When I landed in Columbus, Ohio, I never expected to be swept off my feet by its art scene. Yet, here I am, writing this guide, with my notebook overflowing with impressions, sketches of favorite pieces, ticket stubs, and even a few paint-stained postcards I picked up along the way.
Columbus is often called a “test market” city for businesses, but for me, it is also a test market for the soul: its museums, galleries, and exhibitions offer a slice of America’s artistic diversity, from Renaissance paintings to bold modern installations. If you’re like me — someone who can stand awestruck in front of a canvas until the security guard coughs politely — then this guide is for you.
I’ll take you through four of Columbus’s major art destinations, describing three pieces that personally struck me and three others I’d recommend for fellow travelers. I’ll also cover ticketing, discounts, opening hours, facilities, and my honest impressions. Because to me, art is never just about the piece — it’s about the experience of seeing it, the smell of the gallery, the way your footsteps echo in the marble halls.
Stop 1: Columbus Museum of Art
Location: 480 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
Getting there: I walked here from my downtown hotel near the Scioto Mile in about 15 minutes. If you’re further away, the COTA bus line 10 drops you practically at the doorstep.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Thursday evenings until 9 p.m.). Closed Mondays.
Admission: $18 for adults, $9 for seniors/students, and free on Sundays! Children under 3 are always free.
My Favorite Pieces
- “Green Stripes” by Gene Davis
When I entered the modern art section, I felt like I was swallowed by a rainbow. Davis’s stripes stretch across the canvas like a musical score, rhythmical and hypnotic. I stood close, then stepped back, and the colors seemed to hum in different chords. For me, this piece was proof that abstraction can sing without a single figure. - “Portrait of a Young Woman” by Amico di Sandro
This Renaissance portrait felt like a time machine. The delicate folds of her dress, the calm tilt of her head — it reminded me of Botticelli’s grace. I thought of how strange it was that a centuries-old Italian face now looked back at me in Ohio, almost as if the past had crossed the Atlantic to meet me. - “Art and Appetite” Exhibition Piece — Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” (on loan when I visited)
Seeing American Gothic up close was like recognizing a celebrity in real life. The stoic farmer and daughter were smaller than I expected, but the brushwork was alive. I leaned so close I could see the cracks in the paint — as if age itself had become part of the artwork.
Recommended Pieces - Aminah Robinson’s “Raggin’ On” works — Robinson was a Columbus native, and her mixed-media storytelling of Black history and family life gave me goosebumps.
- Picasso’s “La Vie” (on rotation) — For those who love early Picasso, this Blue Period piece is haunting.
- Paul-Henri Bourguignon’s “Still Life” — A quiet painting, but one that whispers to you if you take the time to listen.
Services and Facilities
• Café: I had a cappuccino and sandwich in the Schokko Café, which overlooks the sculpture garden. It’s light-filled and modern.
• Gift Shop: Picked up a reproduction of Gene Davis’s stripes on a notebook. The shop leans toward local artists too.
• Accessibility: Elevators and ramps everywhere, very visitor-friendly.
Pros and Cons
• Pros: Diverse collection, free Sundays, and a vibrant rotation of temporary exhibitions.
• Cons: Parking can be tricky; I recommend walking or using COTA.
Booking and Discounts
I booked my ticket online through the museum’s website. Sometimes Groupon has $2–3 off discounts, and if you’re visiting on Thursday evening, tickets are half-price after 5 p.m.
Stop 2: Wexner Center for the Arts
Location: 1871 N. High St., on the Ohio State University campus.
Getting there: I took the COTA bus line 2 north, hopping off right at the campus gates.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (Thursdays open until 8 p.m.).
Admission: $9 adults, $7 students/seniors, free for OSU students, staff, and members.
The Wexner Center is bold, strange, and fascinating — just like contemporary art should be. The building itself is a statement: part deconstructed castle, part futuristic spaceship.
My Favorite Pieces
- Jenny Holzer’s LED Installations
I love words. And Holzer’s scrolling LED texts felt like poetry caught in neon. The messages — “Protect me from what I want” — hit me hard. Standing in front of them, I felt like my private anxieties had been broadcast in glowing letters. - Cindy Sherman’s “Untitled Film Stills” (when on view)
Her photos blur identity and role-playing. I stared at one image of Sherman as a lonely housewife in the kitchen and felt the loneliness in the corners. It made me question: how often do we all perform our roles like this? - Shirin Neshat’s Video Installations
Dark, powerful, emotional — the visuals and soundscapes were immersive. Watching them felt like being pulled underwater into someone else’s reality.
Recommended Pieces - Kara Walker’s silhouettes — haunting explorations of race and power.
- Film/Video Theater exhibitions — the Wexner screens experimental films you rarely find elsewhere.
- Rotating student shows — surprisingly strong; you can see the future of art before it hits the mainstream.
Services and Facilities
• Café: Small but decent coffee options. I grabbed a latte before walking through the campus.
• Gift Shop: Quirky, full of design books and edgy jewelry.
• Accessibility: Wide ramps and clear signage.
Pros and Cons
• Pros: Cutting-edge, daring, intellectual.
• Cons: If you prefer traditional paintings, you may feel lost here.
Booking and Discounts
Tickets can be reserved online. I recommend Thursdays after 5 p.m. — admission is free, and the crowd is lively.
Stop 3: Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art
Location: 632 N. Park Street, Short North Arts District.
Getting there: I walked from the North Market in under 10 minutes.
Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission: Included with Columbus Museum of Art admission ($18 adults), or $5 for stand-alone entry.
My Favorite Pieces
- Zanele Muholi’s Photography
Their portraits of Black LGBTQ individuals in South Africa stopped me cold. Powerful gazes, intimate stories — every face felt like a universe. - Jim Hodges’ “With Liberty and Justice for All” (flags installation)
The room shimmered with mirrored flags. It was patriotic, critical, and beautiful all at once. - Japanese contemporary ceramics
Unexpected, delicate, full of asymmetry. I loved the imperfections — they felt alive.
Recommended Pieces - Nick Cave’s Soundsuits — whimsical, bizarre, and thought-provoking.
- Mel Bochner’s text art — bold colors, sharp wit.
- Local emerging artist showcases — always worth a look.
Services and Facilities
• Atmosphere: Intimate and quiet compared to larger museums.
• Gift Shop: Smaller, but with rare art books and local crafts.
Pros and Cons
• Pros: Focused on contemporary, international, and diverse voices.
• Cons: Limited hours, and exhibitions rotate quickly (sometimes you miss the “big names”).
Booking and Discounts
I bundled my ticket with the Columbus Museum of Art. Students often get $2–3 off, and children under 6 are free.
Stop 4: Decorative Arts Center of Ohio
Location: 145 E. Main Street, Lancaster, OH (about 30 miles southeast of Columbus).
Getting there: I rented a car and drove 45 minutes. There’s also a Greyhound bus option, but a car is easiest.
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 1–4 p.m.
Admission: Free (donations encouraged).
This museum feels like a hidden gem. Located in a historic mansion, it specializes in decorative arts, textiles, and rotating exhibitions that often highlight Ohio artists.
My Favorite Pieces
- 19th-Century Quilts
The stitches told stories — family trees, community pride, even hidden codes. I leaned so close I could almost imagine the hands that made them. - Shaker Furniture Collection
Minimalist, humble, yet deeply spiritual. The chairs and tables carried a weight of history in their simplicity. - Local Ohio Pottery
Rough, earthy, practical, yet somehow elegant. I imagined these vessels sitting in kitchens a hundred years ago.
Recommended Pieces - Rotating exhibitions on fashion history — once I saw a collection of 1950s dresses, perfectly preserved.
- Glassworks by Ohio artisans — shimmering in the sunlight.
- Seasonal holiday displays — charming and family-friendly.
Services and Facilities
• Gift Shop: Small but filled with handmade crafts and jewelry.
• Staff: Volunteers who genuinely love the place; they shared stories about each room.
Pros and Cons
• Pros: Free entry, personal atmosphere, rich with Ohio heritage.
• Cons: Smaller scale; less variety if you’re expecting global names.
Booking and Discounts
No need for reservations unless you’re booking a group tour.
What I adore about Columbus’s art scene is its diversity:
• The Columbus Museum of Art grounds you in classics and local heroes.
• The Wexner Center jolts your senses with the avant-garde.
• The Pizzuti Collection pulls you into the global contemporary conversation.
• And the Decorative Arts Center whispers Ohio’s heritage into your ear.
As I wandered through these spaces, I realized that Columbus doesn’t just show art — it lives it. From cream puffs in German Village to LED poetry at the Wexner, this city knows how to surprise you.
If you’re an art lover, don’t overlook Columbus. Pack a notebook, give yourself time to linger, and take advantage of those Sunday free admissions. You may just find yourself, like me, leaving with more than souvenirs: you’ll carry new ways of seeing the world.
