Did someone say road trip? We all know road trips as a quintessential part of an All-American summer and the truest test of friendship. And now, you should also use it as an excuse to experience art you won’t find in just any museum! We’ve lined up our top outdoors art exhibitions in the U.S. for you in this weekly installment of #InstagramThis, so pack a bag, grab your friends, and let’s hit the road.
Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Desert Art Museum
Where: 63030 Blair Lane, Joshua Tree, California
When: Ongoing, from sun up ’til sundown
Why: It’s literally a museum in the desert! Noah Purifoy was an assemblage artist who used art as a social tool, particularly for environmental activism. His 10-acre museum is home to the architectural masterpieces that he created over a 15-year period after moving from LA to the Mojave desert, a dramatic setting for your next Instagram post.
Where: 5200 Sonoma (Carneros) Highway, Napa, California
When: Ongoing
Why: di Rosa sits on 217 acres of land, complete with three separate galleries, a 35-acre lake, and actual peacocks! Not to mention that its collection boasts some of the most significant works of Bay Area artists. It’s truly a must-see destination.
Where: 1 Golden St, Beatty, Nevada
When: Ongoing
Why: Another art museum set in a desert! This one, however, is located right near the ghost town of Rhyolite, giving you two reasons to head to Nevada.
Museum of Outdoor Arts’ Sculpture on the Green
Where: Fiddlers Green Circle, Greenwood Village, Colorado
When: May 2017 – April 2018
Why: This outdoor exhibition celebrates the work of four innovative local artists from Colorado. We’re especially in love with Dmitri Obergfell’s “What Happens on Earth, Stays on Earth,” a skeletal sculpture painted with automotive paint, giving it an oil-slicked, purple-green shine.
Where: 1501 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: Ongoing, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Why: Brighten up your Insta with a trip to Randyland! Artist Randy Gilson has transformed his house and backyard into Pennsylvania’s most colorful landmark. He is constantly creating artworks out of found objects, so Randyland is always a little different each time you visit.
Brooklyn Brush’s Outdoor Gallery Project
Where: 203 Harrison Place, Brooklyn, New York
When: Ongoing
Why: This mural-lined street screams photoshoot to us. Take selfies with all your favorite artworks and save some to post on a rainy day!
Where: Storm King Art Center, 1 Museum Road, New Windsor, New York
When: May 13 – November 12, 2017
Why: We love Storm King Art Center’s main collection, but Heather Hart’s special exhibition is worth visiting in its own right. Visitors are allowed to climb onto and walk under this rooftop, making it the perfect photo opportunity. If you angle your camera just right, it’ll look like you’re dangerously balancing on the top of a roof!
top photo // via @agapitomaltenimarchino
