of types and range of art without being overwhelmingly large. You can enjoy the museum in one to two hours.The building itself and the interior have some lovely lounges and seating areas and nice designs. The first floor has some neat and now rare plaster mold replicas of some sculptures.Anything the size of a backpack or larger needs to go into a locker but they’re super nice and let you borrow a quarter to operate them then expect you to put the quarter back in the cup at the front desk when you’re done.Before you leave, check out Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin nearby.
Such beautiful artistry in many different rooms. We saw words matter where I plan to use the paintings that Ive seen and some of the works of art in a lesson plan when I return to campus. I love that it showed alphabets and poetry and portraits and words of wisdom. I love that it was political and romantic. So many powerful works of art under 1 roof. It was amazing.
Gorgeous museum, not super big but they have some amazing pieces! Really enjoyed our time here
Lovely place. There may not be many galleries/exhibits but for whats available, it was quite nice. Highly recommend coming on a 3rd Thursday of the month where additional features are available (heard a musical performance in the foyer that was simply the best). Even if you dont consider yourself an art aficionado, simply wandering around Blanton will leave you at peace with the museums open and refreshing vibe.
I would not be able to describe into words just how amazing this museum was. I didn’t want to leave! There were live performances scheduled throughout the museum the entire afternoon... and it was a Sunday. I was only visiting Austin for a short week and I’m happy I made it to the Blanton Museum of Art. Amazing pieces and amazing performances. Interesting inclusion of the space available and way to draw people to see different parts of the museum in a different light then normally displayed. BRAVO 👏🏽
My favorite museum in Austin. Been there many times. This museum will delight anyone - a lover of classics, contemporary art, avant-garde. I come back here constantly for inspiration.
What a great museum!! Lots of great artwork in the main museum but then you go outside. Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin” is a beautiful structure with a rainbow of windows that create beautiful designs in the room. Make sure to go at different times of the day for a completely different experience!
Rather Bland. No wonder it’s included for free as part of the museum lol
Small but a must place to go to when you live in Austin.
Honestly, this museum has a great variety of art and takes more than an hour to see everything and read the placards. I recommend it vigorously!
Very cool campus art museum with both permanent and rotating collections. Beautiful atrium area on entry. Definitely worth a visit if visiting Austin or University of Texas.
AAA rated it a Gem, which usually means its worth a visit. After going Im not so sure. Few pieces of note. Second tier artists. Large galleries and the special exhibit of Hispanic art was nice. Not sure it was worth braving UT during a football game afternoon.
Beautiful museum - we really enjoyed the Making Africa exhibit and the adjacent Ellsworth Kelly was amazing. The gift shop was almost as exciting as the exhibits and its nice that theres a café for quick snacking.
Great spacious art museum. I love the modern art section and their current Australia installation. The museum is free on Thursday and make sure to get your parking validation for $4 before you leave. Would definitely come back.
The art collection at UT is amazing, the architecture alone is worth a visit! We were also lucky to have one of the museum staff walk us through the design process of the Rothko chapel. It was fascinating.
An absolutely lovely experience! A perfect size; you can easily walk through the whole place in a little over an hour. Hundreds of works spanning from classic European, to modern day contemporary art, it has something for everyone!
I LOVED THIS PLACE! Its about 2/3 contemporary art, and about 1/3 european style art. Its free for UT Austin students, and discounted for all other students, and Id say its absolutely worth the price! You need to make reservations so the museum isnt overloaded, but because of that, its not too full and I definitely felt safe being there (covid wise).
It is conveniently located close to where I was staying @ AT&T Convention Center hotel. Theres a museum and a separate Cafe & Gift shop. The little Meditation building on-site is stunning. Inside the museum, ($12 per ticket) the architecture is very appealing and several comprehensive exhibits, all well displayed by subject, type of media, or date.Highly recommend.
I’m an artist so coming here was great! I like how it was small so I can go through the exhibits easily and not get lost. I also really liked the simplicity of the outside exhibit!!
Small gallery but has good events like music in the gallery. I liked the contemporary part but wish it were bigger.
Good variety. Unfortunately, all the first floor galleries were closed for our visit. Not much for the money. However, the Elsworth structure is incredible!
Really fun! So many styles of art, something for everyone to enjoy. Prices are reasonable as well, and you get a discount if you bring a school ID.
Amazing experience, Thursdays are free, so enjoy a bit of time and dive into the abstract and minimalist work at UT Austin!
Amazing collection and very polite staff. The works they have are awesome and of great variety!
A fabulous art collection that had a wonderful mix of classics and contemporary pieces. Spent about 1.5 hours here but couldve taken longer. It was a lovely break from the Texas heat and the staff was very friendly/knowledgeable if we had any questions. I will definitely be back to visit again and would absolutely recommend it to Austin locals and tourists alike. Theres definitely a little something for everyone here!
Love visiting this museum when Im in town. This time took my two sons with a friend on a Follow the Leader tour. What a wonderful, interactive experience. Must take it again. Love free museum day on Thursdays.
The museum had an extensive amount of artwork in many categories and time periods.
Really nice art, its a small museum but it was definitely worth the drive. Nice staff as well.
Its a high quality exposition of fine art - some of the best youll find here in Austin. However, Ive found the plaques to be particularly unhelpful to observing the artwork — perhaps even distracting toward a full appreciation of a piece. Instead of an analysis of the stroke, space, and color of a piece, I tend to read a bland narrative, usually revolving around social injustice, that falls short of describing the artistic value of the work.
Ellsworth Kelley’s Austin is a 5/5. The Blanton itself? 4/5. Overall, not the most inspiring collection in Central Texas. The Latin American works are worth a visit.
The Ellsworth Kelly Chapel is worth the visit. I enjoyed it even more than the Rothko Chapel in Houston. We parked on the garage for the Bullock Museum across the street, it was inexpensive and close.
Great museum with plenty of variety and unique pieces to satisfy everyone
Very fun and informative art museum
Nice collections
Centrally located with a robust collection of exhibits, visit on the third Thursday of the month for free entry and extended hours (open until 9pm). The staff were tremendously helpful and we moved from exhibit to exhibit effortlessly. My greatest regret was not going sooner despite living here for many years but I’ll definitely be going back for another free Thursday soon!
Lots of fine art paintings, a handful of sculpture and all without glass or obstructions between the viewer and the paint on the canvass. Probably closest Ive been without glass or rope / security between me and the art. I only was visiting from Philadelphia and I spent a lot of time in this museum I dont regret it.
Good place for artists and art lovers
Beautiful museum located at UT. They have a good collection of European, American and Latin art. I love alot of their rotating displays and my favorite is Salvador Dali. Parking is easy and on Thursdays its free admission.
I dont know, I suppose I was expecting a bit more. Interesting works but overall quite a small museum, mostly contemporary works. Still worth visiting as an art fan in Austin as its the best of what is available but managed to do a thorough visit in about an hour and a half time.
The Blanton Museum of Art is a masterpiece in itself.The museum is comprised of so many beautiful exhibits and artifacts.The place is really good option to visit with family..I went here with my family and the children in our family were very happy with this place. They enjoyed themselves and got to learn so much.The kids were so happy that they keep on asking about our next visit.This is a wonderful place.
Lovely venue for a wedding ! Gorgeous staircase and lighting. Interesting sculpture hanging overhead. View of the Texas State Capitol as we exited.
Very unique artwork !! We got free admission under our Bank of America card museum program. The entrance was just out of the world !
Excellent museum in Austin. Several exhibit halls feature contemporary art with critical or sociopolitical themes. Some permanent exhibits featuring medieval, Renaissance, post-Renaissance, and Modern art. The fee for out-of-town adults was $12.
One of the best museums I have ever been to with a vast collection and over the top awesome staff. A necessary stop in Austin.
Overall one of the most modern places I have seen. Love the layout of the building! Fun thing to do on a rainy day!
Really enjoyed this museum. I especially loved the Words/Matter exhibit, which included a lot of art work by Latin American artists.
Enjoyed seeing the museum but was very disappointed at not having any access to the gift shop. I always like to purchase items as a memory of my trips.
A very impressive little museum on the campus of University of Texas. The highlight of my visit was stumbling upon an Andy Warhol portrait of Farrah Fawcett, who was an alumni of UT, and a native Texan, born in Corpus Christi. Ill definitely go back for another visit.
You can definitely make a day out of trying to see everything and still have more to look at for a later day. The place is huge and their mid century fine art collection is insatiable
Fun visit, beautiful works of art, & some interesting things as well, gorgeous museum, & very friendly reception! We enjoyed!
Great selection of art! Able to go through in about an hour. Very kind staff.
There was a great selection of Latin art when we visited the other day during their free Thursday hours. Its a beautiful walk through all the exhibits and for the most part you can walk around without having to backtrack and miss anything.
This is one of the few best museums I’ve been worldwide.... very diverse art
I love the Blanton! The collection isnt the biggest, but they have a nice selection of different styles and time periods. I enjoy their special exhibitions and recently went to Ellsworth Kellys *Austin*. It was great.Theres free admission on Thursdays, and 3rd Thursdays feature events.
A very lovely art museum with lots of wonderful art of all eras and different nationalities at a fair price.
This was a very, very good museum for its relative size. Permanent and temporary exhibitions were great.
This is a cultural oasis in Austin TX, they have a totally-worth-your-time permanent collection and usually run itinerant exhibitions that are very well curated. Museography has improved over the years and there is a good effort to keep relevant and fresh throughout the year.
Thursdays are free admissions. Best place to check out.
Pretty nice museum, on UTs campus...Kinda stale though.Needs livelier staff thats kid friendly.
Great collection. Stunning entryway. Fine examples of Central and South American Art.It’s free on Thursdays!
The foyer is breathtaking in blue.
So much beauty to see!!!! Take your time because there is a lot to see.
It was a good museum before, but the addition of the Ellsworth Kelly chapel has put this place on a whole new level.
One of my favorite museums in Austin. Every 3rd Thursday of the month the admission is free and the museum closes at 9 p.m. The membership comes with lots of benefits! and they also organize community inclusive events such as street fairs and concerts.
We just left San Antonio and my daughter really didnt enjoy SeaWorld at all. She got online on the way home and wanted to stop off in Austin on our way home to Plano. She chose Blanton Museum of Art. When we arrived the Museum seemed too contemporary for her in our opinion and we tried to see if she would prefer the Bullock Museum instead. She was insistent on her choice and we complied. We entered in and went in front to pay our entry and the front desk clerk asked if I was Military and I explained that I was a veteran from 1988-1992 and she let my family and I in for free. Upon entering, A very nice man asked us if we had any questions and kindly suggested a strategy for us to cover the entire Museum. We spent an hour and half there and very much enjoyed the Art. Wonderful museum!
Great exhibits and had plenty of different types of paintings . Great location with nice views of the state capital. Parking free with student ID.
Amazing - when I was there the ground floor exhibit was closed but they have a wide range of thought provoking peices. Certainly something for most people!!
Amazing photography exhibit downstairs. Lots of renovations though at the moment.
Wonderful museum with lots of pieces! Enjoy exploring.
This was an extraordinary experience and visit. The exhibition and spaces are awesome. I love the diversity of artists displayed in the museum.As far as I am focusing my research on audience engagement in university museums, I have to mention two best practices I found super inspiring. Firstly I love the audio guide which you can get by calling a number from your own phone and secondly the guide Find yourself with questions to accommodate better inside the museum!Last but not least I do really appreciate the reflection room. Great job! Find more about the Blanton and other university museums at my Instagram account: @universitygalleries
I loved visiting here! Free for UT students, 5$ for other students and 10$ for public. Good place to spend the day
This is a really nice museum. We had a good time visiting. We bought the family pass it was cheaper. Parking was close by and only a short walk over to the entrance. I was there for a specific photography project but we are excited to go back and see more!
This was a nice sized museum where it’s easy to see it all in an hour or two, lots of large and colorful modern art as well as some older art from Europe and Latin America. Also teachers get in free and they have discounted parking in the garage nearby!
A beautiful place to hold a conference. The staff were very accommodating for our needs. The rainbow church looking exhibit is stunning. You have to visit this place when you come head to the UT campus! Thank me later!
The exhibits were pretty cool and the staff were very informative. Got to work on a loom project for a potential new installment to the museum!
An absolute must see. It is such a well curated and laid out museum. Very easy to enjoy and learn!
Loved the Black is Beautiful exhibit 😍
A museum that you can spend a whole day with.
Really enjoyed the museum. All the exhibits were on the second floor and there was a good variety of different styles of Art. We went on a Thursday morning, which is free, and the first reservations were sold out so we got the next at 10:20. There wasnt to many people there so it was easy to social distance. There might have been 1 or 2 other people in the room at the same time, but most of the time we had the room to our selves. Im used to the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art, so I wasnt too sure what to expect going to a smaller museum like this, but I was happily surprised. We spent about 2 hours there and covered most everything. Its just the right size. Id go back once they rotate some of the art.
Great museum containing lots of amazing art pieces. A little small but definitely worth a visit. Kinda of disappointed by the Ellsworth Kelly building given the amount of hype around it but to each his own.
Great museum for a date, only $5 for students with an ID. They change their exhibits frequently enough for locals to visit multiple times and see all new things. Loved it.
Decent museum but very small, hence pricy for what is to be seen. It is however very clean and well presented. And well garded, for some reason...
It was a very fascinating experience! A lot of beautiful artwork made centuries ago. Ranging from Christian art, Ancient Greek and Roman art and Texas art! Definitely worth your time.
Beautiful as always. The social distancing policies made sense and were easy to follow. It was nice to have less people inside as well.
Loved this museum so much. Plan to travel here frequently to see the rotation. Heres a couple of my favorites from my last visit.
A great art museum! Old masters to contemporary.
Made a stop here on our last day in town and it was awesome. We came on a Thursday so admission was free and the parking arrangement was seamless. Their collection of artwork was impressive, and the building itself was very enjoyable to explore, highly recommend.
Really great art museumFree for faculty and students. Great place to escape the heat and enjoy some art
Really enjoyed my time here. Until May there is a avant-garde Latin American exhibit going on. It was a nice journey through time
I love this museum! They show so many good artists. Only problem is it’s a small museum.
!! - Bring in you parking ticket if you park on the brazos garage to get this discounted parking.Beautiful and fascinating. I wouldnt try and do it all in one day, unless you have time to go take breaks. Im going to spread my visits out over a couple weeks of free Thursdays this summer.
Got in free on Thursday. Great selection of art from a most time periods. I am not a art buff but worth some time to get a little more culture on.
Beautiful space with some great exhibitions. Definitely worth a visit.
We enjoyed visiting here with some other family members when visiting Austin recently. The rotating exhibit on Leo Steinberg’s Library of Prints was really good and fascinating although we spent most of the time we had on that large showing. We quickly went through some of the upstairs but I have been to museums with much better coverage of the topics there.
Awesome museum, 2 floors and great art.
Nice museum and Austin by Ellsworth Kelly is beautiful. Wonderful gift shop!
Last minute decision to enjoy the Blanton for a Mother’s Day treat. You have to buy your tickets online (even if you are standing in the line). They will not take cash and you have to give them your address and phone number for contact tracing due to COVID. We were a little frustrated before we even began.Isabel saw this and took extra care to walk us through the process, explained the exhibitions available and really changed this experience for us. Her attentiveness ensured that we had a lovely experience and made the difference between never returning and putting the Blanton on our must see list for visiting friends and family.This is a wonderful place to visit and with employees like Isabel you are sure to have a stellar experience. Highly recommended.
I would highly recommend the Latin American Exhibit. There was so much unique art displayed at every corner of each display. Many of the pieces that caught my attention were the abstract workings of Jorge de la Vega and Romulo Maccio on the second floor. As well as the religious paintings of Christ that featured him as a colorful and bedazzled Jesus. Its fascinating to see the diverse cultural interpretations of life and religion. An absolute joy!Tip: Remember to bring a student I.D. with you to save a few bucks!
A beautiful museum, though small, shows off a wonderful variety of pieces. From American to European, to Latin America and more, the art on display are delightfully thought provoking some even being interactive. The gift shop/cafe was also very nice. I recommend if you have time, or are showing a friend around who enjoys art museums to give this one a shot. Its very clean, organized, and the staff are polite. Its a very pleasant experience overall.
Fantastic art museum!!!
Great modern art exhibition. Enjoyed coolness of the stained glass Austin building
Fantastic!!! Here at Blanton Museum of Art. There is an exhibit by Nina Katchdourian, called Sorted Books. Nina took books titles to create visual poems. At the end of the exhibit, there was a spot for visitors to create their own art. Great place for all art lovers and their families.
I Had a great time exploring this photogenic museum. I enjoyed every exhibit and would definitely return in the future.
Really enjoyed this museum. Its not huge but has a really great selection of modern, Renaissance, pre-renaissance art. The building also had beautiful architecture.
Unique medium sized collection in a college town/capital city. Its not the Art Institute of Chicago but it is decent.Very few people so we were able to view and enjoy the art work. We didnt go on a free day and is was winter time. None of the locals own winter coats/hats/gloves/snow shoes, it sounds made up but non-homeless people were walking around Austin pretty much everywhere wearing heavy blankets as they didnt own any sort of coats. Two random people asked me about my double layered thermal insulated pants, they had never seen anything like that before. So going in winter time is best as there will be zero locals out and no lines at this or anything of the other museums.We were in Austin for a few days. One day was the Alamo and other old church sites that are in the next town over. One day was this and some of the other museums in Austin. We got to see far more than we had hoped.Take aways:* Go in winter or when it snows. There will be no lines.* The Alamo was getting restored but some of the other sites have already been restored and can give a much better idea of what the Alamo would have looked like back in the 1800s. This Museum and all the Alamo/church sites in one day is too much for most people. One day for this and other Austin Museums and sites and a second day for San Antonio would far less rushed.*The Blanton Museum was a good few hours. They have a solid mix of artwork. Not many seats with backs so this place should be maybe morning of day two not hour 15 of day four or five as you try to see every last thing there is to see in all of Texas.
A surprisingly nice art museum. First floor has rotating exhibits, second floor is permanent collection. I got to see an exhibit on modern aboriginal art while there.
Im not a guy who you normally find in an Art Gallery but this was very enjoyable. The diversity of the displays, the layout, multi media experiences, was great. Good spot in get in out of the Sun for a couple hours.
Nice, but small, art museum. If you have been to art museums in bigger cities, you wont be too impressed with the art or range of artists here. But its a beautiful building and an enjoyable walk-through.
We were visiting Austin for Formula1 and explored our way to this museum. The ticketing staff failed to mention that the entire second floor was closed due to renovation. We paid full price and there was not much to see.
Cool art museum! The rotating exhibitions were personally my favorites, especially Derrick Huckabys oil paintings. Really beautiful contemporary art with meaningful stories.
A great place to go if you love abstract art.
Its much more than an Instagram/social media picture spotMake sure to take your parking stub for validation
Super friendly staff, beautiful building, and well curated collection. Was incredibly surprised, in a good way.
A mix of traditional and modern art, including the separate chapel. Theyre currently making some alterations, so the grounds and a few settings inside are closed.
So glad to catch the Words/Matter exhibition on its last day. My first time at the Blanton, surely not my last.
Beautifully curated exhibits, painless parking situation. The docents working at the entrance were very friendly and welcoming, though some of the docents roaming the exhibits seemed a wee bit stern and squinty. Maybe people really so try to touch the paintings? Nevertheless, a wonderful museum that one can easily spend a few hours in.
A wonderful art gallery. On the day of my visit there was a composer sharing his creative process and playing some of his music in the foyer. While I reflected on the Latin American art and language exhibit I heard the sounds of this beautiful music. That was very special. The main galleries are upstairs and were divided into historic European and modern American exhibits. I first went to the American exhibit and in retrospect should have visited the European exhibit first, the transition from political and modern pieces to classical and religious pieces was jarring. You could easily spend over two hours here but if you get overwhelmed by volume you may want to focus one exhibit and return again if time permits. Thursday is free admission (awesome) and there are many other pricing options available. The gift shop had a great selection of items for purchase covering a wide range of price points and while I did not visit the cafe it was clearly popular with numerous folks enjoying the food. I cannot comment on parking but can say that accessing the museum by public transportation was easy. The website is informative and up to date so use that as a planning guide.
Really enjoyed our first visit to Words Matter and the block party March 29. Fun bands....good food!
I love wandering around this space. One of the marks of a good museum is the ability to lose yourself in the exhibits. This one offers just that kind of atmosphere. Their variety of artwork is decent, not overwhelming, and their staff are always friendly. Bonus points for their Free Thursdays too, which offer my family and I the opportunity to visit without breaking our (tiny) bank.
Very interesting gallery, lots to see, give yourself plenty of time 😊
Nice exhibits, nice place
Free Thursdays as always. It had a decent showing but I was surprised it wasnt packed. Gorgeous art. Beautiful space. I am a fan of the classics
Beautiful, enlightening exhibit! Today, and also every other time I have visited. COVID protocols are excellent without interfering with your interaction with the art. Many places photos are okay and they will be happy to let you know.
This museum is absolutely beautiful. There is artwork from multiple time periods and genres. Overall there is a really great collection. The museum is clean and very open and spacious. I would definitely recommend going if you are ever in the Austin area.
I so enjoyed my visit to this museum last week. The art rocked, I was so surprised to find this museum in the middle of campus. Just blown away by the breadth and Ellsworth Kelly?? A delight! The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The layout was welcoming too—genuinely delighted by the blue tile in the big hall.
Amazing place. Very peaceful
This was so amazing to visit and walk through. I love the different types of art. This was one of my favorite museums.
One of my favorite places to visit once a month. The block party was also fun
Amazing artwork of all different kinds...unusual pieces from very modern to variety of ethnic works....just beautiful.
Parking is right next door and for $4 if you pay at the museum ticket place. The staff are very friendly and helpful. They have good collection of paintings and installed arts. We spent about two hours and enjoyed throughout.
Most enjoyable with a varied selection of compelling artwork.
Staff was friendly. I was very impressed with the European Religious Artworks. Try to get more European Art.The American Artworks, needs alot of help!!!! With Murals going up all over America, need to incorporate Giant Murals from all races of people, at Blanton Art Museum!!! That would be a big attraction!!!!
We loved this museum! Its rather small but a very nice trip with a very peaceful ambiance. Loved the exhibits and would definitely love to come back! It was a great experience and the staff was super friendly and helpful! Would recommend this to anyone spending a weekend in Austin and looking for something more cultural to do before heading to the downtown bars!
Wonderful exhibits, fascinating information about the works of art, and very knowledgeable docents! Vanessa, in the Austin House, was absolutely amazing! Her knowledge, enthusiasm and kindness made our visit even more enjoyable!
Amazing art museum located right next to the State Capitol, youll be amazed at the amount of period art thats inside.
A good experience. Very friendly staff. The art was incredible. I would recommend a visit ..
Free with military ID I need to get my military VS2001 to get military veteran on my DMV State ID cards by a hobo who likes to do art. visiting this art museum but I cant pay
Had company holiday party here and it was a super fun experience! Definitely recommend spending time here for modern art
Some of the best Austin has to offer! Free on Thursday! Bring the family!
Beautiful artifacts from all over the world! Looks small from the outside but reserve at least 3 hours to see everything because it’s well worth it. Don’t skip the Ellsworth Kelly chapel (keep your tickets) and see it at different times of the day, truly beautiful! The museum is free on Thursdays
Great explanations of modern American art. Exhibit includes women and non-caucasian artists. Includes works by living artists.Rooms to the left have classical European art. Its quite a contrast.
We went on a Thursday so there was no entrance fee. The exhibits are good -- on par with art museums at other good universities.
Cool place!
This far exceeded my expectations. We really enjoyed the aborigine exhibit. The stories accompanying the paintings were fascinating. This is been on my list of places to go in Austin for almost 7 years. Glad we finally made it. The collection of art was way more extensive than I would have thought and we spent a couple of hours walking room to room. I brought my kids, they are 12. When we were done we headed across the way to do the free craft. Excellent afternoon adventure!
First Museum I visited in Austin and I can say it is really beautiful.
The Blanton has a great permanent collection of art from various eras and styles, as well as excellent rotating galleries and pieces. The permanent pieces bear repeated contemplation, and the museum is free (as of this reviews writing) every Thursday courtesy of the Moody Foundation! Its also open late every third Thursday of the month.The museum validates parking in the garage next door for a very affordable rate, so its easy to stay as long as you like!
This place also has a building that is also an art installation. Pretty cool place to walk around and appreciate classic works of art. Plus, you get free access if youre a student at any University of Texas campuses.
Its a perfectly acceptable Museum. I gave it two stars because you have to compare it to the other art museums of the world and compared to those its not that much to be honest.
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Blanton Museum of Art 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-31Cute local art museum. Pretty quick walk through. Can do it in about 2 hours and still see everything. A mix of old and new with the art separated out into regions and eras.Free on Thursdays!! And discounted parking at the college garage next door. Don’t mind the construction, it’s temporary and the grounds will be so beautiful when finished.Here are some of my favorite pieces that were on display during my visit!
Review №2
2022-06-11100% worth the visit. This space has something for everyone… from European collections, to Modern & Contemporary, or even (my personal favorites) 1,600+ drawings and sketches! Just enough exhibits to keep you busy for a few hours, but not overwhelming.Good to Knows- No Bags, Backpacks or Beverages… they will provide you with a locker to store your belongings while you explore!- Construction… you have to pay *extra* attention to find the entrance. Signage wasn’t totally clear. But excited for the big reveal in 2023!
Review №3
2022-04-24What a time to be alive and what a beautiful art museum to visit. So glad we have Blanton Museum here in Austin, with one of the most fascinating art collections I’ve ever seen. Not the biggest museum in North America; nevertheless, collection is big enough to take about 2 hours to go through. Lots of parking options available around the museum.
Review №4
2022-06-20Beautiful space, entrance fee is $12 per adult + they have free tours(highly recommend). Museum space is not big but they have put together wonderful exhibitions! Everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend for visit!P.S. it was hard to find the space to park with the current construction in the area, I wish there were more signs as we made couple loops on search of a space.
Review №5
2022-01-24Really enjoyed this museum! It only took a couple hours to visit all the exhibits. Modern and Baroque seemed to be the main style focalization. Teachers getting in for free was a happy plus! Also, if you pack in the Blanton parking garage right by the museum, they will validate it inside for $4 all day parking
Review №6
2022-05-24Blanton Art Museum. Cover two must-see attractions with stop: Head over to UT Austin campus and drop into the Blanton Art Gallery. The permanent collection rotates so not everything they have is always on display. The lobby itself displays an engineering marvel with a massive sea creature suspended by a thread into the wall of water. I liked the pieces depicting early American experience especially the band of horses stampeding on the frontier. Satan Raising the Angels was not on display.
Review №7
2021-12-24Visited on a Thursday after hearing about how thats the free admission day and I had a fantastic time! You’re given a map and an option to listen to audio piece descriptions while you gaze at the art, which I thought was neat so bring your headphones! I look forward to returning to visit any new exhibits they’re featuring.
Review №8
2022-04-03The museum has a wonderful architecture and hosts interesting pieces for the public to see. The galleries could be better sorted and explained—especially because those with older artworks are mixed through many centuries and styles. The admission is free on Thursday’s and you can park in the UT garages.(The museum’s access is being remodeled so check their website for the access map, as it can get confusing)
Review №9
2022-05-31I like this place. Thursday is a free day. The elevator wasnt easy to find. The construction made it hard to find the entrance and it confusing. But...once youve made it in the building its a great place to be. Do not try to do this quickly. You have an all in one experience. Dont try to rush through it.
Review №10
2022-03-18We easily spent 2 hours here, and could’ve spent even more had we been less tired. Free Thursday was great! Missed out on the parking deal, but if you park in the Blanton ramp right across the street, they’ll validate your parking so it’s only $4 for a full day. Lovely place!