akron art museum

Akron Art Museum has stunning building and beautiful artworks. I was very impressed with the exhibition of Ohio artists. The museum has nice reading room with good selection of books for kids and adults. The museum isn't big but has special atmosphere and I will be back again. Tickets are $7 and kids up to 17 y.o. free.

We have seen some nice exhibits here. Not sure what comprises their permanent collection but the shows that we attended were good in a very pleasant architecturally pleasing building.

While the quantity of art on display is not that great the quality is outstanding. They have clearly made excellent curatorial choices. About 20% of the art is modern; the rest very contemporary.There were lots of pieces that I could look at every day.

Very well curated changing exhibits and some fine contemporary artists displayed. Free admission on Thursdays and have music during the summer months on the 3rd Thursdays along with lectures year round on the same day. Nice Stankard glass permanent exhibit.

As we drove up, we loved the architecture of the building, the hanging red balls, were really cool. We were surprised at how small the interior actually was, there was some nice art to enjoy seeing there, but you can walk through the entire place in just a short time. Having been to other art museums, we were really kinda disappointed. The best thing here is definitely the building itself...

The Museum has an excellent collection of contemporary and modern art with galleries displaying works of major artists from the late 1800's to present. We have enjoyed repeated visits. New and traveling exhibits are constant rewards.

The O. Winston Link exhibit was enjoyable, although small. Wish there'd been more to see of his work.The rest of the museum was rather nondescript.

This small museum features intriguing architecture inside and out. The art is unusual, but if you maintain an open mind, it will have an effect on you, as art does. There is a nice gift shop, and a cafe. A couple of tables have building sets to try out. Galleries feature tables and chairs with books to find out more about the artists and art works.Yes, there are rules. They are delineated on the brochure you are given at the ticket counter. These are no different than any other art museum I have ever been in. There are lockers to use in the lobby, and a free coat rack. Also wheelchairs.

or wannabes, like yours truly - if you are hauling out to let's say Michigan for some music add an hour and make the detour to see this museum - it will save you some on tollsthe stuff will make you feel right at home - I swear every third artist just recently had a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museumeffortlessly diverseplus there is an exhibit in its daring even the Brooklyn Museum hasn't done - a curated exhibit by staff - one of the security guards paints like a young Giorgio de Chirico - not to say she's derivitive, just she's that good

I did like their approach to revolving 4-6 different themed shows instead of just a permanent collection presentation. Enjoyed the O. Winston Link gallery. This is a relatively small museum that you can move through quickly.

It is I believe worth going to see contemporary exhibits and current displays more than once just to see connections between these works of art. Something new can be learned by visiting this small museum more than once a week. Two or more of the current exhibits are connected thematically as well as with components of art to enable me to see relationships -especially that of Tony Feher and LA Wilson. I enjoyed seeing the photographs of old railroad engines and trains. O. Winston Link's photographs of trains and train stations and old towns served by those railroads were worth seeing twice. Museum personnel are still making a sincere effort to unite the various components of communities near by to Akron and the mission of the Akron Art Museum with four or five "Community Conversations" that began in May and extend through late fall in November 2014. It is a noble effort with good intentions that include programs in the early evenings with speakers who present reasons for becoming affiliated with the museum. These people are not always the best speakers however. They some time promote their agenda without knowing how to effectively speak to an audience. One or more of these speakers just went on and on not knowing that he had lost parts of the audience. The use of music intervals to see the audience through moments of silence while others are answering questions put before them on the screen is a distraction. Either the microphone or the audio system itself needs to be looked at since the audio transmission of the speaker's voices is not clear. One or more of the personnel who run the program from start to finish do not speak loudly enough. Perhaps it should be taking place in the auditorium. Maybe it is the poor acoustics of the large room near the entry door that is the culprit. The large screen is too far from where the audience is seated and many people can not see or read the words on the screen. Audience participation in the second community conversation was not extensive enough to the point that many audience members decided to leave early. Many tables with empty chairs around them could be seen toward the end of the program. People should be chosen to be part of the panel if they can speak to audience. Selections have not been good in this respect. Greater audience participation should begin at a higher level of involvement at the very beginning of the program and not left to the end of the program almost two hours or more later. The first of the community conversations in May was much better and brought audience participation to the agenda earlier. Reviewing earlier events from the previous sessions as if somebody needs to approve the minutes of the report is not a good use of time. I am not sure if the lady who begins to talk to every body at the beginning is the best person for doing this kind of speaking - for one thing her voice is not easy to understand and it does not project outward enough with clarity. I wonder how the various audience members from each conversation are linked together between sessions to create a cohesive audience for the next round of conversation. Communication with them is needed. The remaining areas of the museum are open for visitors to walk around or visit and I encourage them to do so the same night as they are there for the community conversation. During the day at other times when I visit the museum I find the museum to be close to being empty of visitors. This is troubling for me. Efforts should be made to include the library as central part of what the museum can offer all visitors. For some reasons it is pushed to the side as the gift shop or coffee shop gets more attention. These are suggestions to make the conversations more appealing and relevant for people. Good efforts to include children in the daily programs deserve praise - but it is the adults and teenagers or art students that need to be the principal focus of noble efforts such as these.

The Akron Art Museum is an astounding sight when first glimpsed on a quiet street in downtown Akron. Spectacular contemporary architecture, the building flooded with light and full of gorgeous top level art. Thoughtful and beautifully curated shows set this museum apart from many others, bothh in the quality of shows and the beauty of the space. A beautifully appointed bookstore and modest, but delicious cafe make this a must see when in the area.

Very nice museum... Lots of exibits and always something from big name... has nice outdoors venuie and very interesting interior deseign...

I've been to many art museums, including those in NYC and I have to say... I was surprised (in a good way) with my visit! It won't take you three days to get through...it's not huge, but its a great way to spend a few hours. If you have kids in tow, they won't look horrified if your child is within 25 ft of a piece like they will in some of the larger museums. Its surprisingly kid-friendly as a matter of fact. My son and stepdaughter, ages 9 and 12, loved it. Admission is extremely reasonable and parking is convenient and not expensive either. Worth a visit if you're in the area...

Sorry you felt that our security guards were following you through the galleries unnecessarily. Not only are they around to maintain the safety of the artwork and visitors, but also to act as customer service within the galleries. It is not our intent to be creepy, but instead to be nearby and available in case visitors have questions or comments.