The Museum List
Museums on this list were chosen using the following criteria. First, museums had to have a good (or great) collection of figurative sculpture. Second, we looked for museums that are still collecting and researching sculpture from American artists. Third, we sought out museums that are actively exhibiting sculpture. We hope are list helps you discover some new places to visit.
MID-ATLANTIC
ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ART
Albany, NY
www.albanyinstitute.org
Eclectic collection of figurative art; extensive library relating to art, history, and culture
CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART
Pittsburgh, PA
www.carnegieart.org
Broad range of sculpture from figurative to abstraction spanning 19th-century through present
DELAWARE ART MUSEUM
Wilmington, DE
www.delart.org
Sculpture garden and collection of works from 19th-century to present
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS
Washington, D.C.
https://nmwa.org/
Diverse collection in recently remodeled building; actively collecting women sculptors
PALMER MUSEUM OF ART
University Park, PA
www.palmermuseum.psu.edu
A growing collection of nearly 11,000 objects, representing a diversity of cultures, spanning centuries of art
SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
Washington, D.C.
www.si.edu/museums/american-art-museum
The nation’s first collection of American art; 19th, 20th-century art through present
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
New York, NY
https://www.metmuseum.org
Mecca for historic figurative sculpture, ancient through 20th-century
THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART
Newark, NJ
www.newarkmuseumart.org
Large collection of sculpture from the 19th-century to present day
JAMES A MICHENER ART MUSEUM
Doylestown, PA
www.michenerartmuseum.org
Gem of a museum collecting both historic and contemporary American works primarily from their region
SOUTHEAST
BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM
Cartersville, GA
www.boothmuseum.org
Dedicated to Western art, they are actively collecting and exhibiting figurative western genre sculpture and painting, illustration, and Indigenous art
BROOKGREEN GARDENS
Murrells Inlet, SC
www.brookgreen.org
Large sculpture gardens, museum galleries, and visible storage facility; actively collecting American figurative sculpture; offers residencies in the Wallace Master Sculptor Program, temporary indoor exhibits, and various programs
CAMERON ART MUSEUM
Wilmington, NC
www.cameronartmuseum.org
Collecting with the primary focus on 19th- and 20th-century North Carolina artist as well as American art that helps put their regional collection in a broader context; sculpture garden
CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART Bentonville, AR
www.crystalbridges.org
Destination museum set on 120 acres, stunning architecture, collections, and exhibitions spotlight American artists; museum offers Tyson Scholars of American Art residency; ever expanding collection of sculpture from 19th-century to present
FRIST ART MUSEUM
Nashville, TN
www.fristartmuseum.org
Non-collecting museum that hosts twelve to fifteen exhibitions from prestigious collections, as well as award-winning shows organized in-house
HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
Atlanta, GA
www.high.org
From folk art to contemporary, traditional to abstraction,
the High focuses on artists from the south
MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART
Augusta, GA
www.themorris.org
Established in 1989, this growing collection focuses on southern states and D.C.
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
New Orleans, LA
www.noma.org
Nearly 40,000 objects and growing, this collection features artists connected to the area; twelve acre sculpture garden; they offer the unique Creative Assembly Cohort Residency
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART
Raleigh, NC
https://ncartmuseum.org/
The Museum is actively building the collection with new acquisitions, including a gift from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation of thirty works by Rodin, making the NCMA the leading repository of this artist’s work in the southeastern US
TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART
Tampa, FL
www.tampamuseum.org
Modest but poignant collection of decorative arts and sculpture comprised of approximately 350 objects, major American and European painting, sculpture, and clay
TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART
Roanoke, VA
www.taubmanmuseum.org
More than 2,000 works spanning American regional artists and folk art
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Richmond, VA
www.vmfa.museum
Worldwide collection with emphasis on 20th-century painting and sculpture; sculpture garden; research library
MOUNTAIN PLAINS
BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM
San Antonio, TX
www.briscoemuseum.org
Permanent collection and sculpture garden feature historic and contemporary figurative sculpture; annual selling exhibition features work by living artists
BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST
(Whitney Western Art Museum) Cody, WY
www.centerofthewest.org
Dynamic collection blends living and historic artists of the American West; an annual benefit exhibition of living artists helps support the museum
DENVER ART MUSEUM
Denver, CO
www.denverartmuseum.org
Vast holdings from pre-Columbian period to present, and prominent painting and sculpture by figurative artists of the Western US
MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART
Jackson, WY
www.wildlifeart.org
Comprehensive and thoughtful collection of North American wildlife sculptors
THE ART MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS
Corpus Christi, TX
www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org
Affiliated with Texas A&M; collection and exhibition schedule balances national and regional artists, and features entry level, mid-career, and nationally recognized artists
NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, Oklahoma City, OK
www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
American Western painters and sculptors of the 20th-century through present; annual benefit exhibition of Western artists
MIDWEST
DES MOINES ART CENTER
Des Moines, IA
www.desmoinesartcenter.org
Strong collection of 20th-century sculptors and a sculpture park
EITELJORG MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND WESTERN ART
Indianapolis, IN
www.eiteljorg.org
Exceptional collection of Native American and Inuit sculpture, American western bronze; museum holds an annual benefit featuring contemporary Western-themed art
FIGGE ART MUSEUM
Davenport, IA
www.figgeartmuseum.org
Fifteenth century to present with strong focus on midwestern artists
KRANNERT ART MUSEUM
Champaign, IL
www.kam.illinois.edu
More than 11,000 objects dating back to the fourth millennium BC to present with an emphasis on figurative work; check out their lower level visible storage
SAGINAW ART MUSEUM & GARDENS
Saginaw, MI
www.saginawartmuseum.org
Primarily focused on American and European artists from the 18th- through 21st- centuries
MARSHALL M. FREDERICKS SCULPTURE MUSEUMS, Saginaw, MI
www.marshallfredericks.org
The largest collection of Fredericks’ work, this museum showcases exhibitions of living artists and is a fabulous research facility
LEIGH YAWKEY WOODSON ART MUSEUM Wausau, WI
www.lywam.org
More than 14,000 works of art, including wildlife sculpture, celebrating the essence and spirit of birds from around the world
THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
Chicago, IL
www.artic.edu
More than 260,000 artworks and artifacts with particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, early 20th-century painting and sculpture
THE BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART Youngstown, OH
www.butlerart.com
American art collection with more than 22,000 works spanning three centuries
THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
Cleveland, OH
www.clevelandart.org
More than 66,000 works spanning 6,000 years, with a strong body of American sculpture
THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART
Kansas City, MO
www.nelson-atkins.org
Over 260,000 artworks and artifacts, with particularly strong holdings in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting and sculpture, early 20th-century through present
RACINE ART MUSEUM
Racine, WI
www.ramart.org
Exceptional collection exploring late 20th-century artists working in clay
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
Peoria, IL
www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
Fine art and folk art collections and archaeological specimens; sculpture garden
NEW ENGLAND
BENNINGTON MUSEUM
Bennington, VT
www.benningtonmuseum.org
Figurative artists of their region, historical collection showcasing area history through art and objects
CAPE ANN MUSEUM
Gloucester, MA
www.capeannmuseum.org
Set on an historic property, explore life and work of figurative artists from the region, as well as library and archives
HOOD MUSEUM OF ART
Hanover, NH
https://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/
Dartmouth’s holdings of 65,000 objects dating back to
900 BC to present; Bernstein Center for Object study gives students and faculty access to holdings
THE BRISTOL ART MUSEUM
Bristol, RI
www.bristolartmuseum.org
Emphasis on rotating exhibitions by living artists of the region and educational opportunities for patrons
YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY
New Haven, CT
https://artgallery.yale.edu/
Expansive survey of historically significant art collected over the last 250 years featuring nearly 200,000 objects
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON
Boston, MA
www.mfa.org
Global collection of art and objects including photography, musical instruments, textiles, and sculpture from the 18th- through 20th-century
NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
New Britain, CT
www.nbmaa.org
Focus on figurative sculpture, with several works by NSS members
WEST
COOS ART MUSEUM
Coos Bay, OR
www.coosart.org
Small, eclectic collection; museum has a rental/sales gallery program featuring work by area artists
CROCKER ART MUSEUM
Sacramento, CA
www.crockerart.org
Three floors of art with an emphasis on California artists, one of the largest international ceramics collections in the US
DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM Wickenburg, AZ
www.westernmuseum.org
Historic and contemporary Western “cowboy” art and history collections; annual benefit exhibition of women artists
TACOMA ART MUSEUM
Tacoma, WA
www.tacomaartmuseum.org
Focused on the art and artists of the Northwest in both its exhibitions and collecting with the goal to build the premier collection of Northwest and Western American art
THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART
San Diego, CA
www.sdmart.org
More than 32,000 works of art dating back to 3000 BC, exceptional collection of sculpture from the 20th-century
KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
Fort Worth, TX
www.kimbellart.org
Architecturally significant buildings house modest holdings of antiquities ranging from the third millennium BC to the early Christian Church in the fifth century
AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART Fort Worth, TX
www.cartermuseum.org
Boasting 400 works by Remington and Russell, this collection takes a deep dive into important figurative artists of Texas and the West