old jail art center

They have a little for everyone. The receptionist was very informative. Very nice collection. Good spots to sit and take in the art.

Unexpected and very well done for an art gallery. Variety of pieces that should interest everyone, the volunteers were knowledgeable and helpful.

Thankfully, a friend had recommended that I pay a visit here. What a gem this place is! To find works by artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Moore, and to see works that span important periods in Asian, American, European, and pre-Columbian art, in a small 2,000-people Texas town, is just amazing! I also enjoyed viewing the Camp Bosworth exhibits and the current exhibition of Allison V Smith.Holly on reception was welcoming and wonderful, explaining what was on show, answering questions, and providing interesting insights on the works.More folks need to know about this excellent art center.

We chose Memorial Day weekend to do more exploring in rural Texas and picked Albany, TX because of its location (a couple of hours from our home) and the reputation of two of its restaurants. Sadly, one of the restaurants no long opens unless booked by a group and the other did not serve lunch on Saturdays. We ended up eating in a so-so Tex-Mex restaurant with the locals and other visitors...the other choice was a DQ. In any event, the trip was well worthwhile and we're glad we did it. Albany has a wonderful old--1880s--court house (one of the 250 or so in Texas) it is remarkable and well kept. It sits on the town square and near the Old Jail Art Center. It's also an easy walk from there to stroll down Main Street and visit the shops and the Flying A Car Club (100 South Main).The Car Club is a must stop for folks who like old or classic cars...There are 30 or so collectors who rotate some of their 150+ cars through the museum...so the collection changes often. There's also a good deal of auto memorabilia and a wonderful collection of toy automobiles. It's well worth a stop and a good place for guys to hang out while the gals shop in the crafts and antique stores scattered along Main Street.The real surprise was the Old Jail Art Center...a wonderful complex anchored by the 1880s vintage town jail. The docents who greeted us were extremely knowledgable and very friendly and added a great deal to our visit. We were amazed to walk into a room with paintings by Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Modigliani and Matisse...and sculptures by Moore and Calder. There's also a good collection of pre-Columbian art as well as some wonderful pieces of Asian art. All of this in a town of about 2,100 people! It was worth the drive just to see this great collection...in the middle of nowhere.Neither the Flying A Club Museum nor the Old Jail Art Center charge for admission but accept donations. They are worth of a contribution to keep these interesting places going. You can check out hours and location on line and the Albany Chamber of Commerce has a pretty good website and a Visitors Center in town...wasn't open when we visited but we easily found everything we wanted to see. We did not visit Fort Griffin since it was beginning to rain (something sorely needed in these parts) and it's located about 32 miles north of Albany.

What a treasure in the small town of Albany, Texas! The town itself is worth a visit for the restaurants and shopping, but the Old Jail Art Center is the jewel. There are interesting sculptures outside the building and the building itself is of historic interest. Inside I was blown away by the collection of art from local to world class including a Renoir and a Thomas Hart Benton. When I visited there was an interesting modern art exhibit. Something for everyone who enjoys art museums.So if you are near Albany, Texas, go directly to Jail!!!

We came across this art museum whilst driving from Lubbock to Dallas and it was a fantastic find. Burial figures from China, screen prints from Japan and a room full of Western treasure were all on display. The town of Albany is also worth visiting. What a great accidental discovery!

The fact that the structure was an old jailhouse first attracted us to the building, but what a surprise to see the collect of museum pieces! The interior is still laid out like the old jailhouse, but the treasures within will amaze you. We showed up just about closing time, but the girl working there let us take a fast tour through the museum. Could have spent more time there. Well worth your time to see this art center and the town itself which is like stepping back into time. Wish I had more time to spend there.

Albany Texas is northeast of Abilene about 25 miles. It is a small town with an interesting history. One of their claims to fame is the world class Art Center anchored by the jail from the early 1900's. Everything from pre-Columbian hand-made pieces to ancient Chinese art from numerous ancient dynasties. Where else in the world can you actually walk right up to a couple Renoirs or a Toulouse Lautrec? And modern art as well starting from the 40's and 50's up to today. Domestic and foreign. They also have a section where they rotate the works of a "guest" artist several times a year. Really impressive. You self-tour through the galleries. It is free, but c'mon and give a donation. It is for a great cause. And enjoy the local restaurants while you are there.

2 friends and I recently drove to Albany TX to the Old Jail Art Center to see the Lucien Abrams exhibit. First of all the museum itself is a treat to see. There are several galleries with examples from their permanent collections. One gallery was Chinese figurines, another gallery exhibited Japanese ceramics. In the main galleries were lovely paintings from Renoir, Warhol, Toulouse-Lautrec, etc. But we fell in love with Mr Abrams paintings on view. They are indeed lovely and you can see the influence of the impressionist movement in his paintings. From the DFW area it is only about an 2 - 3 hours drive so it can be visited in a day...and so worth the trip. Also on display were photographs of Mr Abrams, his family and places he had visited as well as some of his sketch books. And important to me, there is a comfortable bench to sit and rest and absorb his paintings. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. In fact the interim director walked over to us and introduction herself and talked about the museum and the exhibit. I am a museum junkie and this is the first time I have ever meet a director.Also outside the museum are wonderful sculptures that reflect the West Texas vibe. My favorite was of the Bradford Pear....lovely.Even without a special exhibit this museum is a treasure...and not just for West Texas but for all of us....go see it NOW!! and there is NO admission fe!!!

One would not expect to find a museum of this caliber deep in the heart of Texas!Not only is the history of the structure itself quite fascinating, but the eclectic collection was beyond our expectations.Also, visitors are greeted by a most unusual sculpture collection as you enter the property.

we went on a tour bus and saw the area. it was nice history of the area.

This is a treasure of an art museum. The collection is wonderful, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the buildings and grounds are interesting and lovely. Take an hour or so and enjoy this museum.

...also Toulouse-Lautrec and a couple of fine small oils by well-known 19th century French artists.

What a surprise!! Housed in the old jail (with a few additions) you will find beautiful contemporary sculpture in the courtyard-American, Italian. Inside you will find Chinese tomb artifacts, pre-Columbian art, Indian artifacts, Renoir, Alexander Caulder, Klee, Picasso, contemporary and modern art. And it is FREE!!! Donations are accepted.This is definitely a hidden treasure! If you are traveling on I-20 between Ft. Worth and Abilene, take a detour. You will be glad you did!Closed Monday.