Countless art exhibits are opening across the U.S. Here are a handful of notable installations to consider experiencing.
Every year, from the east coast to the west, the greatest art museums and galleries in the U.S. install new exhibitions and encourage the public to visit, whether they’re coming from near or far. In the coming months, colorful works from the likes of Henri Matisse will be on display in Chicago, while St. Louis will temporarily be home to numerous Roman sculptures and frescoes that have never before left Italy — until now.
If you’re still trying to choose a destination for your family’s spring or summer vacation, or perhaps if you live near one of the museums listed below, consider one of the art exhibitions we’ve highlighted. Each one is on display to the public for a limited time.
Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | March 15 – June 28
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Art in Bloom — an annual showcase of floral arrangements inspired by the museum’s extensive art collection — “Framing Nature” is an ode to gardens. You will see cherished favorites shown beside works that have not been previously displayed, and the whole of the exhibit will have gardens at its center. Prints, drawings, photographs, and paintings will take visitors on an “immersive journey through a variety of cultivated and natural worlds,” according to the museum’s website.
While members of the Museum of Fine Arts gain free entry, non-members must purchase tickets prior to entry. This will allow you to see a vast collection that spans historical works from the ancient world to contemporary art. Additionally, tickets are required to view “Framing Nature,” so be sure to purchase yours in advance to guarantee entry when you visit.
Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience
National Gallery of Art, Washington | April 11 – September 30
“What does it mean to be American?” Using more than 100 iconic photographs, prints, and drawings, some of the foremost creative minds in American history attempt to answer this difficult question. The pieces in the exhibition span from the 19th century to present day and serve as a visual road trip. Key contributors, such as Ansel Adams, showcase distant destinations and familiar attractions from every corner of the country.
Washington’s most visited museum also boasts an astounding collection of American and European masterpieces, including those from the Renaissance and modern day. Better yet, entry to the National Gallery of Art is always free to the public.
Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color
Art Institute of Chicago | March 7 – June 1
Considered among the great French artists of the 1900s, Henri Matisse spent the better part of his career as a painter, printmaker, and sculptor. Then, when bedridden and in the waning years of his life, he turned to a new medium: vibrant paper collage. “Matisse’s Jazz” is a 20-piece collection which, according to the Art Institute’s website, captures his “memories of Parisian music halls, the circus, trips to Tahiti, folktales, and mythology.” The collected works caused an immediate sensation upon its initial release in 1947 and bolstered the artist’s spirits.
Located near the portion of Michigan Avenue known as the Magnificent Mile, the Art Institute of Chicago borders Millennium Park and serves as a key cultural landmark in the city. For non-members, the museum requires visitors to purchase tickets.
Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan
St. Louis Museum of Art | March 14 – August 16
For the first time in their history, priceless sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, and artifacts are on loan from the Vatican, the National Roman Museum, ant the Naples National Archaeological Museum. The installment of this incredible exhibition marks the only time many of these pieces have ever been outside of Italy, let alone Europe. Coming specifically from the 19 years in which Trajan ruled the Roman Empire, the numerous pieces on display speak directly to his investment in art and culture as political and social tools.
Though the St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM) is free to all attendees — and is visited by half a million people every year — this exhibition does require a ticket for entry. SLAM sits at the apex of Art Hill in Forest Park. The park is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and, along with SLAM, includes the city’s zoo, history museum, and science center within its borders. Each of these destinations grants free entry to the public, so if you visit St. Louis, you can easily spend the better part of a day in the park.
America 250: Common Threads
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR | March 14 – July 27
Tucked away in the northwest corner of Arkansas sits Bentonville, home to the stunning Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Among its permanent collection you’ll find work from such esteemed artists as Norman Rockwell, Mark Rothko, Roy Lichthenstein, Andy Warhol, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Running through spring and most of summer, Crystal Bridges will also be displaying “America 250: Common Threads,” which commemorates not only the founding of the United States, but also seeks to reflect on 250 years of American art and the role the community plays in artistic preservation. The exhibition includes numerous historical artifacts and documents, ranging from paintings, toys, and textiles, while also including an early engraving of the Declaration of Independence. Though general admission is always free to the public, special exhibitions such as this typically require a paid ticket for entry.
Fútbol is Life: Animated Sportraits
Los Angeles County Museum of Art | February 15 – July 12
As you may have heard, Los Angeles is playing host to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To celebrate this historical occasion — the United States has not hosted the tournament since 1994 — visual-effects artist Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. presents “Fútbol is Life.” On display for five months at the largest art museum in the western U.S., the exhibition showcases “sportraits” crafted from materials such as gum wrappers, glue, and paint. The works will capture real moments from some of the sport’s greatest and most memorable games.
Barrois is also an award-winning animator, and the exposition will include stop-motion animations full of life, energy, and a playful spirit, all with the intention of highlighting the world’s most beloved and popular sport. All visitors to the museum must purchase or reserve tickets in advance.
KAWS: FAMILY
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | Now through May 3
Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS, is most recognized for using a wide variety of materials to cast sculptures indicative of pop culture icons and contemporary life, often blurring the lines between fine art and commercial art. In this collection now on display at the San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, the artist depicts his 30-year career across the paintings, drawings, and sculptures commissioned for advertising campaigns and collaborations.
As the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th-century art, KAWS’ strikingly modern collection is a perfect fit at San Francisco’s MoMA. Not only is the museum one of the largest in the world when it comes to contemporary art, it is also home to more than 33,000 individual pieces. Though members can enter the museum for free, non-members must first purchase a ticket to the museum and the exhibition.
