Pensacola Museum of Art

Founded in 1954, the Pensacola Museum of Art is the only art museum in the city. It has been a part of The University of West Florida Art Museum since 2016.

Pensacola is home to a vibrant arts scene, from local art shows and gallery nights to operas, concerts, ballets, and national Broadway tours. It's also home to several historical sites and museums in the historic district.

Museum Hours

The Pensacola Museum of Art is the city's only art museum. It was founded in 1954 by members of the American Association of University Women and became part of The University of West Florida Art Museum in 2016.

Located in a historic jail (1908) the museum is a pleasant surprise with an impressive, growing collection of major 20th- and 21st-century artists spanning cubism, realism, pop art, and folk art.

Aside from the art exhibits, the Pensacola Museum of Art also has a unique space to host cocktail receptions and intimate gatherings. Visit the Events page for more information.

Museum Admission

The Pensacola Museum of Art, founded in 1954 by a group of women from the American Association of University Women and since 2016 a University of West Florida Art Museum, has a diverse collection of 20th-century and contemporary art. It also has decorative arts collections of European and American glass and African tribal art.

The Museum's mission is to promote and encourage art appreciation through engaging cross-disciplinary exhibitions, educational programs, and stewarding of its growing collection. The Museum also strives to create a dialogue between university and community audiences and foster the transdisciplinary interactions of art, culture, the humanities, and science.

The museum is a wonderful place to escape the summer heat, learn something new, and have a good time with friends or family. It's free, fun, and a great way to spend an afternoon. A great post

Exhibits

Located in the Spanish-style old city jail, the Pensacola Museum of Art offers a variety of exhibits. They feature paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. You can also check out their permanent collection, which includes works by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Leonard Baskin, and Kathe Kollwitz.

The museum aims to provide educational opportunities and promote the appreciation of art in Northwest Florida and beyond. Its cross-disciplinary exhibitions, educational programming, and stewardship of its growing collection of modern and contemporary art contribute to that mission.

The museum’s permanent collection is a treasure trove of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper by many of the most famous artists in history. It features a selection of pieces from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including those by Pablo Picasso, Leonard Baskin, and Salvador Dali. More

Events

Throughout the year, Pensacola Museum of Art hosts engaging cross-disciplinary exhibitions, and educational programming, and stewards a growing collection of modern and contemporary art. It is also the home of many annual events that celebrate the arts in our community.

In 1954, members of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) envisioned an art center that would exhibit traveling art exhibitions, offer art classes to students, and serve as a venue for lectures and films. They teamed up with the City of Pensacola to transform the old jail into a fine arts center that still serves as a vital community resource today.

The museum’s 67th annual Youth Art Focus exhibition showcases student artwork from Escambia County Schools. Each year, Middle and High school student work are juried and winners are awarded first, second, and third in five different media categories.