Gibbes Museum of Art

Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the public in 1905. Located along the Museum Mile in Charleston’s historic district, the museum offers visitors the opportunity to explore stories of the South as seen through painting, sculpture, photographs and more. The Gibbes' permanent collection consists of over 10,000 works, principally American with a Charleston or Southern connection.

In 2016, the Gibbes Museum reopened after a two-year, $13.5 million renovation that revitalized the iconic Beaux-Arts building. In a return to the Museum’s origin as an academy-style institution, the first floor of the renovated Museum now serves as the center for education and community engagement. In new on-site studios, classrooms, and lecture space, the Museum increased opportunities for hands-on, engaged learning. Reception and lecture spaces are connected to the Lenhardt Garden and provide the ideal setting for corporate meetings, intimate dinners, and receptions.

Renovated gallery spaces increased by 30%, allowing for installations that focus on Museum highlights including our Miniature Portrait collection. The third floor features galleries dedicated to special exhibitions and a new state-of-the-art storage facility provides a viewing platform for visitors to see conservators, preparators, and collections managers at work.

The Gibbes Museum enhances lives through art by engaging people of every background and experience with art and artists of enduring quality, by collecting and preserving art that touches Charleston, and by providing opportunities to learn, to discover, to enjoy, and to be inspired by the creative process.