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Bentonville Art Galleries Guide

• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Hours: Monday, Wednesday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs-Fri 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat-Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays

Well, it makes sense to start with the mothership of art for the area. The remarkable Crystal Bridges is nestled in 134 acres of woods with over five miles of trails to explore, with outdoor pieces to view as well. In reality, the architecture itself can be viewed as its own art piece. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the museum’s muscular gray concrete walls rise from the bedrock, banded in rough cedar and curved to echo the shape of the hillside. According to its website, the structures are meant to provide views of the surrounding landscape and play up the interaction between architecture, art, and nature. The museum has multiple levels, ensuring you’ll have hundreds of pieces to check out. Not to mention, most of them are stunning. You can grab a delicious meal at their restaurant Eleven, or grab a coffee and snack to-go at the coffee bar. The majority of the museum is free. Certain special exhibitions are ticketed. The sheer size and space of the museum are something you just have to see for yourself, especially the outdoor exhibits and public events they have in the fall and holiday season. 

• 21c Museum Hotel

Hours: Open Every Day

When you finish your time at Crystal Bridges, hop on the trails and take the short walk up to 21c Hotel to stay the night, but before you head to your room, check out the art gallery they have inside and throughout the hotel! That’s right, 21c  is a 104-room boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, cultural center, and home to The Hive restaurant, led by executive chef Matthew McClure. The museum’s current exhibit, Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance, is free and runs through February 2026. What’s more, the hotel offers guests the opportunity to view art in a unique way by placing some of it on the hotel floor, in rooms, and throughout the property.

• The Momentary

Hours: Monday, Wednesday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs-Fri 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat-Sun 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays

If I told you one of the best art museums in Bentonville was a decommissioned cheese factory, you probably wouldn’t believe me, but it’s true. The Momentary is operated in conjunction with Crystal Bridges and offers visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals, artists-in-residence, and more. The art is diverse, showcasing photography exhibits, special ticketed events such as temporary exhibitions, concerts at its outdoor music venue, festivals, and even culinary events like a barbeque festival and handcrafted cocktails at the Tower Bar, which offers some of the best views of Bentonville in the entire city. DBI recently got to preview their new exhibit, “Front Row Center: Icons of Rock, Blues, and Soul,” which charts photographer Larry Hulst’s extraordinary path through the pulsing heart of the most exciting live music of the twentieth century. The Momentary’s building itself is unique, illustrating the art found in its factory structure. It’s definitely worth checking out to admire how the developers were able to turn a factory into an art museum, but the majority of free art displays present as well as Onyx Coffee, Tower Bar drinks, and occasional concerts, are the cherry (or cheese) on top.

• 211 South

Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

I just love the way this town always has “places within places.” Oddly enough, more than one of them are art galleries. For instance, check out 211 South, located within Engel & Völkers NWA at 211 South Main Street. This gallery hosts curated solo and group exhibitions focusing on amazing regional and local artists. There are four exhibitions hosted each year on three-month rotations, so you’ll always have something new to see just when you’re ready to go back again.

• Midnight Gallery

Hours: Sunday, Wednesday 4-10 p.m. Thursday 4-11 p.m. Fri-Sat 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Remember how I said there was a speakeasy called Callisto hidden inside an art gallery? (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, be sure to check out our Date Night blog.) Allow me to introduce you to the Midnight Gallery! The Midnight Gallery is another place where local artists can come to show off their talent in an exhibit. The Midnight Gallery hosts open calls for every quarterly show. Two quarters are split into three separate, month-long solo exhibitions. According to their website, they’ve featured a diverse range of artists practicing within 100 miles of Bentonville.