New Orleans Museum of Art
Global collections, Louisiana art, photography, decorative arts, and more than ninety outdoor sculptures meet at the edge of City Park.
Artwork inspired by Ida Kohlmeyer
NOMA’s collection ranges from European painting and Asian art to photography, African art, decorative arts, and substantial Louisiana holdings. The building’s compact central spine makes it possible to compare periods quickly, but the most rewarding route follows a question—portraiture, material, colonial exchange, or landscape—across departments instead of treating every gallery as an isolated civilization.
The adjacent Besthoff Sculpture Garden is not an afterthought: mature live oaks, water, bridges, and contemporary sculpture create changing sightlines that need daylight and comfortable weather. Check temporary exhibitions before choosing how to split the visit, because installation closures can alter the indoor route. City Park attractions share the area, but museum parking and garden entrances should be confirmed rather than assumed from the park road network.
- Founded
- 1910
- Outdoor collection
- 90+ sculptures
- Plan for
- 2½–4 hours
Quick guide
- Start
- Current special exhibition
- Add
- Besthoff Sculpture Garden loop
Make the visit count
- Choose a thread
- Compare one medium or idea across departments instead of racing chronologically through every room.
- Find Louisiana
- Ask where regional artists and Newcomb work are installed; they may not occupy one permanent block.
- Use the garden twice
- Walk one side before the galleries and the other afterward so light and visual scale reset your attention.
- Check the calendar
- Confirm gallery rotations, concerts, family programs, and weather closures can meaningfully change the day.
Good to know
The sculpture garden is free and follows longer warm-season hours than the museum, but weather and paid events can alter access. Backpacks and umbrellas must be checked; luggage and large bags cannot be stored. Walk-ins are accepted, while groups of ten or more should allow two weeks for a confirmed request. City Park events can affect nearby roads and parking.
Notice these
- Besthoff Sculpture Garden
- Louisiana visual arts
- Photography and decorative arts