Travel in America: Art Scene in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a beautiful, vibrant city with an infinite amount of interesting things to do. But today I will focus on some artistic activities since I know a lot about this because, as you may know, I am studying art history. Pittsburgh life is also often overshadowed by the sports element, but there is just as much artistic activity as athletic!

One of the first places you should go is the Carnegie Museum in Oakland; this is right by my campus and they have a variety of wonderful exhibitions. The have contemporary and modern art, including changing exhibits, and a selection of older art. There even is a Franz Hals! It is one of the largest and most famous museums in Pittsburgh. They also host the Carnegie International exhibition which draws in famous artists from around the world; if you can come when that is open you are in for a treat. And, if you are also fond of science there is a natural history portion of the museum, including dinosaurs, that is included with your art museum admission.

 

If you are fond of older art, specifically the eighteenth century, I really advise going to the Frick Art and Historical Society in Point Breeze. It was started by Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick, the famous Pittsburgh industrialist. She collected a large amount of art which is on display; there are Renaissance altarpieces, rococo paintings, and a few period rooms. They also sometimes have special shows, right now there is a new exhibition on modern porcelain production. There also is a beautiful café, garden, and you can even get tours of Helen Frick’s childhood home, Clayton House. If you want to see some nature afterward, the Frick Park is right behind the Museum.

Now, if you are fonder of more modern art I would recommend either going to the Andy Warhol Museum or the Mattress Factory. Pittsburgh is famous for being the home of Andy Warhol and this Museum holds several floors of his most famous work; it really is a must see if you are fond of his work. I also really recommend the Mattress Factory because they show art from a wide variety of artists with different styles. They even have many interactive exhibitions such as a mirrored room. There is also an entire floor that is in darkness except for a few, low lights; it's like navigating a maze. As you can see, you can have a lot of fun here and there is always new exhibitions going on! They also offer many artist talks and activities.

Lastly, I would like to invite you to come to the University Art Gallery at the University of Pittsburgh. This is where I work! The current exhibition was actually curated and designed by my Museum Studies class and features many Pittsburgh artists. It's called Exposure: Black Voices in the Arts and displays and celebrates the vibrant and diverse art scene in Pittsburgh.

These are only a few select museums and galleries in Pittsburgh; there are actually many more and also many special community events. Whatever your taste in art may be, there is definitely something for you to enjoy. If you could come to Pittsburgh, you'll have to see these and also check out some of the smaller independent galleries.