Photos by Victoria Alexes Mikula
Here in Pittsburgh, there is a plethora of art and culture; everywhere you turn there’s some kind of gallery, art exhibit, or museum featuring everything from classic art to photography, and even dinosaur fossils and gems from all over the world. You may think that museums can be dull and boring, but the ones throughout Pittsburgh are far from! The best part of these museums is that they can be enjoyed 100% free with your Point Park ID! This week, Her Campus went on a museum hop from the North Shore to Oakland to show you some of the coolest museums worth checking out in the city!
The Andy Warhol Museum:
This colorful museum is a seven-story tribute to the infamous pop artist, (you guessed it) Andy Warhol. The Warhol displays his most famous pieces along with his strangest work, like a piece made with his own urine on copper… it’s cooler than you think! There’s also an entire exhibit dedicated to Warhol’s Interview magazine (yes, the one in The Carrie Diaries). Make sure you head down to the Factory on the underground level to create Warhol style pieces like a silkscreen printing and blotted line drawings!
The Mattress Factory:
The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum located in the North Shore that features art installations created in-house by incredible artist from around the world. The artists live at the museum while creating, and they are supported completely so that they may focus on their creations. While there are some permanent exhibits, other exhibits change all the time. All your senses will be engaged as you wind through pitch black halls, mirrored rooms, and a forest of hanging tin cans- yes, seriously. Even if you aren’t quite an art connoisseur, these exhibits are too cool to pass up!
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History and The Carnegie Museum of Art:
Two amazing museums in one, the Museum of Natural History & Museum of Art house an incredible learning experience from the ancient Egyptians to the most modern art. The Carnegie Museum is MASSIVE. You begin looking at dinosaur fossils and end up studying a gorgeous Monet painting; you could spend all day here. There are interactive exhibits like Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Tea Tent, where you can enjoy a cup of tea with friends or strangers, artistic films, an entire room filled with gorgeous minerals and diamonds, a room filled with replicas of ancient roman architecture, and even some history of Pittsburgh itself! From classic art to bones and minerals, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy here.