FREE worthwhile museum, open until 6pm most nights! I had exactly one hour (not enough time) at this museum before we needed to leave for a 3:30pm showtime at the State Theater NJ, which is an easy 15-min walk away. While a great stop to pair with theater, an hour is not enough time to see the full permanent collection let alone the temporary exhibits. I recommend at least 2h for this museum. The Soviet art was very exciting to me. I love Russian 20th C writers as well as those of the two centuries before. But this collection focuses on the times of Solzhenitsyn and just after Chekhov / Tolstoy. It was so wonderful to see the visual art counterpart to the literary works of the era. The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University offers FREE admission to everyone (as does nearby Princeton Art Museum). However, in both cases, you need to research parking because this is all overwrought university town systems, designed to nickel-and-dime, wasting your day navigating garages for available spots, adding apps to pay, or keeping track of tickets. I digress for this nuisance that really beats fun out of the experience. Nonetheless, the museum itself is a worthy stop if you are in the area. I highly recommend pairing with a visit to Rutgers Gardens (see my other reviews), just a 7min drive away, with free admission and a free parking lot! read more

See all

Beautiful free to the public art museum on the campus of Rutgers University New Brunswick campus. There's a very nice selection of art and sculptures and also rotating exhibits when I went it was Andy Warhol. It's definitely worth a visit and there's plenty of parking and restaurants in the area around the museum. Plus the whole area is a nice place for a walk. It's definitely worth a visit it's one of my favorite museums read more

See all

Want a comprehensive, classic museum experience without having to make the trip into NYC and pay a fortune to see some art? Zimmerli is your central NJ, free dupe. I love coming here every few months with my parents to see what new art installations are set up. There is an ever-changing art section and a permanent exhibit. Recently, the museum has set up an Andy Worhol exhibit through July 31, 2026. Such an experience to see some of his original works. This place is appropriate for all ages, but requires indoor voices when visiting. Plenty of paid street parking or New Brunswick parking decks nearby. There is one handicap parking spot right in front of the building. read more

See all

The Zimmerli Art Museum is a hidden and unexpected gem found in the city of New Brunswick. Featuring, among other things, the Dodge collection of Soviet Non Conformist art. This collection is among the best in the world. The friendly and knowledgable staff accommodated my group; featuring educated tour guides sharing their passion and knowledge in this little niche field of the art world. read more

Although my major was not art, I have always enjoyed art and would visit the Zimmerli Art Museum on the campus of Rutgers University quite often at one time. The museum is a 70,000 square-foot facility and houses more than 60,000 pieces of art. It houses the Dr. Norton Dodge and Nancy Dodge collection of Nonconformist Art from the Soviet Union, the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of it's kind. The collection which includes 20,000 works created between 1956-1986 by nearly 1,000 artists from Moscow, Leningrad and former Soviet republics, is part of the museum's permanent collection. The museum is FREE to the public. It is closed Monday & Tuesday. open Wed-Fri, 11am-6pm., Sat &Sun, 12-5pm. read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - The Body Implied: The Vanishing Figure in Soviet Art - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

See all

Large and diverse art exhibit with knowledgeable art students. After viewing can walk around campus and check out area restaurants read more

See all

The Zimmerli will always be near and dear to my heart. When I was a student at Rutgers, this was one of my favorite places to go between classes or when I had nothing to do one day. Of course, I studied Art History so this was where most of my classes were. Back then, it was free to all students and I recently learned that it is now free to all of the public as well. YAY! Fun fact: This unassuming university art museum actually has the largest collection of Soviet nonconformist art outside of Russia. Isn't that fun?? It is a surprisingly big space, always with new and interesting pieces. Everything from American to European and all of the stuff in between. My favorite was always the Celebrities of the Juste Milieu terra cotta busts. They are a collection in the basement and each piece has so much detail and is just so different than the next. There are a lot of little gems like that in this place. They are constantly reviving their collection, bringing in new pieces and showing special exhibitions, so each trip here will feel like a new museum to check off of your list. I recommend making a day of it. Come here for a few hours and then stop at one of New Brunswick's food treasures to refuel. You just got super cultured so you definitely deserve it. Now go get your Soviet nonconformist art on. read more

Admission used to be free for only Rutgers students and on Sundays but now appears to be free for everyone all the time. After revisiting the Zimmerli recently, I wish that I had come here more often as an undergrad. Given that most of the students on campus don't know or don't care about the Zimmerli, it's hardly ever full during the day. You can easily while away two to three leisurely hours peacefully perusing the collections here without having to worry about the mobs of tourists that plague the museums and galleries in the city. Spread across three floors, the permanent collections include European art, American prints, (replicas of) Greco-Roman pottery and sculptures, a small exhibit on illustrations for American children's books, Russian & Soviet nonconformist art from the Dodge Collection, as well as works by featured Mason Gross alumni. I thoroughly enjoyed the selections of Japan-inspired color woodcuts by American artists Helen Hyde and Bertha Lum. The main entrance (handicap accessible) is discretely located on the Hamilton Street side of the building (the other side has classrooms). The ground floor has restrooms and a small café. Museum staff appears to be a mix of full-time employees, work-study students, and volunteers. read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - Door of Time - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

The collection is on the smaller side but still has some interesting pieces. I've enjoyed the rotating exhibits I've seen, but the Soviet dissident art (permanent installation) is really something special. It's a great history lesson through art. Throughout the year the museum hosts events - interpretive dance, poetry readings, author talks, and more. The Zimmerli is an underutilized resource. Quiet spot for a first or second date in walking distance to good food and drink (there is a cafe inside too). Parking in the area is a massive pain and enforcement is pretty strict, so leave time to circle or plan to walk far. read more

I enjoy visiting the Zimmerli every now and then. They have a good selection of artwork and new exhibits. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it's a nice museum to visit if you're in the New Brunswick area and want to see/appreciate art. They do charge $6 for visitors, unless you're a Rutgers student, and they only accept cash. They also have some kid-friendly sections so the young ones can get their learn on. read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - Rachel Perry Weltzy exhibition. - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Excellent museum. 1) One of the best museums in NJ. 2) The Soviet art and Russian art exhibits are amazing. 3) The entrance is free, give it a shot. I would say, it is must visit. read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - Soviet art - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

This is such a hidden gem that really needs to get the recognition it deserves. The Zimmerli Art Museum is a beautifully kept art museum that's deceptively large and best of all, is completely free. The collection that was here at the time I came was quite varied and had some really cool, unique pieces. The collections are split into 4 or 5 areas and over 2 floors. The staff is friendly and the entire place is clean and quiet. Bottom line, this is one of the nicest art museums you'll find in this area. It's as good as any paid suburban art museum, and again, it's completely free. A must go. read more

Nice little university museum. Free admission. Good permanent collection and special exhibitions. Strong in Russian art. read more

See all

I like this museum because they have many sparkly and shiny things here including a very large collection of Soviet art. The price is right it is FREE. Parking is difficult so don't bring your automobile walk instead. They are closed on Mondays so don't bother coming here on Monday. They don't have many things outside just stuff inside. Don't try to take pictures here because it is forbidden and you will get in trouble like I just did. read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - Zimmerli Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

Collection pails in comparison to the Princeton University Art Museum which is also free. Clean and some interesting exhibits. It's a worthy a visit especially as there is no cost. read more

I'm not the kind of person to sign up for a tour of a museum. Some people like to have all the knowledge delivered to them on a platter. They're worried that if they look at the art on their own they will miss something important. I'd rather decide for MYSELF what's important! I want to look and pay attetnion to things that matter to me. I'm like a cat... not a sheep. Anyway, a guide can't tell you absolutely evertyhing about the art, just an official version, which isn't necessarily the most interesting or best one. Nevertheless, I signed up for a tour of the Zimmerli, because this time it had a funny twist: as the curator of European art led us visitors through that part of the collection, we all had to wear blindfolds. This was the concept of artist Yuri Albert. It sounded like a weird and unique experience so I figured I'd give it a try. I'll try anything once! ANd in this case, once was enough. I wouldn't say I regret my choice. But it was really awful. All the things I hate about tours were taken to the next level and beyond by the blindfold. At least when you're on a normal guided tour you can look for yourself, wander off, decide for yourself if the docent is picking the best stuff to talk about. You can digest the info as one part of the exprience of looking and thinking about the art. But when you're blindfolded, all you're getting is the talk! And while I thought it might be fun to visualize it, to paint pictures in my head as I listened, this turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would, and I gave up pretty fast. Maybe this is my fault but frankly, I didn't think the tour guide was that good. Her descriptions were not vivid or enticing. SHe'd say, this painting one has a figure here and another one there. This is an old merchant's portrait. The artist paid attention to the colors of the sky at sunset, etc. etc.. It was all very general, basic, vague stuff. Not evocative. I got occupied by what I did have sensory access to.. this was mainly the sense of touch. They asked us all to hold hands, to reduce the chances of someone accidentally bumping into an artwork and damaging it. It was unusually warm in the galleries and I worred about my sweaty palms grossing out the people whose hands I was holding.. not fun. Maybe five or ten minutes through I asked the curator if we were almost done and she said, "We're just getting started!" It was torture. At one point she started talking about busts sculptued from clay by Daumier, the great French caricaturist of the 19th century. I love his work but had never seen any sculpture by him--just the drawings. It was so exciting to know that they were right in front of me. But extremely frustrating that I couldn't see it!!! When the tour was FINALLY over we handed back our blindfolds and had some time to go back into the galleries and see what we'd walked through. I made a beeline for the Daumier display, which really was exceptional.. All the contorted pompous faces of French parliamentarians wheezing and squinting at you.. it's worth a trip to New Brunswick just to see that! I also liked a display of 19th century French puppets. Actually there's a lot of good stuff here to see. I would recommend visiting this museum with all your eyes! read more

Zimmerli Art Museum - looking with blindfolds - Art Museums Near Me - New Brunswick, New Jersey

See all

Too bad that I didn't wait to go here, because admission is now free for all. I think that I paid about $6 per person and left disappointed. There are a lot of exhibits in the Russian art collection, mostly modern art and posters representing the time period. Otherwise, there is not much that struck me about this museum. And really, if you want something to see, hop on the train from here to the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. Oh yeah, free wifi here. read more

There is no point in reviewing The Metropolitan Museum .If you don't know that is a great place I'm not likely to convince you.However there is a fair chance youv'e never heard of this museum. Its most unique attribute is its extensive Russian art collection.However it has quite a lot of work from the US and Western Europe , modern and 19th century.The admission price is also quite reasonable.When your done go out to eat in New Brunswick or Highland Park.Stuff Your Face is virtually around the block.For something a little nicer The Pithari Taverna is across the river in Highland Park as is Johnson Park, where you can meet ,greet and feed their delightful animals.Always plan to hit the park around the time the baby goats are born. read more

Woah, can we say hidden gem? All together now, HIDDEN GEM! My friend Gary Tsiperfal (www.garytsip.com) was part of an exhibition here, which was way cool (he's also a swizz artist so check out his website!). The museum overall, though, is totally tits too! Neat stuff abounds. We mostly looked at the huge collection of Russian art (for those of you that hit up the Guggenheim's Russian exhibit last year, a lot of pieces came from here!!). The collection is amazing and very thorough, from early Christian wood panels to Communist posters to the latest art from Russia and the former Soviet Union. Very cool. Very different from anything you will find in most museums. Very worth a trip! read more

I LOVE this museum. It was free and it had such an extensive collection in addition to their seasonal exhibit that I felt I wasn't able to really do it justice in one visit! I think the topics are unique and really interesting. I definitely recommend visiting if you're in the area. read more

This is a great museum you've never heard of & larger inside than it looks. One of the few museums in the country with a gallery of Children's Book Illustration, rotating exhibit. Among its varied permanent collections are American & Russian Art. *Check out their website for its ever-changing Featured Exhibits. I've seen several I Loved! It's located just 2 blocks from train+bus station, on corner from Rutger's original 1766 campus on Hamilton Street, in downtown New Brunswick. Admission is FREE! AND it has a cute Café Inside, with great food! *Also, every first-Tuesday of the month (except Aug.) there is 'Art After Hours' from 5-9pm, offering Exhibit Tours, Live Music, Wine+Beer and Refreshments. :-D All 'round a great place to go and meet. *Recommend read more

Rutgers has a great collection of works - currently, they have regional works from America, Russia, and Europe. I think the gallery is quite expansive for a university and the best part is free admission! An hour and a half would be enough for a swift walkthrough, but this place is worthy of revisits and in-depth studies. The museum currently (28 Dec 17) doesn't have any world-famous works, but I enjoyed the vast array of photographs, sculptures, pop art, among many others. I definitely recommend this to all art lovers. One tip: not a place to bring kids. Most kiddos I saw around were complaining or running around. Blessings! read more

Admission is free if you have a Rutgers I.D., are a member of the museum or are under 18-years-old. Otherwise, the admission fee is still quite minimal--$6.00 for adults who are not members and $5.00 for citizens over 65-years-old. If you enjoy Soviet and Russian art, then the museum has an extensive collection. For its small size, the museum does have many pieces on display. read more

Free. Extensive collections. Always something new. Located in the middle of the cool parts of New Brunswick.

I really enjoy my visits to the Zimmerli. It's a surprisingly large museum, which you would not guess from the outside. They have several really interesting collections but the highlight of my visit was definitely the Dodge collection of Soviet Non-Conformist Art. It's a realm of art history you rarely see in museums and to have such a comprehensive selection in one place is truly an asset. It's definitely worth a visit to the ZImmerli just for the Dodge wing alone, but they also have had several fascinating special exhibitions over the past few years (I particularly liked "Water" and the Lalla Essaydi shows) and some great European and American art. The staff was informative and kind. I look forward to my next visit! read more

A nice surprise in New Brunswick. Great place to visit for a few hours, they have a number of different collections that are interesting and unique. Plenty of parking in the summer when school is out. We spent about 2 hours there yesterday and didn't. See everything. Exhibits also change so it's a place to keep in mind when your looking for something different. And free! read more

a quite large and impressive university museum, free to those with a Rutgers ID otherwise it is like 5 bucks or so I think. the Russian art and photography exhibit is great, they have what they say is the largest collection of Soviet era protest art in the World. read more