The 8 Best Virtual Art Museums

As the resident HC Art Historian and fellow quarantine participant, I have spent a lot of time searching for things to keep busy over the past few weeks. My personal favorite has become viewing online art galleries from all over the world. Use the following links to check out some of my favorite online museums:

1. Let’s start somewhere close to home, the Cleveland Museum of Art. Our art museum is one of the best in the world and a major plus, admission is free. During this time while they are shut down, they offer a chance to view their collection via their website, displaying an assembly of virtual favorites. https://www.clevelandart.org/art/collection/search

2. One of my favorite Post Impressionists, Vincent van Gogh, has a museum named after him featuring some of the greatest works made in his lifetime. While this museum is in Amsterdam, now you don’t have to leave your couch to view this amazing collection. https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/search/collection

3. Some of the greatest work crafted in human history is housed in the National Gallery of Art. The extensive collection offers a variety of time periods and styles, making it the perfect place to identify your new favorite form of art. https://www.nga.gov/collection.html

4. Spoken like a true fan of modern art, I could not leave out the Modern Museum of Art in New York City. Easily my favorite art museum ever, I was thrilled to view their collection online. https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions

5. I couldn’t leave out my hometown’s Carnegie Museum of Art, while I miss the soaring ceilings of the sculpture room, I do however enjoy being able to go to the art museum in my pj’s. https://cmoa.org/collection/

6. Arguably one of the most impressive art collections in the nation, Art Institute of Chicago has some of the most famous pieces in art history. The collection is divided by period, subject material, or the famous noteworthy pieces they own. https://www.artic.edu/collection

7. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is another one of my favorite museums, but because of distance have not been able to go in more recent years. Their collection is also broken down by period and houses notable pieces, such as The Great Wave. https://www.mfa.org/collections

8. To wrap up this list, my dream museum visit, The Louvre. While visiting France is now further off than ever, at least we can look at this collection and hold on to the hope. https://www.louvre.fr/en/moteur-de-recherche-oeuvres

If you find yourself looking for more art after searching all these collections, most art museums are evaluating one artwork a day. Through all this uncertainty, art offers an outlet, unlike any others. Remember JCU, stay inside and stay safe!

• art history
• social isolation