Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville (must see)

The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is a public art museum located in Knoxville that specializes in historical and contemporary art from the East Tennessee region. Its mission statement is to celebrate and promote the art and artists of East Tennessee, present new ideas, educate and serve a diverse community, enhance Knoxville's quality of life, and operate ethically and transparently as a public trust.

The museum was founded in 1961 as the Dulin Gallery of Art and was located in the H.L. Dulin House on Kingston Pike. In 1984, the board of trustees decided to construct a new facility at the site of the 1982 World's Fair in downtown Knoxville. The museum was renamed the Knoxville Museum of Art in 1987, and the new 53,200-square-foot building was designed by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and opened in March 1990.

The KMA features five galleries and two large outdoor garden areas, with the building's exterior made of pink Tennessee marble. In 2013 and 2014, the museum underwent a major renovation, including the restoration of the marble cladding and the redesign of the North Garden.

The museum's focus has shifted over the years to highlight Southern Appalachian culture and artists from the East Tennessee region. Its permanent exhibition, Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee, features works by noted native artists as well as artists from outside the region who produced significant work in Knoxville. The museum also has a permanent exhibition of modern and contemporary studio glass and a collection of Thorne miniature rooms.

The KMA's programming includes museum tours, workshops, artist residencies, outreach programs, lectures, concerts, classroom programs, and family activities. The museum has an ongoing interest in showcasing solo museum shows for promising new artists, both from the region and beyond. The KMA serves over 60,000 people annually through its various programs and events.

Knoxville Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.