America’s most Instagrammed museums
- The U.S. offers such a broad array of incredible art museums, featuring work from all eras, countries, and mediums. But which gallery is home to the most photo-friendly work? Analyzing Instagram hashtag data for each major museum, we’ve ranked the art venues in America that visitors love to snap and share the most.
1. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City – 395,500 posts
- Taking top spot as the most Instagrammed museum in America, we have New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (you might know it as the Met). Situated on the glamourous Fifth Avenue, the Met is home to the famous annual costumed gala that sees celebrities wear their own interpretation of art. If you’re visiting, you won’t be disappointed; with over two million pieces of art and sculpture, from some of history’s most renowned names, the place is a true marvel and one to add to any NYC itinerary.
2. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City – 323,000 posts
Focused exclusively on American paintings, sculptures, photography, and new media, the Whitney in New York City is a true testament to U.S. talent of past and present and well-worth a visit if you’re looking for your culture fix in The Big Apple. The building itself is a glorious example of creative design, and the art inside will blow your mind.
3. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City – 287,000 posts
Thought to be the world’s largest collection of modern art, the MoMA in New York City offers contemporary contrast when compared to other big NYC names on this list. Playing a huge role in the development and curation of the globe’s latest masterpieces, this museum offers creative inspiration for the latest generation of geniuses.
4. Brooklyn Museum, New York City – 239,500 posts
The fourth gallery in New York City to earn a place on our list, the Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest in the country and houses 1.5 million total works, including various priceless antiquities from across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Just walking through the museum will give you goosebumps, as you breathe in the history and culture of civilizations from thousands of years ago.
5. National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C. – 179,700 posts
- As the name of this museum suggests, the National Portrait Gallery contains a mesmerizing collection of headshots, including the original painted portraits of Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, and Frederick Douglass. And if you’re more into your photography, the gallery also has contemporary exhibitions.
6. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago – 171,300 posts
- Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and most prominent collections of artwork in America. The museum boasts an extensive display of iconic pieces, including work by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh. Here, you’ll also find Seurat’s famous ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’, the founding work of the pointillism movement.
7. The Broad, Los Angeles – 118,000 posts
A contemporary art gallery in downtown LA, The Broad features nearly 2,000 individual pieces of artwork to enjoy free of charge. Visiting, your first impression of the amazing museum is its completely unique architecture, which is as innovative, inspiring, and enchanting as the artwork inside.
8. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. – 101,000 posts
Washington D.C.’s second inclusion on our list, The National Gallery of Art features paintings, drawings, and photography, as well as a leisurely outside Sculpture Garden that demands to be explored. One of the biggest draws, though, is the presence of the only Leonardo Da Vinci painting to hang in the Americas.
9. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia – 78,000 posts
With over 240,000 works dotted throughout the museum, including pieces of significant European, American, and Asian historical value, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a hub of culture. Fun fact: the steps outside the museum featured as part of Rocky Balboa’s famous training sequence in the 1976 film ‘Rocky’.
10. Denver Art Museum, Denver – 75,000 posts
Known for its collection of American Indian art, the Denver Art Museum pays homage to the work of the nation’s indigenous people. This, along with over 70,000 more pieces from around the globe, has made the gallery a hive of diversity and celebration of culture.
11. Seattle Art Museum, Seattle – 66,300 posts
The Seattle Art Museum operates across three major sites, including the main gallery, the Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM), and the Olympic Sculpture Park. SAAM celebrates the work of contemporary and historic work of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Korean artists, while the sculpture park overlooking the Seattle waterfront is open to the public to enjoy.
12. Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee – 50,000 posts
The Milwaukee Art Museum is utterly unique, with an incredible architectural design overlooking the shimmering lakefront. And once you step through the front doors, you’ll be no less impressed. The gallery houses over 25,000 works, including one of America’s largest collections of Georgia O-Keefe paintings.
With so many gallery hotspots located across the country, it’s interesting to see which receive the most recognition across social media. For creative tips and even more insight into the art world, check out the rest of our blog.