The El Paso Museum of Art occupies 1 Arts Festival Plaza in downtown El Paso and offers free admission to its galleries, exhibitions, and many public programs. Its collection spans European, American, and Mexican art, reflecting the cultures that shaped this border city.
The museum’s best-known holding is the Samuel H. Kress Collection. These European paintings and sculptures from the 13th to the 18th centuries include Italian Renaissance and Baroque works by artists such as Canaletto. In the American galleries, visitors find regional painting, including work by El Paso native Tom Lea, alongside pieces that trace the Southwest’s artistic history. The Mexican colonial holdings feature devotional retablos and viceregal-era painting, which connect the city to its neighbor across the Rio Grande. Changing contemporary exhibitions bring in border-region and Latin American voices. Family programs, classes, and community events make the museum a good fit for children as well as dedicated art lovers.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday mornings are usually the quietest time to visit. Weekends and special-event evenings draw larger local crowds. The museum is closed some weekdays, so confirm current hours, tours, and parking on the official visitor page before you go. Plan for 90 minutes to see the permanent galleries. Arts Festival Plaza sits beside the El Paso Museum of History and the historic Plaza Theatre, so you can easily combine stops. San Jacinto Plaza and the Sun Metro streetcar line are a short walk away for exploring the rest of downtown.
