William Benton Museum of Art, University of CT

The William Benton Museum of Art is Connecticut’s State art museum, located on the University of Connecticut campus at Storrs. Drawing largely from its collection of over 7,500 works of art, the museum presents exhibitions of art dating from the 15th through the 21st centuries. 

The museum also creates special exhibitions drawn from outside sources and loaned exhibitions. Special events include gallery talks, campus art walks, academic and non-academic discussions, musical performances, and family programs.

Lyman Allyn Art Museum

Located just off I-95, Exit 83, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum has enjoyed celebrating the arts with visitors for almost a century. Featuring particularly strong collections of American paintings and decorative arts, the museum also presents a wide range of changing exhibitions and programs throughout the year. 

The historic grounds include a sculpture trail which is surrounded by 12 rolling acres of gardens and lawns. The grounds are open to the public for walking and picnicking. The museum’s free first Saturdays are popular with families, and include hands-on arts and science activities. On the first Thursday of every month, adult visitors can enjoy an upscale creative session, with drinks and light bites. 

The Housatonic Museum of Art

Stay Close. Stay Curious: The Housatonic Museum of Art (HMA) holds one of the largest art collections of any community college in the United States with almost 7,000 artworks. The focus of the HMA is modern and contemporary American and European art, including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Cindy Sherman, and Jenny Holzer. The collection also includes artwork from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. 

Unlike most campus museums, the HMA displays selections of its collection throughout Housatonic Community College. Visitors also enjoy the special exhibitions, lectures, films and programs offered in the Burt Chernow Galleries. The galleries are free and open to the public.

Hill-Stead Museum

Hill-Stead Museum is noted for its 1901 33,000-square-foot house filled with art and antiques. Pioneering female architect Theodate Pope Riddle designed the Colonial Revival-style house, set on 150 hilltop acres, to showcase the Impressionist masterpieces amassed by her father, Cleveland iron industrialist Alfred A. Pope. 

Collections in 19 intact rooms include original furnishings, paintings, and numerous art works. The c. 1920 sunken garden is the centerpiece of the grounds; while three miles of walking trails treat visitors to beautiful habitats and a variety of native pollinators, birds, ponds, meadows, forest, and foliage. Special events include gala dinners, a May Market, Sunken Poetry Festival, and multicultural music, dance and theater performances.

Art Museum, University of Saint Joseph

Located on the University’s Olmsted Brothers-designed campus, the Art Museum holds a distinguished collection of more than 2,400 paintings and works on paper. Particularly strong in American 20th-century art, it includes paintings by Thomas Hart Benton, Georgia O’Keeffe and Milton Avery as well as prints by Childe Hassam and George Bellows. 

The collection of works on paper spans seven centuries, ranging from early European woodcuts to contemporary Japanese prints and a growing collection of photography. The museum offers four to six special exhibitions per year accompanied by gallery talks, lectures, and family programs.