Remarkable gallery located on a beautiful 2nd floor space on Penn Avenue Downtown…read more Admission is free, and the art I've seen on display has been dazzling and engaging. While Wood Street Galleries tends to be flashier and high tech, 937 Gallery makes up for that with gorgeous craftsmanship and a solid emotional connection. The attendant always appears well informed, especially about what is showing at the other galleries. The current show by Andrea London is a "must see."

I stopped by the Carnegie Museum of Art because I was looking for something fun to do inside. The…read moreCarnegie International is on display throughout the museum. Super cool, this is the 59th year and is the longest running exhibit in North America. This year titled "If the word we". As I was standing in the lobby reading about the exhibit, a small group started to assemble and a docent arrived for a free art walk of some classical pieces on display. In all my years of going to the museum, this was my first docent led tour and it was really interesting. It lasted about an hour and was very interactive with the guests. I really enjoyed.

For the museum lovers in the crowd, this is a decent museum. I do remember thinking like a snooty…read moreelite a few times that those accustomed to museums abroad in Europe would think this was weaksauce -- in terms of the art presented and the amount of art (or lack thereof). That said, you DO get entry into not just the museum but also the History museum while there, so your day can be rather full if you want to check out more than just art (e.g., dinosaur bones and other fossils). And perhaps most interestingly -- for those who haven't been to Europe, currently there museum has these huge stone structures that you would find in, say, Rome or elsewhere. I can only imagine how they transported these! But for someone who hasn't gotten to see the immensity of something like an old historic church embellished with stone sculptures that put our basic designs to shame, this is an experience worth having... Get there while they have them if they are part of a temporary exhibit! Bottom line: Decent. Good for the kids, too.

Free Admission ... Highly recommended ... This is the…read moreoriginal (out of three (there will be a fourth in the near future)) of the Troy Hill Art Houses. Without giving spoilers, I will only say that the inside of this house is really cool, and totally worth your while to visit. Make your reservation online, arrive on time, and enjoy ... Cheers! P.S. Contrary to what the listing says on Yelp, this art museum is NOT closed, it is open on weekends by appointment. See web site for details . . . https://www.troyhillarthouses.com/

Art isn't always stuffy or esoteric. In the case of the Hütte Royal Art House, it's a total blast…read more Don't start with any preconceptions, just go and experience something new and joyful. And when it's time, definitely DO go through the portal. I was laughing all the way, because the portal is unique and transforming. The docents are well trained and helpful. They are there to protect the art, but also answer any questions you may have and to guide you on your way. Total fun. Troy Hill, you rock!

Another one of the three Troy Hill Art Houses (a fourth and final one is scheduled to open in…read more2024). Free admission, but online reservations are required. There are a variety of artistic themes happening in the different rooms and floors of this house, including the back yard. Lots of detail for you to observe. I think it is really cool, and worthwhile of your time to visit ... Cheers! Online reservations can be made here . . . https://www.troyhillarthouses.com/

The second of 3 Art Houses, the Kunzhaus is a fascinating installation by Robert Kuśmirowski, an…read moreartist from Łódź, Poland. There are so many evocative details to ponder, however you should go experience them yourself. Admission is free, but only by appointment.

If you love history and want to see where things all started here. This is the museum for you…read more It's especially great on the 4th of July. They have special events going on that day. They shoot from the canon, people are dressed in costumes and tell stories from the period. Kids have interactive things they can try with toy guns talking to the soldiers. The museum itself is nice too. They have all kinds of artifacts that you can see. You can see a map and recreations of what things looked like back then. You can see how people lived, what they wore and the struggles they went through to fight for freedom and establish this area. There's a lot of talk about George Washington and how he worked with local Seneca chief guide, Guyasata. You get a general overview in school about Washington and the war but they give you more finite details and how it pertained to this area's growth. If you love history definitely check it out.

I think Pittsburgh is undervalued as a historic American city, and this small, two-floor museum…read moreattests to the city's critical role in the American Revolution and the French & Indian War. At least that's what I learned when I inadvertently visited during my wintry stroll around Point State Park. Yes, to be truthful, I was looking for a break from the obstinate weather, and the $8 admission was a small price to pay. I'm glad I did visit because the curators have taken an immersive approach in providing living history programs which included demonstrations from 18th-century "characters" in recreations of structures like a trader's cabin and soldiers' barracks. Housed in a recreated bastion of the original 1758 fort, the museum carries unique artifacts like a copper whiskey and a cannon. Definitely worth a stop-by. RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/VlkxJtR3sY

I have definitely learned that contemporary/modern art is just not my thing. That being said, that…read moredoesn't mean that Mattress Factory isn't worth a visit. The museum does not have its own parking lot, so you will need to find street parking. However, there seemed to be plenty of options in the area. They exhibits are spread out over various floors and areas. They have a suggested path, but you can really explore at your own pace and interest. The "famous" work is the polka dot room which is really intriguing and visually appealing. My daughter like to say "art is all about how the artist sells it and what you make of it" and this is the perfect place to put that mentality into effect. There were some pieces that I was just baffled about being "art" and there were others that while I personally didn't enjoy them, I could appreciate the time and talent that went in to creating them. If you are looking for a unique museum experience, this is definitely the place for you.

The Mattress Factory excels at site-specific imersive installation art, and their permanent…read morecollection has some origami art by some of the biggest names in installation art. The museum also hosts private events, a few of which I've attended, and they were outstanding. The staff are very welcoming. The museum gives back to the local community in a big way.

A nice little shop on Walnut in Shadyside. It's been a couple years since I stopped in, and saw…read morethat it really hasn't changed much with time. A pleasant fellow let me look about and we chatted about this and that. The collection here is rather eclectic and spread among many themes - and there's a lot of Pgh sports stuff. I did find two pieces by a Spanish artist. They were a bit overpriced...but he did knock of a some off for the pair and I liked them, so I went ahead and made the purchase. It's all good; the place is worth a look. I hear they do nice framing as well.

Maser Galleries is excellent for framing. We had a page from an old magazine with artwork that…read moremeant a lot to us. Brenda helped us frame it beautifully. She had great ideas that we never would've come up with if we'd tried to design it ourselves. It took four or five days, and the price was very reasonable. When we picked up the framed piece, they had created a pocket in the back and tucked in some information about the magazine (Harper's) explaining its cultural and historical significance. It was very thoughtful and we really appreciated it. While we were in the gallery for framing, we loved looking around at the paintings. They are striking, lovely, and accessibly priced. We visited during the pandemic (December 2020) and were grateful and at ease because of the common-sense precautions they took. Brenda wore a mask the entire time, without mentioning it. She took care to stand back from us as we looked at the framing materials. She propped open the door for air flow.

Museum Lab is an extension of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and they're located next door to…read moreone another. The lab is geared towards teens offering programs and workshops in tech, art, and more. The innovative space has an industrial ambiance and boasts a climbing sculpture made of hemp that's three-stories high. The museum also offers networking programs for adults. Variety of art exhibits at any given time. Great place to explore.