High Museum of Art, Atlanta (must see)

Widely regarded as the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States, the High Museum of Art—often simply called “the High”—is larger and more varied than many visitors expect. Its modern, sculptural, enamel-clad buildings house a diverse range of collections, making it easy to spend half a day exploring. Founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, the museum has grown into one of the region’s most carefully curated cultural institutions.

The High’s permanent collection includes more than 14,000 works of art, with a significant portion acquired around the turn of the 21st century. Its strengths include 19th- and 20th-century American art; European works by artists such as Tiepolo, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, and Rodin; decorative arts, particularly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries; as well as modern and contemporary art and photography. Notable highlights include the museum’s design objects and seating displays found throughout the galleries, Deborah Butterfield’s Horse sculpture, and the depth of the contemporary collection overall.

The museum places particular emphasis on Southern self-taught artists, including Howard Finster, whose work is presented through a contextual installation featuring paintings and sculptures connected to his Paradise Garden environment. The High is unusual among major North American museums in maintaining a dedicated curatorial focus on self-taught art, recognizing creativity that developed outside formal academic traditions. The result is a collection that feels inventive, expressive, and often unexpectedly playful.

Tip:
The museum offers a daily docent-led Highlights Tour, typically held in the early afternoon and not requiring advance reservations.