When you think about museums and galleries of great art, it is easy to think of Europe. Certainly with the Renaissance of the 14th to 17th centuries, the number of works of art surged. It was natural for galleries and museums to spring up to house these masterpieces. America, on the other hand, wasn’t even a country during this time period. Don’t let that fact mislead you into thinking that there are no great art galleries in the US.

As America grew, she became a country of great wealth and power. This attracted many Europeans to immigrate to America for a better life. These numbers have been artists such as Marcel Duchamp, who is considered the father of object art. He left Paris during World War I for the safety of America. The Roaring Twenties became a time of great change in culture, art, and societal norms in the US. America’s move to the forefront of the art world became most evident following World War II.

The 20th century brought American realism and modernism with artists such as Mary Cassatt and George Bellows. The American Southwest movement had notables including Bert Greer Phillips and Georgia O’Keeffe. Artist Aaron Douglas and photographer James VanDerZee were included in the Harlem Renaissance. The Depression brought about New Deal Art, and Abstract Expressionism was a popular Post-World War II art form including artists Jackson Pollock and James Brooks. More modern American movements included Pop Art and Conceptual Art.

As American art grew, so did US art galleries and museums to display the pieces. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, America has many huge cities, and each one has notable galleries worth visiting. Some of the more famous ones include the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Museum of American Art at the Smithsonian Institute and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Orlando Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the San Diego Museum of Art.

If you are considering a career in art, don’t limit your education to just a good art school. Expand your horizon by visiting as many art galleries across the US or only in the state where you live. Collections constantly change, giving you opportunities to regularly expose yourself to a variety of art. There will be no greater thrill than when your own art is displayed in a gallery for all to enjoy!

Paris is one of the most popular cities in all of Europe. With a rich history and a strong culture, tourists from around the world flock to Paris to get a sample of rich Parisian culture. Below are three Parisian art museums that should be included in any trip to Paris:

1. Centre Georges Pompidou- Perhaps one of the most iconic structures in Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou is a very modern building with color- coded mechanical systems made visual purposely by the architects that created the building. This museum houses art from the 18th century to current times with works from Matisse, Chagall, and Picasso.

2. Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris- If you are looking for more modern art work, Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is your place! This museum has a large collection of 20th century avant- garde art, including pieces by Picasso and Kandinsky. An interesting piece of art work at Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville is Raoul Dufy’s, “La Fee Electrice”, which pays homage to electricity!

3. Musee du Louvre- Musee du Louvre is yet another internationally recognized museum in Paris. This museum has the world’s most plentiful collection of brilliant art and antiques. Formally a royal palace, this museum also happens to be the world’s largest museum. With the arrival of Leonardo da Vinci and his famous portrait, “Mona Lisa”, the transition from royal palace to all- encompassing museum began. Musee du Louvre was officially opened as a museum in the 1600s but was not open to the public until 1793. Whenever tourists visit Musee du Louvre, they especially enjoy Le Jardin des Tuileries. This nearby garden is an extension of the Musee du Louvre, providing a beautiful floral garden with marble statues. This museum has reasonable admission prices, but admission is free on the first Sunday of the month.

Obviously, it is possible to devote an entire trip to discovering Parisian art museums. If your itinerary includes many other destinations like most European travel itineraries do, make sure to stop by at least one of the fabulous museums listed above. The experience will enrich your mind as well as your trip.