With more than 11,000 pieces in its permanent holdings, the High has a marvelous array of work, including a wide range of lesser-known pieces by international heavy-hitters, and a variety of worth-while special exhibitions. Some of its areas of strength are its 19th and 20th-century American art collection, European art, African American art, and modern/contemporary art holdings. Some specific artists with particularly strong pull include Chuck Close, Claude Monet, Rodin, Dorothea Lange, and Mary Cassatt.
The museum also places a special emphasis on supporting and collecting pieces by Southern artists; if Howard Finster is your cup of tea, the High’s collection will be sure to please. It also has a curatorial department specifically devoted to the genre of self-taught art.
The museum has strong ties to international world-class museums such as the Louvre and Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence. The result is particularly strong special exhibitions (for example, the Van Gogh to Mondarian Exhibit, which showcased works from the Kroller-Muller Museum in the Netherlands).
High Museum of Art Information
- Public Transportation: Excellent (the museum and Woodruff Arts Center are located directly across the street from MARTA Arts Center N5 station)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Hours: Tuesday–Wednesday and Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (Note: Friday Jazz is held on the 3rd Friday of every month from 5 to 10 p.m. The museum is closed on major holidays)
- Admission: $18, students and seniors (65+) $15, children (6–17) $11, children (5 and under), members, Fulton County residents, and military are free
- Tour: Free with cost of admission. Tours are available on a regular basis. The 45-minute Daily Highlights tour of the permanent collection is available Tuesday–Sunday at 1 p.m., and leaves from the Wieland Pavilion. The museum also offers complimentary Weekend Family Tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. (These tours leave from the Greene Family Learning Gallery)
- Audio Tour: Free audio tours are available for selected exhibitions
- Membership: Individual membership is $65; Dual/Family membership is $90. All members receive free, unlimited admission to the museum collections, special exhibitions, Friday Jazz, discounted parking in the Woodruff Art Center parking garage, invitations to members-only previews, and events and select tickets to the Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Discounted memberships are available to students, educators and seniors
- Other Benefits: Reciprocal membership to other museums is available at the Patron Level ($1,000+).
