High Museum of Art | Atlanta

The High Museum of Art, located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the leading art museums in the Southeastern United States. It is celebrated for its diverse permanent collections, significant temporary exhibitions, community engagement programs, and architecturally striking campus. It plays a central role in Atlanta’s cultural landscape and is a key component of the city’s arts and educational scene.

Historical Context

Founding (1905): The High Museum originated as the Atlanta Art Association. Its goal was to foster an appreciation for the fine arts in Atlanta.

1926: The museum took the name "High Museum of Art" after Harriet Harwell Wilson High donated her family’s Peachtree Street home to house the association’s art collection.

1962 Tragedy: A plane crash in Paris killed 106 Atlanta arts patrons, including members of the museum board. In their memory, significant efforts were made to enhance the museum’s prestige and facilities.

1983 Expansion: The museum's profile increased nationally with the opening of a new facility designed by famed architect Richard Meier.

2005 Expansion: A transformative campus redesign by architect Renzo Piano expanded the museum’s size by 312,000 square feet, allowing for enhanced collections and exhibitions.

Architectural Significance

Richard Meier Building (1983)

Known for its clean white facade and use of natural light.

Includes a central four-story atrium.

Emphasizes geometric shapes and minimalistic elegance.

Symbolized a new era of modernist architecture in Atlanta.

Renzo Piano Expansion (2005)

Added three new buildings: the Wieland Pavilion, the Anne Cox Chambers Wing, and a public piazza.

Designed to blend with Meier’s work while increasing exhibition space.

Use of glass, aluminum, and soft curves balances transparency with light control.

Rooftop light scoops and light-filtering systems provide natural illumination while preserving the art.

Collections Overview

The High Museum’s permanent collection features over 19,000 works of art. It is divided into seven primary areas:

1. American Art

Covers works from the colonial period through the mid-20th century.

Artists include Georgia O’Keeffe, Mary Cassatt, Thomas Sully, and Jacob Lawrence.

Paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts that trace the evolution of American identity and aesthetics.

2. African Art

Features ceremonial masks, wooden figures, jewelry, textiles, and tools.

Highlights cultures from West and Central Africa, such as the Yoruba, Akan, and Fang.

Emphasis on traditional craftsmanship and spiritual symbolism.

3. European Art

Contains paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the 14th to 19th centuries.

Artists include Claude Monet, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot.

Focuses on religious iconography, Romanticism, and Impressionism.

4. Modern and Contemporary Art

Features 20th- and 21st-century works in various media.

Includes notable works by Roy Lichtenstein, Gerhard Richter, Kara Walker, and Donald Judd.

Explores themes such as identity, technology, and social change.

5. Decorative Arts and Design

Extensive collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics, and industrial design.

Notable for works from the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Deco, and contemporary design.

Highlights innovation in function, materials, and form.

6. Folk and Self-Taught Art

One of the most respected collections of self-taught artists in the U.S.

Focuses on African American artists from the South like Bill Traylor and Thornton Dial.

Rich in expressive and narrative works created outside traditional academic training.

7. Photography

Includes over 8,500 prints from the 19th century to today.

Strengths in American documentary photography, modernist photography, and contemporary global photography.

Features works by Walker Evans, Gordon Parks, and Cindy Sherman.

Exhibitions and Programming

The High Museum regularly curates special exhibitions, many of which draw national attention. These have included retrospectives on Picasso, David Driskell, Yayoi Kusama, and fashion-focused exhibitions on designers like Iris van Herpen and André Leon Talley.

Educational Programs

Toddler Thursdays & Family Saturdays: Introduce young children to art through interactive experiences.

Teen Programs: Offer studio classes and internships.

School Tours: Serve tens of thousands of students each year with curriculum-based tours.

Adult Workshops & Lectures: Cover a wide range of topics from art history to hands-on artistic techniques.

Community Engagement Events

Friday Jazz: Monthly live jazz concerts held in the museum.

HIGH Frequency Fridays: A late-night event featuring music, drinks, and curated programming.

ACCESS Programs: Ensure individuals with disabilities can fully engage with museum offerings through sensory-friendly tours and sign language interpretation.

Visitor Experience

Location

Address: 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.

Part of the Woodruff Arts Center, which also includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Alliance Theatre.

Facilities

On-site dining and a museum shop.

Wi-Fi available throughout the museum.

Parking garage connected to the campus.

Accessibility

Fully ADA compliant.

Offers wheelchairs, captioning services, and guided assistance upon request.

Transit and Parking

Accessible via MARTA (Arts Center Station).

Parking garage available with discounted rates for museum visitors.

Role in Atlanta’s Culture

The High Museum functions not just as an art institution but as a cultural cornerstone:

Hosts over 400,000 visitors annually.

Acts as a hub for regional artists and curators.

Serves as an educational resource for schools and universities.

Continues to expand diversity initiatives by collecting underrepresented voices in art.

Conclusion

The High Museum of Art is a prestigious and dynamic institution that embodies the artistic, cultural, and intellectual vibrancy of Atlanta. With its stunning architecture, thoughtfully curated collections, and a deep commitment to public education and engagement, it remains one of the South’s most vital and beloved cultural institutions.