Speed Art Museum

• 4.5 Stars.
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Established in 1927, the Speed Art Museum is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum with over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection. Its extensive collection spans 6,000 years, ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary art. The museum has distinguished collections of 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, 18th century French art, Renaissance and Baroque tapestries, and significant holdings of contemporary American painting and sculpture. African and Native American works also represent a growing segment of the museum's collection. The Speed also houses paintings, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts by Kentucky artists and created for Kentuckians. Since completing a major $12 million renovation and expansion in 1997, the Speed has brought major exhibitions of photography, painting, design, and sculpture to the region to help fulfill its ambitious mission: bringing great art and people together. Located next to the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus, the museum serves more than 180,000 visitors annually.