Vero Beach Museum of Art — Attraction in Vero Beach

The Vero Beach Museum of Art was created by the non profit Alliance for the Arts, established in 1978 to create a regional center for appreciating art and teaching art and humanities. The group was able to raise 2.5 million dollars to open a museum in Riverside Park on January, 31, 1986, named Center for the Arts. In 1999 an expansion doubled the square footage of the museum to 54,509 feet. In 2002 the name of the museum was changed to the Vero Beach Museum of Art. In 2007 an outdoor sculpture park was built and in 2011 a new atrium and museum entrance were added. A 20,000 foot new collection wing was added bringing the total museum space to 75,000 square feet. Today the museums sees 75,000 visitors annually, primarily from the tri county area.

I was able to visit this museum for free with the Bank of America program that grants free admission to certain cultural institutions in Florida and all over the country on the first weekend of every month. For program details and participating locations check their website. All you need to do is show the ticket window your Bank of America card.

The museum is small but very nice. During my visit they were hosting two temporary exhibits that I enjoyed, one of glass works, which is one of my favorite kinds of art, and another exhibit, A tribute to Christo & Jeanne-Claude: the Tom Golden Collection.

The glass exhibit was based around a piece called Lapis Blue Persian made in 1990 by one of my favorite artists, Dale Chihuly. I have been to a museum that is made up of entirely of his works so one piece kind of pales in comparison but I wasn't expecting to see it and it along with the other glass pieces it made for a interesting gallery.

The Christo & Jeanne-Claude exhibit starts out front with a wrapped piece in front of the museum. I actually learned a lot about them from this exhibit. I only knew them from The Gates in Central Park and some of their other large scale works where they floated material around islands or put up curtains in valleys. Seeing their fully scale works could not obviously compare to this exhibit but it was still interesting to learn about them and see some of their sketches. The exhibit had a piece of curtain hung from one of their previous art works. I didn't know they wrapped small scale objects too and some of those pieces were on display. Jeanne-Claude passed away in 2009 and Christo last year so this was a nice tribute to them. Their large scale genius will be missed. I love that their son is an animal rights activist and documentary film maker. Christo & Jeanne-Claude fans can pick up books about them in the museum gift shop.

In addition to the temporary exhibits, the museum has their own permanent collection. One of my favorite pieces was the humorous Gallery Guard, Seated II by Marc Sijan. He looked so realistic! After exploring the indoor galleries I walked around the delightful sculpture garden located outside in the back of the museum. If you live nearby you can purchase a membership which helps to support the museum. I had a very nice visit here and highly recommend stopping in to see what...

A very nice art museum nestled in Vero Beach. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is a cultural gem nestled in Florida’s Treasure Coast. The history of the Vero Beach Museum of Art is as fascinating as the art it houses. Founded by the Alliance for the Arts in 1978, it opened its doors to the public in 1986. Over the years, the museum has expanded and evolved, earning accreditation from the American Association of Museums. Today, it stands as a testament to the community’s love for art and culture. It is just south of the Barber Bridge and next to Johnston Catts Park. It offers a wonderful, enriching, and accessible art experience. Parking at the museum is easy, with ample free parking available right in front of the building, including handicapped spaces. This makes it convenient for visitors to access the museum without any hassle. The museum is committed to accessibility for all visitors. There’s a barrier-free ramp at the main entrance, and manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. The museum showcases a diverse collection of artwork, with pieces from renowned artists such as Dale Kennington, Hunt Slonem, and Edward Henry Potthast. The rotating exhibitions ensure there’s always something new to discover. There was an exhibit about Rock and Roll Billboards when I visited. It was fascinating and neat to see. There are outdoor areas both in front and to the side of the building that feature sculptures from various artist. The area and exhibits were clean and well-kept. The staff was very friendly and the art was fascinating. I plan to visit again when I get the chance and I would recommend this to any visitors...

Needed a post-run dose of culture and decided to drop by the Vero Beach Museum of Art—and honestly? I’m glad I did. From the moment you walk past that fierce lion sculpture guarding the entrance, you already feel like you’re stepping into something bold and inspiring.

Inside, the “French Moderns” exhibit totally pulled me in. We’re talking Monet, Matisse, Degas, Cézanne—all the greats flexing their brushstrokes. I loved seeing the timeline from 1850 to 1950, watching styles shift like gears in a Tour de France sprint. That Robert Delaunay garden scene? Looked like brunch with vibes.

Shoutout to the Rodin sculptures—especially the marble one that looked like a dream trying to escape a rock. Dude’s work is raw, real, and somehow emotional without saying a word.

There were some wild surprises too. Like a hyper-detailed, slightly spooky modern portrait that made me feel like I was being watched by a ghost who shops at Hot Topic. And a worn-out baseball cap that had more character than some people I know.

Bonus: The staff kept things flowing, it wasn’t overly crowded, and there’s plenty of space to walk and soak it all in without...