The Allentown Art Museum is a fantastic place to spend and hour or two. The permanent collection is varied with lots of types of art to look at and enjoy, and the rotating exhibits keep your visits fresh and interesting if you're a repeat customer. I say "customer" but it's actually free to visit which is amazing and a great way to encourage the community to immerse themselves in art. There's a fun children's room too on the second floor to keep kids active if wandering the exhibit rooms isn't for them. The staff is friendly and welcoming and the giftshop has all kinds of unique items that you'd expect to find in a museum giftshop. I try to stop in anytime I'm in Allentown...it's an artistic oasis in the city. read more

Allentown Art Museum - Mickey's lesser known cousin. (By Keith Herring) - Art Museums Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Free thanks to a large donation and we appreciate that it is. The staff is super welcoming and tells you what you need to know about the different exhibits. They have an entire Tiffany glass exhibit and every 30 minutes they change the lights to mirror the effects of the sun setting and rising. There are a few different exhibits, but the Tiffany glass was the one that stood out the most. A great little stop to check out when in the Lehigh Valley. read more

Top notch Art Museum in Allentown, PA. Free forever museum due to large donations this exhibit of art is a fantastic experience. Three levels with the first level being their permanent art display. The artwork displayed stenches back to the 13th century for artwork, magnificent displays of Navajo practical wear during ceremonies, opals, emeralds, little bit of this, and a little bit of that. The gift shop is also a splendid array of affordable souvenirs. You can have free coffee / tea at the gift shop as well. Highly recommend if you are in the area. As always people SYOY!!! read more

Allentown Art Museum - Artist : Albert V. Chong Throne to the ancestors - Art Museums Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

This is a small but well-curated museum that's definitely worth going to. I'm not a huge art enthusiast, but this visit was a really nice, interesting afternoon. The staff is great, admission is free, and they have parking, so feel free to put the money toward a donation to support their hard work. read more

Free parking but it's a small lot. Free admission. Friendly helpful staff. It's small but right now almost half of it seems closed. Saw the Frank Lloyd Wright library which was cool. Unfortunately the Tiffany glass and the Rembrandts were among the galleries that were closed. Has an interactive kids area which could be fun. For a small city museum it's ok and the price is great. Will plan to return when more of the galleries are open. read more

In town for a short stay. First of all,this is free admission! Was greeted warmly and given info. There are 3 floors that are spacious and really well curated. They had a selection of Tiffany stained glass that was beautiful. Including 2 floor to ceiling panels that went through a lighting sequence that showed them from dusk to dawn. It was really breathtaking to see that! The museum was easy to self navigate and was easily one of the best museums I've been to.Especially for free!!!! Even if you don't have a lot of time to spend here,it's so well worth it to pop in for a look see! read more

This museum is a gem. Thanks to a wealthy patron, there is no admission fee, and while the museum is not large, the collection of art is wonderful. You can easily spend a few hours there, and the art collection is eclectic with something for everyone, children included. The staff is very friendly, there's free coffee in the cafe area, and there is free parking in the lot behind the museum. My wife and I visited in late March, 2025 and there is a new exhibit they are working on that will open in April. We will be going back for that. read more

Wonderful little nook. I had a bit of time to kill before my flight back to Denver and I adore getting a taste of the art scene when I'm in a new city. This museum is fantastic, so well kept and have very lovely exhibits. I was there for the 60s Fashion exhibit and it was very diverse and well set up, diverse rooms and just a good spot to take a breather. Highly recommend if you have a chance to stop by. Also high kudos to the staff, they were super helpful storing my luggage while I walked around and explaining the museum layout to me. read more

Allentown Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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This completely free museum is worth a stop if you are in the area. Nice collection and clearly has a focus on accessibility in many forms. Signs on the restrooms indicate where single use bathrooms are located, signage throughout is in both English and Spanish and it would be accessible to someone using mobility equipment such as a walker or wheelchair. read more

It took us way too long to get here. They have amazing galleries and outstanding community outreach events. Even better that it's free for everyone! We especially enjoyed the Frank Lloyd Wright library. We will be back! This is an incredible institution and asset to Allentown. read more

What an absolute thrill it is to see the exhibit of the NEW WOMAN... To see the clothes worn by the women's suffrage from 100 years ago. The exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of the women's suffrage, women being able to vote! Facemasks were worn 100years ago! Yes there was the Spanish flu! The women's movement endured face masks while fighting for freedoms and rights! Take a look at their style of mask ... similar to yours now? A great way to learn about the struggle. There are dresses that were donated by family members who had a grandmother who helped lead the way for women's rights and they were just regular people... Regular girls from the Northeast that had a determination to not rush into marriage , rather they just felt the urge/need to attend university. Hard to believe that that kind of thinking was so radical and so outlandish. I learned that The white color of the clothes was also the color of the women's movement. You can also see quotes of that time period, photos and stories of those amazing women! Don't forget to see the film! It's very interesting and tells the stories of about 5 different women and they are of races . Unique stories!! What a treasure and honor to see I drove about an hour and a half for the opportunity to see it on its first day! Opening day! I wish their gift shop sold some suffrage items . Ornaments that celebrate the 100th anniversary, postcards and etc etc. I would have bought oodles !! Thanks for curating this exhibit. read more

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This is an incredible museum... An unexpected surprise... We dropped in for the day... And we really enjoyed the collection and exhibits on display... Museum has a variety of art... Baroque, American, modern... Asian art... Photographic exhibit... Open space... Very competitive art store... Attentive, customer service... Just a gym... A big surprise we would come here again and again... Looking forward to seeing an exhibit in May (fashion)... Worth a trip from Brooklyn ....for sure!!! read more

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The Allentown Art Gallery was a complete surprise. We had a couple of hours and were looking for something to do. It's reasonably priced and has free parking next to the museum. There were 3 levels. The main level has a nice selection of American and European art, including a small Rembrandt collection. The lower level had local photography entrants; and the top level was their "eclectic" exhibit that likely varies. There were docents throughout who were very approachable. Plus was the coat room and small gift shop. The cafe was closed, but the front desk offered suggestions for local places. read more

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Asking me about art is about as useful as asking your nearest Amish farmer what brand of Ultra HD TV he bought on Black Friday. But it doesn't take someone with refined knowledge of paintings and photographs to understand that the Allentown Art Museum has come along way in recent years especially since the 2010-2011 renovation. We went on a Sunday which is a free admission day (sorry but I'm not dropping $44 for four people on this place for regular priced admission and yes I know that BOGO coupons are plentiful) and everything was really great. Parking was very easy as we found a space at the end of the block right by the museum. Upon entering you're given a basic map and told what things are on the main floor plus in the basement and that the second floor was closed. Now I don't know if it was just closed because it was a free day or if it's closed permanently or if it's closed because it's being redone but either way, no second floor. For me the star of the show is the excellent Kress Collection which has numerous European paintings mostly of a religious angle dating back to the Middle Ages. Also noteworthy is the current temporary exhibition (until 1/3/16) that you see as soon as you enter the main gallery called Cocoon Awakenings which are colored glass fixtures which can best be described as Chihuly-esque. Also worth a look is the library from a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house in Minnesota that was moved to the art museum thirty plus years ago (the living room from that same house is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC). But with all of this high praise is also the truth that to my untrained eye certain parts were dumb like the modern art where you get to look at an old school rotary phone shaped like a face or a large paining of an ear of buttered corn or farm equipment working a field. Overall the AAM does a very good job with its collection making sure it has something that will appeal to everybody. If you have never been it is well worth taking a test drive on a free day. If you go: The galleries are open Wednesday-Friday-Saturday from 11-4, Thursday from 11-8 and Sunday from Noon-4. Admission prices are Adults $12, Seniors (60+) $10, Students $10, Children 6 and older $10 and Children 5 and younger Free. Weekly free admission is Thursday from 4pm-8pm and on all Sundays. Parking on Sunday is no problem as you can park anywhere for free but aside of that it's a but of a PIA as the art museum only has a very small lot for free parking and after that you either are feeding the meters or you're hitting one of the parking decks which cost either $3 or $6 depending on the one you choose. read more

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A jewel of a museum. The permanent collection was amazing. Diverse and beautifully displayed, it was a wonderful surprise to see so many classic styles in their collection. Strong on American artists, one of the more interesting rooms, and my favorite, featured minority artists, including a beautiful portrait by Nelson Shanks titled Nancy and a large stunning Neo-Expressionist style painting by Joan Snyder, titled Moon Theater. Also on display, the musical sculpture of Harry Bertoia, titled Reverberations: Sound Sculptures. Don't miss this delightful exhibit of local artist Harry Bertoia, a fascinating combination of metal sculptures that thrum with musical sounds when they are manipulated by an obliging museum guard. Don't forget to stop at the charming museum gift store before you leave. read more

Fun! I'm glad we have an art museum nearby so we don't have to travel all the way to Philadelphia! YT here are a variety of exhibits. It'll definitely take up an hour or more if you take your time! Parking is a little annoying but not that big of a deal. read more

Free admission summer 2014!¡! Went for the special exhibit "heaven and earth" which was impressive. The museum's own collection was put together in a special show. The "crazy quilters" exhibit was beautiful. The museum is well cared for and well staffed. Exhibits are thoughtfully arranged. Watch out for local parking rules! We got a $25 parking ticket when we failed to notice a street cleaning ban Wednesday afternoons. read more

Allentown Art Museum - Quilts on display, August, 2014 - Art Museums Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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I really tried to give this place a chance but was really disappointed. We went when they had a printmaking exhibit along with some sort of knights exhibit that you had to pay for. Since I was taking a printmaking class I was excited about this exhibit. Once I got there and started to look around it was literally 5 or 6 prints and that was pretty much it. I was not going to pay to explore the knight exhibit because thats just not my thing. I have been to a lot of museums on the East coast and I understand this one is in a small city but I always feel like they have horrible exhibits except the Warhol one. They never try anything cutting edge or different so I never have a desire to go there. I wish there was a better museum / gallery in the area but this one is usually pretty boring. .............................................. I'm loving that goofy exhibit they have now. From the commercials I see there will be pictures of dogs dressed up in human clothes. I get weird art but thats a little bizarre for me! Now I must change it from two stars to one star. Very creative Allentown Art Museum! Perhaps the fall exhibit can be pictures of cats driving around in cars. read more

As far as small museum's go, this one stands out. They get some really great touring shows. As I write this there is a good Andy Warhol exhibit on display. Free on Sundays, its a cheap date. Also, a great activity center for kids run by Crayola. And there is rumored that they are going to begin an Art after Dark series, for a fun time out. read more

A nice collection of rotating exhibits. Sunday afternoons are free and I enjoyed my time here. The cafe is lacking in that there was not non-dairy creamer so I couldn't get a coffee, and the woman working it seemed to lack some social graces. The gift shop was nice to look around though and the staff was otherwise very friendly. read more

Really neat Art museum, you could stumble upon brilliant works throughout the quaint museum. Totally ideal for Sunday's as it is cost free coupled with beautiful exhibits. I did however notice some areas were overly warm and tight. Staff and tours were none existence for my visit. I would recommend for a day out or as an educational experience for children. read more

As a local, not for profit organization, with the intent of promoting art and education within the community and beyond, I was highly disappointed with the treatment by staff and security this past weekend. After calling to confirm that I would be allowed to take pictures of my daughter in her prom dress at the museum by front receptionist, Donald, we were then ambushed at the entrance by museum staff to inform us that we were given the incorrect information. At this point, we had no time to make other arrangements as this was our only stopping point prior to my daughter going to prom. The frustration and disappointment was overwhelming as she was unable to take outdoor photos due to the rain. Upon asking for an explanation, we were told that this type of photography (modeling) was prohibited without prior arrangement. Merriam Webster defines modeling as such, "to work or act as a fashion or art model" to which I informed them that personal pictures were encouraged in the museum according to the website. How are personal photos modeling? When I asked about taking her pictures in jeans and a top they said that was fine, which begs the question, is this a form of discrimination based on gender and personal wardrobe choice? The security guard made every effort to appear intimidating by standing with his legs apart and arms crossed over his chest at the entrance. Again, begging the question of whether this is gender discrimination and symbolic aggression as he was attempting to intimidate 2 women in their 40's and 2 seventeen year old girls. I did request and receive a copy of the museum policy regarding photography which had no verbiage to prohibit such types of photos and any posted material on the museum website does not cite anything against personal photos in the museum. The fact that we were given permission should have been enough to allow us to proceed into the museum, take our photos, and then leave. To retract that permission, after arrangements had been made, and cause such animosity and ill will to members of the community is disgraceful and very unprofessional. I should have continued my patronage of the Sigal Museum in Easton as they have always proven professional and actually welcoming of the community into their facility to promote a collaborative effort between art, education, and the community. Needless to say, I will not be returning to the Allentown Art Museum. As an educator in the area, I will be sure to let every student, parent, and fellow educator that I come in contact with know of my personal experience at the museum, encouraging them to visit the Sigal Museum instead. read more

I hadn't visited the Allentown Art Museum in nearly 30 years and was very pleasantly surprised and impressed by the updates to the facility (and the convenient new cafe). I can't tell if the permanent collection has increased significantly in volume or quality over the decades but the museum seems to attract interesting traveling exhibitions which are well worth viewing. The capital investments also seem to reflect well on the institution, projecting a sense of permanence and cultural relevance. Very friendly and helpful staff and volunteers too. Highlights of the permanent collection include select pieces by Frans Hals, Canaletto, Tintoretto, Saint-Gaudens, Gilbert Stuart, Benjamin West, and Albert Bierstadt, among others. There's also a library by Frank Lloyd Wright (Francis Little House) which in addition to its historical significance, is rather timeless/archetypal in its design and taste. One of the best features was the kids' playroom which was rather large and well furnished with books, activities, multiple family bathrooms, sofas, comfy chairs, a large bronze turtle for climbing on, and an art studio (sponsored by Crayola) - all an unexpected treat. The museum also had a "treasure hunt" teaching kids to observe and comment on the art (the awarded "treasure" was cool modeling clay), as well as a "passport/stamp" program. They really make a determined effort to be child- and family- friendly which we appreciated. The playroom also had tote bags with activities the kids could do in the galleries too - very thoughtful. Admission when we visited was free due to a foundation grant this summer which made the visit essentially risk-free. Regardless, based on our experience we would have paid to visit this gem and will return in the future. Definitely worthwhile! read more

I visited the Allentown Art Museum last weekend for the first time. My fiancé lives in A-town, I am from Seattle, and our two guests were well-traveled Boise residents. We all truly loved this museum. The Kress collection is remarkable and worth coming to see over and over again. The galleries are spacious and beautifully arranged and lit. The special exhibit, juxtaposing pieces from the Kress collection with modern work, was delightful and thought provoking. The docents and security people were all very nice and extremely polite about letting us know where photography was allowed and where it was not. Finally, the cafe had delicious food and the store was well curated and reasonably priced--both with gracious staffers. Since I will be visiting Allentown regularly, I will be purchasing a membership so I can peruse the museum often. read more

My favorite part of the museum is not even the museum, but the gift shop. You can purchase great art related or simply stylish gifts and cards for anyone on your gift list. While you're in Allentown, check it out. read more

This is a must see museum with a fabulous permanent collection in a modern comfortable building that let's the art and those viewing it breathe; a real gem. I'm only sorry it took me so long to get here! read more