The Contemporary Austin

The Contemporary Austin is a contemporary art institution in Austin, Texas, that operates two sites: an urban gallery space downtown and a historic villa with sculpture grounds on Lake Austin. It exhibits contemporary visual art and runs public programs and education initiatives.

At the downtown Jones Center visitors see rotating exhibitions, installations and curated programming in gallery spaces and classrooms. Laguna Gloria provides outdoor sculpture on landscaped grounds as well as indoor galleries within the historic villa, combining art displays with site-specific commissions.

The Contemporary Austin formed through the consolidation of separate local art organizations to create a single institution with both urban gallery and historic estate components, and it continues to present temporary exhibitions, commissions and community programs.

The two sites are in Austin, Texas: the Jones Center in the urban downtown area and Laguna Gloria on the northern shore of Lake Austin, each accessible by city roads and public transportation options.

• Two-site institution: The institution operates across two distinct sites-an urban downtown gallery and a lakeside historic estate-each focusing on different aspects of contemporary art and public programming.
• Outdoor sculpture park: Laguna Gloria’s grounds are used for outdoor sculpture, installations and public programs, making it a frequent location for sculpture exhibitions and outdoor events.

What to See#

• Jones Center (downtown): The Jones Center, located downtown, houses temporary exhibitions, contemporary gallery spaces and educational programs within a modern urban facility.
• Laguna Gloria (Laguna Gloria and sculpture park): Laguna Gloria is a historic villa and surrounding sculpture park on the shores of Lake Austin, featuring outdoor sculpture installations and site-specific works in landscaped grounds.

• Decide which site you want to visit first: The Contemporary Austin operates two distinct sites (the downtown Jones Center and the Laguna Gloria campus), and each requires separate travel time - don't expect to see both quickly in one stop.
• Visit Laguna Gloria in late afternoon for the best light on the outdoor sculpture trail and quieter conditions; the grounds and gardens there are easy to overlook when visitors only come downtown.
• If you're going to the Jones Center downtown, allow extra time for nearby parking or use public transit/rideshare - the museum sits in a busy part of Austin where street parking is limited.