As the weather gets warmer and thoughts turn to leisure activities and excursions, finding something a little different to do can be a challenge. For you lovers of original art, as an alternative to large museums full of tourists and overwhelming blockbuster shows, here is a short list of some of the wonderful collections to be found on campuses around the country:

The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas, Austin
As the largest university art museum in the country and the third-largest museum in Texas, the Blanton Museum owns more than 17,000 works of art, including works by European artists Rubens and Sebastiano del Piombo, while American and contemporary artists include Joan Mitchell, Mark Rothko and Henry Farny.

The University of Mississippi Museum
This museum, established in 1939, serves as a cultural center for the university community and beyond. Its collection includes Southern folk art, Greek and Roman antiquities, 19th-century scientific instruments, and American fine art.

Davis Museum and Cultural Center at Wellesley College
Just outside of Boston, this museum boasts an impressive collection with works by Andy Warhol and Willem de Kooning. It is open to the public, free of charge.

University of Iowa Museum of Art
Established in 1969, this museum has one of the top university art collections in the country. Approximately 12,400 objects constitute diverse collections that include paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, ceramics, textiles, jade, and silver. The Elliott Collection includes paintings by De Chirico, Matisse, Picasso, and Vlaminck, among others.

Colorado State University Art Museum
The University Art Museum’s permanent collections consist of fine arts and ethnographic artifacts. The collection is comprised of approximately 3000 objects in a variety of media including prints, photographs, paintings, sculpture, textiles, and ceramics.

College art museums may not boast room after room of masterpieces, but there are always small gems to be found, often in uniquely designed spaces, and surrounded by campuses full of great architecture and history to explore. So consider including a visit on your next daytrip or vacation. What college art museums do you know and love?

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

 

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