Published: February 16, 2024
Oberlin, Ohio, is a community that has much to offer people of all ages and interests. One of its main attractions happens to be part of the Oberlin College campus. It is the Allen Memorial Art Museum ( AMAM) — a place where art and learning come together. AMAM provides many opportunities for those in the community—including Oberlin College students and Kendal at Oberlin residents—to view and appreciate fine art.
The AMAM collection of over 15,000 works of art is widely recognized as one of the finest among college art museums in the nation, showcasing exceptional strengths in a diverse range of art styles, including African, ancient, American, Asian, European, and modern and contemporary art.
About the Allen Memorial Art Museum
The museum was founded in 1917 and is home to an extensive collection, including more than 15,000 works of art spanning more than six millennia, such as works from widely recognized artists. Past and current exhibitions include:
- Marc Chagall
- Salvador Dali
- Henri Matisse
- Joan Miro
- Pablo Picasso
- Jackson Pollock
- Ray Morimura
- Derrick Adams
- Nicolas de Staël
- Frank Stella
Museum visits are free and open to the public. The museum collections are diverse, offering something for every art lover.
These areas include:
- African
- Ancient
- Art Since 1945
- Asian
- Dutch and Flemish
- Eva Hesse Archives
- Expressionism
- Frantisek Kupka Holdings
- Italian Renaissance and Baroque
- Modern Language
Art Museum Event: Tuesday Tea Talks
The second Tuesday of each month from September through May is set aside for Tuesday Tea Talks. These faculty and staff-led discussions highlight the works in the permanent collection or those in current exhibitions. The talks are conducted in the afternoon at 3 p.m., and light refreshments are served in the East Gallery following the presentations.
The Art Rental Program for Oberlin College Students
Oberlin College students have a rare opportunity to rent, and display, in their dorm rooms, works of art from the AMAM. The Art Rental program costs a nominal fee of only $5.00 for each work rented. While every work of art in the museum isn’t available through the rental program, it does consist of a robust collection of more than 400 works of art that include paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures.
Volunteer Opportunities at Allen Memorial Art Museum
Because the museum is part of Oberlin College and free to the public, it relies heavily on volunteers to help with the day-to-day operations of the museum. One such volunteer program is the student docent program, which invites students to act as tour guides for the museum. Older adults are also among the museum’s many volunteers.
Oberlin - A Cultural Center for All Ages
Oberlin, Ohio, is many things to many people. For most people who call this community home, the presence of Oberlin College, with the Conservatory of Music and the Allen Memorial Art Museum, makes it a cultural center for one and all to enjoy.
This blog was originally published in 2015 and was updated in February 2024.
In the past, Molly Kavanaugh frequently wrote about Kendal at Oberlin for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where she was a reporter for 16 years. Now we are happy to have her writing for the Kendal at Oberlin Community.
About Kendal at Oberlin: Kendal is a nonprofit life plan community serving older adults in northeast Ohio. Located about one mile from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and about a 40-minute drive from downtown Cleveland, Kendal offers a vibrant resident-led lifestyle with access to music, art and lifelong learning.
