Christy's Guide to New Orleans

Art and Culture

  • Stroll up and down Royal and Chartres Streets in the French Quarter and take in the antique stores and art galleries.

  • A Gallery For Fine Photography, 322 Royal Street, French Quarter. A must-see for photography lovers. Many rare and famous photographs on display. You might also like to visit Bassetti Fine Art Photographs, 233 Chartres Street for more contemporary photography.

  • Stone + Press Galleries, 238 Chartres Street, French Quarter. Fine art etching, lithography, wood engraving and mezzotint prints—smell the ink!

  • Michalopoulos, 617 Bienville Street, French Quarter. Bold, bright paintings by a talented artist that really capture the essence of New Orleans.

  • Scriptura, 328 Chartres Street, French Quarter and 5423 Magazine Street, Uptown. Not a gallery, but they do carry a wonderful selection of papers, stationery, journals and other things that appeal to designers.

  • Stroll along Julia Street between St. Charles Avenue and the River in the Warehouse/Arts District and visit one of the many contemporary and local artist galleries. Additional galleries can be found right off Julia on Camp and Magazine Street. (St Charles street car and Magazine Street bus stop: Julia Street).

  • Contemporary Art Center (CAC), 900 Camp Street, Warehouse District. (St Charles street stop: Lee Circle or St. Joseph Street).

  • Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 925 Camp Street, Warehouse District. The Museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of Southern art in the world. Showcasing art encompassing 15 Southern states and the District of Columbia, the museum celebrates the art, history and culture of the American South. (St Charles street stop: Lee Circle or St. Joseph Street).

  • New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), City Park, Mid-City. One of the South's premier museums, the permanent collection contains more than 40,000 objects and is noted for its strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, African and Japanese works, the Arts of the Americas collection and a collection of the work of Peter Carl Fabergé. There are also special exhibits, a sculpture garden, café and museum store. (Canal St. streetcar route 45 Canal/City Park)

The first Saturday of every month, almost every gallery has an opening. The first Saturday of August is White Linen Night and the first Saturday of October is Art for Art's Sake. These last two events are big street festivals with food and drink booths, live music and a big party at the CAC after.

For a great list of New Orleans Museums, art or other, with maps and links to their web sites, visit http://www.neworleansmuseums.com

Many local artist sell at the weekly markets:
Freret Market - An Art/Food/Flea market, noon - 5:00 pm first Saturday of the month. Free live music.
The Arts Market of New Orleans - Palmer Park (S. Carrollton Ave. at Claiborne Ave.) Last Saturday of the month, 10am - 4pm
Bywater Art Market - Markey Park (Royal Street at Piety Street) - Third Saturday of the month, 9am - 4pm

Gretna Art Walk - Every 2nd Saturday, September - May, Huey P. Long Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets Gretna, LA 70053

Christy's Guide to New Orleans

Overview, weather, getting around, etc. | City regions defined | Fun stuff | Art and culture | The dark side | Kids and kids at heart | Dine like a local | Bars and clubs | Live music | For java heads

Updated: February 17, 2008