THE CAPITAL CITY ART CRAWL: SMALL GALLERIES TO LARGE MUSEUMS
You’ve heard of the bar crawl, but for travelers looking for an enlightened cultural circuit, look no further than the Star City. Lincoln is packed with galleries and museums that are sure to satisfy your inner aesthete.
1. SHELDON MUSEUM OF ART
The perfect place to start your crawl is at Sheldon. This museum boasts a large selection of internationally acclaimed modern art and several captivating sculptures littered around its scenic sculpture garden. The exhibits are always rotating, so every time you return you will find something new. The Sheldon is a free museum and offers group tours booked through their website.
2. KRUGER COLLECTION OF MINIATURE FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS
This little collection hosts some adorable but masterful examples of the art of miniature. The pieces are historically accurate portrayals of English and American design styles that may inspire you to redesign your living space. This free collection is open in the fall and spring and visitors can contact the gallery for a curator-led tour.
3. THE GREAT PLAINS ART MUSEUM
Right across the street from the Lied Center for Performing Arts you can find a great museum that specializes in Native American art and themes around the Great Plains. As an extension of the Center for Great Plains Studies, this museum cultivates awareness of and engagement with the diverse people, cultures and natural environments of the Great Plains. The exhibits rotate several times a year and admission is free.
4. BURKHOLDER PROJECT
Right in the heart of the Historic Haymarket is this sprawling gallery full of art made by regional artists. The Burkholder Project looks little from the street, but once you enter its doors you will find three levels of galleries filled with amazing work. The owner, Anne Burkholder, is an artist herself and wanted to build a space where artists can collaborate to make great work and display their pieces. This historical building is a great stop for anyone looking for inspiration in the Haymarket!
5. KIECHEL FINE ART
Nestled between offices on O Street, you can find a gallery that screams “fine art!” Kiechel Gallery specializes in 19th and 20th-century American art, old master and Contemporary prints, as well as regional and national contemporary art. Kiechel offers three levels of galleries with a lounge on the 4th floor and a rooftop space where events like Husker football tailgates and yoga classes are held. New exhibits are put up every few months and highlight an artist's collection of works.
6. METRO GALLERY
Just down the street from Kiechel Fine Art is the Metro Gallery. Here you can find a vast collection of works including some fascinating pieces by Nebraska artists. But Metro Gallery doesn’t just present and sell art, they also host art classes through their One Rule Art School program, and they host Evenings with An Artist, allowing visitors to engage directly with professional artists.
7. TUGBOAT GALLERY
The Tugboat Gallery is a collective whose mission is to provide exhibition opportunities to artists in various professional stages. This gallery exhibits high-quality exciting artwork from inside and outside Nebraska. Located right above Gomez Art Supply and A Novel Idea Bookstore, Tugboat Gallery is the perfect place for anyone looking to find inspiration and explore the local businesses in downtown Lincoln.
8. INTERNATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM
The International Quilt Museum is one of the largest art collections in Lincoln and is the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection. Their collection includes quilts and quilt-related objects that represent more than 60 countries dating from the 1700s to today. The museum offers all-age programs and activities, virtual experiences for education and entertainment as well as guided tours and free visits during their first Friday events.
9. LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The LUX Center for the Arts is so much more than just a museum. It is an organization dedicated to providing art education programs fit for all experience levels. Experience classes in pottery, printmaking, painting, jewelry and glass and fibers. Exhibitions are held in two gallery spaces in the LUX center that represent only the highest caliber of local, regional and national artists. Before your visit, make sure to look at their class schedule and book a fun experience that you won’t forget.