The Hunter Museum focuses on American art from the Colonial period to the present day. The variety of the collection inside is reflected by the architecture of the museum's exterior. The museum is housed in an historical mansion, a modern 1970s era building and a sleek, contemporary building of steel and glass.
The museum's collection includes paintings, works on paper, sculpture, furniture and contemporary studio glass covering a diverse range of styles and periods. A few of the well-known artists whose work is representative in the Hunter include Thomas Cole, Fitzhugh Lane, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Robert Henri, John Marin, Thomas Hart Benton, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Nevelson, Jack Beal, George Segal, Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol.
]]>Admission to the Hunter Museum is free on the first Sunday of every month. FREE First Sundays are made possible through the generous support of Easy Auto. Hours are noon to 5 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m.
The Hunter offers three types of group tour experiences: self guided, docent guided, and studio tours. Materials to help you prepare for your group's visit can be found here. Click on the tour types below to learn more.
Tour the Hunter at your own pace. Self-guided groups often include adult groups or school groups with teachers who are using the galleries as part of a lesson plan. These groups must reserve their time slot at least one week before their arrival.
Adults :
$8
Pre-K - 12:
Free for regional school groups located within a 50-mile radius of the Museum
$2 for school groups located outside a 50-mile radius
Our Docents can guide your group through the Hunter Museum's galleries. Adults and school groups who are visiting the Hunter for the first time often elect to reserve this type of tour. These groups must reserve their time slot at least 21 days in advance.
Adults :
$11
Pre-K - 12:
$4
During a Studio Tour at the Hunter your students will be able to create art and tour the Hunter in one visit. Studio Tours are led by docents and usually take around 90 minutes for most groups. Please reserve your time slot at least 21 days in advance.
Below are the current Studio Tour offerings divided by grade groups.
The American Landscape – From the many paintings of the American landscape on our walls to the views seen from our windows, the Hunter is filled with images of the land. We’ll look at these views to learn about spatial relationships including horizon lines, foreground, middle, and background. Then, use this new information in the studios to create your own landscape masterpiece.
Hunter Shapes – How do those three big shapes make a pregnant whale in the Calder in front of the Hunter? How do they fit together? After looking at these and other shapes at the Hunter, you will create your own shape inspired artwork in our studio.
Art-vironments – Did the artist really see that happen? Is that place real or imaginary? You will learn the difference as students explore and discuss the concept of real and imaginary environments through the works in our permanent collection followed by a creation of their own environment in our studios.
What’s the Story? – Find a story hidden in Hunter paintings as we discuss the tales the artists are telling. We will identify literary elements, such as character, setting, and plot to “read” the paintings.
An American Community Studio Tour - After discussing and identifying the use of perspective techniques in art, students will then illustrate buildings and other elements from their community using one-point perspective.
Symbols in America – Symbolic imagery can be a subtle and very effective means of communicating ideas in both art and literature. Explore examples of symbols in our permanent collection then learn how to express ideas symbolically in your own work of art. Hunter Museum
Pre-K - 12:
$7
The Hunter Museum exhibits many kinds of art: paintings, sculpture, drawings, film, furniture, textiles-just to name a few. Art at the Hunter has been created by people who have been to art school and many who have not.
You will find artwork that was made just a few months ago and things that were made 200 years ago. All work in the museum is original.
Our special exhibitions show the wide variety of art being made in America today. They reflect our permanent collection and bring in new and exciting art that we might not otherwise see in our region.
The Hunter Museum of American Art, as the name implies, specializes in American art. In its most basic terms American art is artwork produced in America by American artists. But this is not always true, because the history of American art is as fluid as the history of America itself. For example, during World War II some artists fled to America from Europe for the war's duration. The works they produced here are often shown in an American art museum. Today's art world is global. An artist born in Japan, for example, may maintain a studio in the United States for part of the year and produce art here. These works are often shown in an American art museum. However, no matter what the exact origin of the work, American art can:
This is totally up to you. You can:
The Hunter is for you to enjoy and explore. We encourage you to share your thoughts in the galleries - out loud to friends, in journals, on computers and in your own personal notes.
However, we do have a few rules that we'd like for you to follow so that we can assure that the galleries and art remain safe for others to enjoy.
Learn more about the mansion and the people who lived there in the mansion reading room (Gallery #10). If you'd like further information on any of the pieces here, you can check in several places.
We have two "reading rooms" one on the first floor near the contemporary gallery and the other on the top floor of the mansion. (Galleries #19 and #10) You'll find a number of art books there, including collection catalogues that give more information on favorite Hunter works.
In the reading room in the East Wing (Gallery #19) we also have a computer and a video viewing area. If you'd like to take books home, please visit the museum store to purchase one of the many excellent books there.
* coming soon Hunter Museum Architecture virtual gallery*
For membership, visit the JOIN section of this site. To receive email updates, join our mailing list by providing your email in the sign up box on the right side of this page. To learn more about hosting an event at the Hunter, visit RENT OUR FACILITY. Once you're on site, our Visitor Services desk has information on all of these items and more. Please share your questions with them and they'll be glad to assist you.