Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Named for businessman and philanthropist Roger H. Ogden, whose 1,200 donated pieces form its core collection, the Ogden is more than just a museum. Instead, the Ogden celebrates the vivid Southern spirit and patchwork of culture, using film, visual arts, glass, photography and crafts. Housed in a light-filled geometric L-shaped space, the Ogden's dramatic, four-story atrium and floating staircase prepares the way for a truly engaging experience. The museum's 20 galleries explore themes including the importance of landscape, place, spirit, family and celebration. Presented chronologically and thematically, the exhibits charts major trends in the development of Southern art since 1890. The Ogden is always interesting - case in point Arthur Kern: The Surreal Work of a Reclusive Sculptor, on view through July 17,2016. Curated by John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this assemblage of surreal pieces has never been seen before - Kern has never had much interest in exhibiting or selling his sculptures, and as a result they have accumulated on shelves and table tops in the Uptown New Orleans home. It's a dazzling debut. In addition to visual art, the museum hosts regular weekend events like movie screenings, live music and performing arts.