Aspen Art Museum
4.2(427)google
3.2(33)yelp
Contemporary ArtEducationalFreeIndoorScenic Lookout
Overview
Founded in 1979, the Aspen Art Museum (AAM) is a non-collecting contemporary art museum located in Aspen, Colorado, United States. Its current Artistic Director and CEO is Nicola Lees who was appointed in 2020. AAM exhibitions include drawings, paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations and electronic media.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun10:00AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeYear-round, with Tuesday through Sunday being operational days. The ideal time of day is 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This timing allows you to browse the galleries and head up to the museum's public rooftop deck just in time for a pre-sunset beverage looking over Aspen Mountain.
Getting ThereConveniently located in downtown Aspen. You can take the RFTA regional commuter bus system to the main Rubey Park Transit Center. From there, it is a flat, 4-minute walk north (about 3 blocks) via E Hyman Ave and turning onto S Spring St to reach the museum entrance.
Travel Tips
- Located in downtown Aspen (635 E Hyman Ave), the museum provides zero dedicated visitor parking. Street parking uses meters with high rates and a strict 2-hour limit; instead, park at the Rio Grande Parking Plaza three blocks away, which is the only economical option for extended stays.
- While general admission is complimentary, the museum is strictly closed on Mondays. The rooftop SO Cafe offers unobstructed, panoramic views of Aspen Mountain, but seating becomes completely congested during peak lunch hours (12:00 PM to 1:30 PM); timing your visit off-hour secures prime window seating.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Non-commercial photography is permitted, but large backpacks, full-length umbrellas, and professional tripods are banned inside galleries. Any bag exceeding 11x15 inches must be checked for free at the front desk; touching unprotected contemporary installations is strictly forbidden and monitored via sensitive electronic arrays.
Reviews
Positive
- The woven wooden exterior by Shigeru Ban is a masterpiece itself, and the rooftop offers stunning views of Aspen Mountain.
- The museum is completely free to the public, which is incredibly generous and a rare value in pricey Aspen.
- The contemporary art exhibitions are avant-garde and thought-provoking, with frequent rotations ensuring fresh visits.
- The staff is extremely welcoming and proactively explains the background of the artwork to confused visitors.
Heads up
- The gallery space is quite small and the collections are sparse; you can finish it in 15 minutes if modern art isn't your thing.
- Parking in downtown Aspen is extremely scarce and expensive, and the museum has no dedicated parking lot.
- Some exhibitions are too abstract and obscure, lacking accessible signs to help regular visitors understand them.
- The rooftop cafe is quite expensive, and the seating is often entirely overtaken by the afternoon tea crowd in high season.