Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • 2026 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • Art Museums

Discover must-see museums, galleries and public art that celebrate heritage and innovation. From ancient art to modernist masterpieces and ground-breaking contemporary works, Minnesota is nationally recognized for its awe-inspiring art scene.

This major art institution, known as Mia, is often ranked among the country’s most comprehensive art museums. It houses more than 80,000 objects spanning 5,000 years, with free general admission to the permanent collection. See works by El Greco, Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky and Kehinde Wiley, best known for his presidential portrait of Barack Obama.

The Walker Art Center is world-renowned for its contemporary art collection and exceptional programming. Across the street is the free-to-roam Minneapolis Sculpture Garden with more than 40 works from the Walker Art Center’s collections, including the delightfully iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry” by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

A tribute to one of the state’s most famous sons, the mural by Eduardo Kobra – called “The Times They Are A-Changing” – depicts three stages of Bob Dylan’s life. Towering five stories tall, the mural features vibrant colors against a geometric background. Admire it at the intersection of 5th Street South and Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.

In Minneapolis, Public Functionary is a hybrid gallery and creative space known for emerging talent and inclusive community exhibitions. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona features fine art exhibitions inspired by watercentric landscapes and themes. In Moorhead, the Rourke Art Gallery + Museum houses thousands of contemporary paintings, sculptures and photographs, including works by African, Native American, pre- Columbian and Hispanic artists, along with international icons like Joan Miró, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.

Visit Brandenburg Gallery in Ely for stunning photography by Minnesota native and National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg. A second Brandenburg Gallery can be found in the opposite corner of the state, in the town of Luverne.

Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo, famous for his whimsical trolls made with recycled materials, has a new installation in the Detroit Lakes area. TIME magazine featured the "Alexa's Elixir" sculpture as one of the World's Greatest Places of 2025.

In Shafer, Franconia Sculpture Park features up to 70 contemporary works across a sprawling, family-friendly space. In Bemidji, take a self-guided downtown walking tour to see over 25 sculptures and murals. Venture out to Vining to see whimsical, life-sized creations at the Nyberg Sculpture Park, or spot 50 hidden homages to the area in the 70-foot-long Waves of Discovery mural in Perham.

Explore Minnesota Travel Guide - 2026 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide

Art Museums

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