Nevada's art scene may be small, but it's also world-class. In addition to the state's several museums, many Las Vegas casinos host excellent traveling exhibitions. Galleries represent a wide range of artists, from classic masters to today's up-and-comers.
Museums
One of the best art museums in Nevada is the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno. Founded in 1931, this museum is the oldest cultural institution in the state of Nevada. The museum displays its nearly 2000 works in a unique fashion. Rather than collections grouped by historical period or style, pieces are categorized into themes around the land and environment. The five collections are called The Altered Landscape, Contemporary Collection, Sierra Nevada/Great Basis Collection, Historical Collection, and the E.L. Wiegand Collection. In addition, the museum features a regular schedule of visiting exhibitions, many centered on artists and subjects related to Nevada and the surrounding western states. The museum also runs the Museum School, offering classes in several different mediums, including clay, airbrush, bookbinding, and more.
Nevada's other three notable art museums all reside in Las Vegas. The state's oldest is the Las Vegas Art Museum, originally founded in 1966 as the Las Vegas Art League. Occupying 30,000 square feet, the museum hosts an impressive lineup of ever-changing exhibits by artists from all over the world. With a focus on contemporary art and design, recent exhibits have included works by Dale Chihuly, Marc Chagall, Auguste Rodin, architect Frank Gehry, Roy Lichtenstein, Larry Bell, and local Las Vegas artists.
The remaining art museums in Las Vegas are housed in two of the city's most spectacular casinos. The first is the Guggenheim Hermitage Gallery, located at the Venetian Hotel and Casino on the Strip. Part of the famous Guggenheim Museums in New York, Bilbao, Venice, and Berlin, the museum brings in extraordinary collections for exhibit. Exhibits over the past few years have included works by Picasso, Rubens, Renoir, Russian Treasures from the Kremlin, Rothko, and many more. As part of the Guggenheim family of museums, the artwork is never less than stunning.
The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, part of the Bellagio Resort and Casino, is also on the Strip. Visitors get their first look at fine art by admiring the ceiling of the Bellagio lobby, which is filled with over 2000 glass flowers crafted by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Appearing almost as a surreal group of jellyfish floating overhead, the large display is a taste of the artwork appearing in the Bellagio Gallery. Displaying exhibits on a rotating basis, the Bellagio Gallery culls works from the finest art museums and private collections around the world. World famous artists shown at the gallery include Picasso, Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, Monet, Faberge, El Greco, and many more. In addition to regular admission, the museum offers pre-arranged group tours and private tours. The gallery's
Besides these museums, visitors can take in a gallery at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. The Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery showcases artwork in varying themes, such as Japanese artwork, student showcases, faculty art, and more. The gallery also serves as a classroom and locale for special events.
Galleries and Art Centers
For those interested in purchasing artwork, Las Vegas and Reno each boast a number of galleries representing a variety of artists and genres. Nearly 20 art galleries call Las Vegas home. The breathtaking Galerie Michelangelo, located in the Caesars Palace Resort, offers a wide range of 19th and 20th century artworks, such as serigraphs by LeRoy Neiman, Erte sculptures, and paintings by Renoir. At the Art de Vignettes at the Fashion Show, collectors will find an eclectic mix of contemporary pieces, from canvas prints of classic New Yorker magazine covers to the East-meets-West paintings of Hu Jun Di. Reno is home to almost ten galleries, such as the Richardson Gallery of Fine Art, the Gallery DecorARTive, Sierra Arts, and A Wildflower Village.
Art centers provide another outlet to experience Nevada's art scene. The state's several art centers generally offer galleries, studios, art classes, and often performing arts opportunities. They include the Brewery Art Center in Carson City, the Sierra Arts Center in Reno, the St. Mary's Art Center in Virginia City, and the Western Folklife Center in Elko.
While Nevada many not have many large cities, Reno and Las Vegas offer a handful of world class museums and galleries showcasing some of the most extraordinary artwork found anywhere in the world. Visitors can enjoy local artwork and art depicting western life at several galleries and art centers, or head to the large museums for famous works by the masters. Although art lovers may wish for more quantity, they'll be dazzled by the quality of art available in Nevada.
Learn about the history of hand made crafts in Nevada.
