An Art Lover’s Guide to Las Vegas

Situated in downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Arts District is where you’ll find many of the city’s galleries and studios, many of which are at or around the district’s central hub, which consists of Art Square and the Arts Factory. The original district was spread out over 18 blocks, earning it the nickname “18b,” though now it’s much larger, encompassing galleries, restaurants, cafés, residences, and shops, many of which feature on art tours and walks in Las Vegas.

Insider tip: Shoppers won’t want to miss Antique Alley, a small mall dedicated to treasures from the past.

Located inside the massive Bellagio Las Vegas resort, known for its over-the-top brunch, its gorgeous fountain shows, and its O™ by Cirque du Soleil® spectacles, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is among the finest art galleries in Las Vegas. It hosts plenty of fantastic exhibitions, with past exhibits focusing on the works of everyone from Roy Lichtenstein to Andy Warhol. The permanent collection also includes many must-see artworks in Las Vegas, including works by Pablo Picasso and Washingtonian glass artist Dale Chihuly.

Among Las Vegas’ newer art attractions, the ARTE MUSEUM LAS VEGAS is a massive immersive art space spread over two floors and more than 300,000 square feet (28,000 square meters). It houses an immersive exhibit created by Korean digital art company D'strict, which offers room after room filled with magnificent expressions of light and color, including digital renderings of works by Klimt, Monet, and Van Gogh. Don't miss the tea bar, where you can order a beverage enhanced by digital art.

Las Vegas has long been known for its neon lights, and while you can certainly head to the strip to see a bedazzling collection of some of the city’s finest lighting displays, an even better place to see iconic Vegas lights is at the Neon Museum. Head to the museum’s “Neon Boneyard” to see decommissioned lights on display, some decades old. While a daytime visit can make for some great selfies, consider visiting at night when many of the lights at this quirky Las Vegas art attraction are illuminated to their former glory.

Some of the most curious public art installations in Las Vegas can be found at AREA15, which has transformed into a cultural landmark for art lovers in Las Vegas since it first opened back in 2020. This massive space features a mix of bars, shops, restaurants, and even rides, with immersive attractions such as the Illuminarium, an immersive audiovisual experience; and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, a make-believe supermarket turned on its head.

Leave the crowds of downtown and the Strip and head up to the northeastern part of town to see the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum. This off-the-beaten-path art attraction is full of Abbey's vivid, whimsical creations—many inspired by the beauty and light of the desert—and features larger-than-life abstract sculptures, colorful prints, and even stained-glass works created by the artist.

Whether you're an artist yourself or just keen on trying your hand at glassblowing, LeFrancis Glass Blowing Studios is worth visiting. Here, you can learn about the ins and outs of glassblowing from a professional artist and participate in a completely private, hands-on glassblowing lesson. You'll put on protective goggles and then get behind the torch, where you’ll learn how to make a glass pendant that will be yours to keep.

The visual and performing arts are taken to a new level at the Sphere, a huge ball of a venue that opened in September 2023. Within weeks of its launch, this massive orb became a must-see feature of the Las Vegas Strip. Its spherical appearance and massive LED exterior make it resemble a gigantic planet and though the Sphere is worth seeing from the outside, it's better to get tickets to see the interior, whether at a concert or by attending a screening of the Sphere's very own film: Postcard from Earth.

While many of Las Vegas' immersive art experiences are of the digital variety, something much more raw and rugged lies within a short drive of the city lights. Hidden Valley is one such place, for it's here that you'll find Seven Magic Mountains, a massive art installation created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone that consists of multicolored cairns stacked high, contrasting beautifully against the starkness of the desert. You can visit it on your own or make a day of it by combining a visit to the installation with a tour of the Hoover Dam or the Valley of Fire.