A little-known fact about Springfield, MO is that the city boasts a thriving arts scene, with painters, sculptures, and photographers calling Springfield their home. The result of this is a wide variety of galleries have popped up over the years, ranging from established institutions to artist-run spaces.
In order to keep supporting the arts scene, it is important that Springfield residents visit and engage with local art.
Whether you’re looking for an activity to keep the children entertained on the weekend or need a first-date idea that is sure to impress, visiting an art gallery is a great choice.
To help you figure out where to get your next culture-fix from, we have compiled a list of our favorite art galleries in Springfield.
There is sure to be something for everyone on this list, so we encourage you to get out there and explore Springfield’s arts scene.
Let’s get into it!
Image Source: Springfield Art Museum
If you’re looking for the best-curated collection of art that Springfield has to offer, you need to visit the Springfield Art Museum. As the city’s main art museum and oldest cultural institution, the Springfield Art Museum ensures that it continues to offer a diverse range of art sourced from around the world, and locally.
The museum is home to over 10,000 works of art, which is an impressive number considering that this is not a big city art gallery. As you move through the gallery, you will find exhibitions highlighting specific eras and art styles, from 18th-century colonial American paintings and prints to European and Asian pottery and ceramics.
There is even an outdoor sculpture garden that features numerous large-scale sculptures from renowned sculptors such as Richard Hunt, Ernest Trova, and James Sterritt. The museum also hosts many special events and exhibits throughout the year, so make sure to keep an eye on their social media to ensure you don’t miss out.
If you want to make the most of your visit to the Springfield Art Museum, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind…
Image Source: Fresh Gallery
Looking for only the best and brightest of the Springfield art scene? Look no further than the Fresh Gallery, located in downtown Springfield. This gallery is home to over 20 local artists who all own the space cooperatively and run it as they see fit.
If a new artist wants to join the co-op, they have to be voted on by the current members. As Fresh Gallery is home to local artists, you can expect to find contemporary art adorning its walls.
Members will display their newest collections and exhibitions as they see fit, which means that there is a heavy rotation of art within the gallery, so there is always something new to see.
Fresh Gallery focuses on bringing as much diversity to its collection as possible. This means that it displays a lot more than just paintings, and also houses pottery, jewelry, sculpture, photography, and glasswork.
Prominent local artists such as Nancy Brown Dornan, Jason Martin, and Carl Rauh are all a part of the gallery and frequently display their work there.
With a collection that is unique and important, you should aim to make the most of your visit. Here are some of our top tips for visiting the gallery…
Image Source: Hawthorn Galleries
Hawthorn Galleries may not be as popular and well-known as some of the other galleries in the city, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit. In fact, we would go so far as to say that this is one of our favorite galleries in the city.
Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, Hawthorn Galleries curates the best art not only from the local arts scene but internationally too. Their motto is “art for everyone,” and they truly live up to this.
From glasswork, pottery, contemporary painting, and jewelry, this gallery has it all and there is sure to be something even for the most discerning art critic among us. We also love how funky the actual gallery is, as the artworks are displayed uniquely and interestingly across the gallery’s two levels.
If your tastes are more eclectic, and you’re looking for something different to inspire your senses, we think you might find it on the walls of the Hawthorn Gallery.
Here are our top tips to help you ensure you have the best visit possible to the Hawthorn Gallery…
We are spoilt for choice here in Springfield when it comes to engaging with local and international art. As you can tell from our breakdown of the city’s best galleries, we have a wide range of art and artists on offer that are sure to expand the mind and feed the soul.
Visiting art galleries is not only fun, but it is also good for your mental health, and it allows you to support local artists so that they may keep the Springfield art scene alive. We encourage you to take time to visit the galleries and exhibitions on offer as often as possible so you can keep supporting the community.
If you want to really soak up the Springfield art scene, consider creating your own personalized art walk around the city, based on your individual interests. Spending a day gallery-hopping is a great way to see all the art that is on display right now, and it allows you to support the local community and ensure it continues to thrive.
