High Museum of Art

From its early 20th-century beginnings in Mrs. Joseph M. High’s former mansion on Peachtree Street, the High Museum of Art has grown into a world-class institution housed in structures designed by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, totaling 300,000 square feet of space. The permanent collection of more than 15,000 works is particularly strong on American and decorative 19th- and 20th-century art. In addition to its growing contemporary art and photography holdings—including a peerless stash of civil rights era photographs—the High has assembled one of most significant collections of American self-taught and vernacular art in the world. The vibrant special exhibition program recently showcased murals depicting the battle for civil rights by Atlanta-based artist Hale Woodruff and a major retrospective focusing on innovative photographer Vik Muniz.