Ogden Museum of Southern Art

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is an art museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, dedicated to the visual art and material culture of the American South. It houses a substantial collection of works by Southern artists and presents rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and public events.

Gallery spaces include permanent collection galleries and changing-exhibition galleries that cover painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media from across the region. The museum also runs lectures, workshops, and community outreach to interpret Southern artistic traditions.

The museum was established by the Helis Foundation and has grown its collection and exhibition programme to become a major regional cultural institution. Its role has expanded to include educational offerings and collaborative projects across New Orleans’ arts sector.

Located in New Orleans’ Arts/Warehouse District near the central business district, the museum is within walking distance of other cultural institutions and is accessible from the French Quarter and downtown areas.

• Scope of collection: The museum focuses exclusively on Southern art and holds several thousand works that represent regional artists and themes from the American South.

What to See#

• Permanent collection galleries: Permanent collection galleries display paintings, prints, photographs, and mixed-media works by artists from across the American South, covering traditional and contemporary styles.
• Temporary exhibition galleries: Rotating exhibition galleries host temporary shows, thematic displays, and traveling exhibitions that change throughout the year.

• Visit on a weekday morning to avoid weekend and cruise‑ship crowds common in New Orleans' museum district.
• Combine your visit with nearby museums in the Warehouse/Arts District-walking between them saves travel time and lets you compare exhibits without extra transit.
• Check the museum's temporary-exhibit schedule online before you go; the Ogden rotates shows and you can time your visit to see special exhibitions or member events.