Beyond the Big Cities: Small Towns with Thriving Art Scenes
When people think of art destinations, they tend to picture metropolitan cities like New York, Chicago or LA. But beyond these big players, there is an abundance of small American towns that are defining themselves by their small but mighty influence in the art world. These are places such as Marfa, Texas where you can walk Donald Judd’s acclaimed outdoor installation ‘Untitled Works in Concrete’ or Ashland, Oregon where you can experience Shakespeare under open skies at the Allen Elizabethan Theatre: small towns where the art is as inspiring as the landscapes that surround them, each bolstered by a strong local community of creatives, makers and artists, with a deep sense of place. From street art to galleries, museums to installations – we’ve put together a curated list of our favorite small American art towns not to be missed.
Marfa, Texas
Donald Judd’s ‘100 untitled works in mill aluminum’ in Marfa, Texas
Deep in the high desert of west Texas, through plains and tumbleweed, sits the mysterious but magical town of Marfa, Texas. A popular artist escape since the 1920s, Marfa is known for attracting artists, makers and creatives looking for remoteness, solitude, and a quiet place to focus on their art. The vast rust-hued dessert landscape provides just that. Originally, it was Donald Judd’s influence that solidified Marfa as a contemporary minimalist art haven. In the 1970s, Judd – a well-known artist by this time – left his comfortable and successful life in New York City to set up shop in Marfa. He then purchased multiple buildings and properties that he turned into studios and permanent exhibits, many of which are open for viewings and tours to this day. For a town so small – the population sits at 1,600 on a good day – the influence and reach of the art world, through the sheer number of studios, galleries, artists residencies and permanent art installations – marks Marfa as one of the top art towns in the country.
Don’t Miss: Prada Marfa + The Chinati Foundation
More Marfa Inspiration: Going Wild in West Texas: A Private Ranch Road Trip
Taos, New Mexico
The Harwood Museum in Taos, New Mexico
The small and storied high-desert town of Taos sits at the edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico. Often described as the “soul of the southwest”, this small community is surrounded by an expansive desert landscape, seas of sagebrush and endless plains, where it’s often said that the light never hits the same way twice. The heritage of the community is deeply-rooted in Indigenous and Hispanic culture serving as a spiritual inspiration to visitors. All of which might explain why artists, such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams, have flocked to Taos for decades. Today, you can explore this artistic legacy through local museums, festivals and the almost 100 galleries in town.
Don’t Miss: Taos Pueblo + Harwood Museum of Art + The Taos Art Museum
More New Mexico Inspiration: Connections: Taos with Zak Pelaccio and Jori Jayne Emde
Berea, Kentucky
The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel in Berea, Kentucky
A small town nestled against the rugged Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky, Berea is well known by locals as the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky.” This small community is the heart and soul of the Appalachian art scene. Home to Berea College, Berea Craft Festival and the Festival of Learnshops, the vibrancy and color of Berea’s artistic personality is visible everywhere and year round – from its historic Boone Tavern Hotel to the artisan studios and galleries that line the streets. Here, art is more than just a display; it’s a way of life—a celebration of craftsmanship that honors the strong and colorful heritage of the region.
Don’t Miss: Boone Tavern Hotel + Berea Craft Festival
Ashland, Oregon
The Allen Elizabethan Theatre in Ashland, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon has been steadily gaining recognition as one of America’s favorite art towns. This charming Pacific Northwest town tucked in the Rogue Valley is home to a vibrant creative scene with a downtown strip lined with local coffee shops, niche speciality stores, and art galleries. But it’s the world famous Shakespeare Festival that cements Ashland’s reputation as a true artist’s destination. For eight months of the year, from March through October, people from all over the world travel to Ashland to take part in and watch a diverse array of plays, contemporary works, musicals, and world premieres alongside Shakespearean classics.
Don’t Miss: Allen Elizabethan Theater + Schneider Museum of Art
More Ashland Inspiration: Seattle to San Francisco: The Great Pacific Road Trip
Bentonville, Arkansas
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville, Arkansas, a small town situated deep in the heart of the Ozarks, has rapidly emerged as a surprising and vibrant art destination in the American South. Crystal Bridges, with its stunning architecture by Moshe Safdie and a collection spanning colonial times to contemporary works, serves as the city’s cultural centerpiece, drawing art enthusiasts from around the world. Beyond the museum, the city’s art scene is flourishing with public art installations, artist residencies, and events like the Bentonville Film Festival. The recently opened Momentary, a contemporary art space housed in a repurposed cheese factory, offers space for experimental art, music, and performance, bringing a distinctly contemporary flair to the town’s creative landscape. With galleries, street art, and outdoor installations dotting the town, small-town charm converges with big-city art vibes, putting it near the top of our list.
Don’t Miss: Crystal Bridges + Momentary
More Art Inspiration: Land Art: Ambitious Installations as Epic as the Landscapes They Inhabit