Asheville Art Museum — Attraction in Asheville

This museum, like it's current collection, is one you will find a mixed appreciation and disappointment for at first glance. I believe that this small museum is working towards something bigger, albeit slowly, with what resources I assume it has access to. The amount of art that is accessible to a broad audience, usually works more visually and/or technically impressive, is on the slim side. I see the ticket price as a way to pay back the renovations more than as admission for what is on display. Culturally, the art here is a little of everything. Including many local artists and different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. I love that this museum cares so much about giving a voice and asks for your contemplation over swiftly browsing beautiful pieces. I say this because much of the art here is neither beautiful nor technically impressive. Which does not mean it's story is not important, but broad audiences will not understand why they should read and contemplate the information of a piece to appreciate it's origin. However, as museums go in the south east. I was left feeling just OK. The balance of art on display is off and there is certainly a vacuum here that has formed either due to the curation or the limited resources. The museum should consider that a segment of it's visitors are coming to see visually stunning art, not decorated garbage with a powerful narrative. I would say this place is a solid 3, but I gave it a 4 bc I would like to see it continue to grow and evolve. If you are from the area and want to support the museum, go! Grow the museum. If you are passing through and have limited time, consider passing. You will find many more impressive works in other areas...

On March 19th of this year I purchased 6 tickets to this museum. What was supposed to be a fun outing with my family turned into a very uncomfortable and regrettable decision to come here. As soon as we entered the museum and spoke to the staff at the desk we were told to wear a mask. No problem, except we didn’t have any on us. I asked the staff member for a mask and he attempted to charge me 25cents per mask. This, I thought, was strange since there were no signs saying that masks cost money. I told the staffer that I already paid for 6 tickets and wasn’t prepared to spend another dime on anything. He said “never mind”. This made it feel like the museum was trying to get us out of extra money. As we started to explore the museum we were followed by staff in one of the exhibits. The difference between us and everyone else was the color of our skin. We are BLACK! As soon as we left the exhibit the staffer sat back down on his chair. He never said a word to us…he just followed us around. Only us! The only redeeming quality of this visit was that there happened to be a temporary exhibit of young creators on the top Floor. I was amazed at the work that they had done but saddened that the Asheville Museum of Art crammed these artist of color in the smallest, HOTTEST, room in the building. Overall, I was not impressed with this place. We were not treated as patrons or guests and couldn’t wait to get out of there. Such a waste of our money and time.

Edit: The woman on the 3rd floor was also very unwelcoming. She was watching us from the moment we sat in the area by the steps. From the 3rd floor. Very...

On the good side - the museum's building is very impressive. It is new high-tech sleek construction. Very light and airy. Very clean. The cafe and Panorama roof-top - is a very attractive special feature. As far as the exposition itself - it is very limited by mostly local contemporary pieces of not widely-known artists. Although pretty interesting. Only a handful of more-or less known painters (the american impressionists). Some crafts, and lots of modern stuff. I do not demand world renowned masterpieces from a small NC city, but I don't want to pay $15 for what I saw - it is not worth it. IMHO - the museum is very overpriced for what it displays. I would agree to see it for $5, but not for $15. Because for the family of four (mom, dad and two high school children of 18 and 20) the visit sums up to $60, which is a considerable amount. Just for the sake of comparison: adult ticket to The Legion of Honor museum in San-Francisco costs the same $15, while children up to 17 are admitted for free. Art museums in Greenville, SC and Athens, GA - of the same size, scale and significance, located in the same region...