Art Lover’s Guide to New Orleans

The most logical place to start exploring the New Orleans art scene is the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), with its massive collection of over 40,000 works of art, some by big names such as Monet, Picasso, Gaugin, and Renoir. The museum’s location in the New Orleans City Park means plenty of walking tours pass by it, and it’s worth spending some time in the park—or the museum's Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden—after your visit, particularly when the weather is nice.

JAMNOLA (which stands for Joy, Art & Music – New Orleans) is an immersive arts experience that brings together artists of all stripes and media to create a massive exhibit, complete with 17 rooms adorned with colorful art installations. Learn about the city's culture while you explore this fun New Orleans art attraction, and make sure to keep your phone charged, as you'll want to take lots of pictures as you interact with your surroundings. Just book ahead to ensure your spot at this wildly popular spot.

If you want to find a lot of art in just one place, head to the Arts/Warehouse District. Here, you'll find many celebrated New Orleans art galleries and studios, boutiques, bars, and plenty of fantastic restaurants. It's home to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and Mardi Gras World, the National WWII Museum and the Contemporary Arts Center. Art tours in New Orleans typically spend a good amount of time in this part of town.

Don’t leave the Arts/Warehouse District before visiting one of its key attractions, the Odgen Museum of Southern Art, among the best-known art museums in New Orleans. You'll find a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits featuring pieces from lauded artists such as Benny Andrews. The collection here is substantial, with over 4,000 works of art, primarily in the form of painting, sculpture, and photography. Visit it on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of New Orleans.

While plenty of people flock to NoLa to experience Mardi Gras, art lovers can get a feel for the artistic side of the parade throughout the year at Mardi Gras World. Many of the must-see artworks in New Orleans aren't museum pieces but float creations, as you’ll quickly experience when you visit this year-round museum, filled with float pieces, costumes, masks, and other creations that have been used to dazzle the crowds during previous years’ celebrations. Pair it with a mask-making workshop and a distillery visit on an evening tour.

Not far from the French Quarter, the Degas House preserves a 19th-century mansion that served as the home of French artist Edgar Degas for a spell in 1872, when he took up residence in the city. It's a must-see for visitors to New Orleans who are fans of the famous artist and has some lovely architecture. Part of the building is also a bed-and-breakfast, and there’s also an on-site venue that’s popular for weddings.

Insider tip: Get free, fast-tracked access to the Degas House and more with a digital city pass.

Some of the best street art in New Orleans is found in and around the Bywater Historic District, located just east of the French Quarter. This neighborhood is home to a mix of huge, colorful murals and smaller pieces, plus plenty of popular New Orleans art galleries showcasing everything from photography to mosaic art. Make sure to spend some time in Studio Be to learn about the intersection of art and activism while you’re in the area, too. The easiest way to find your way around the district is by joining a guide on a street art tour.

The Old Ursuline Convent is famous as the oldest building in New Orleans, and while it's fun to stop by to check out the architecture—or to hear about alleged hauntings on a ghost tour—art fans will appreciate the exhibits on display at the convent's museum. Most focus on some aspect of ecclesial life, with past exhibits covering everything from the history of Catholicism in New Orleans to the life and times of Henriette DeLille, a BIPOC Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family.

Immerse yourself in New Orleans art history and the city’s history in general at the Cabildo. One of the many cultural landmarks in New Orleans, this building—which features on many New Orleans sightseeing tours—has served as the Louisiana State Supreme Court and the city government office. Today, it’s part of the Louisiana State Museum and features art and artifacts relating to the state's history. The museum houses some of the most famous art pieces in New Orleans, including Eugene Louis Lami's massive oil painting, The Battle of New Orleans.