Louisiana Art

From its earliest exploration and settlement by the French and Spanish, to its location of strategic and commercial importance over many centuries, to its rich and vibrant gumbo of many cultures, Louisiana has been an significant center for the arts. New Orleans was already a thriving art center by 1910 when Isaac Delgado, a successful sugar broker, offered $150,000 to the city to be used for creating "a temple of art for rich and poor alike." The city had a community of art enthusiasts, so Delgado's offer was met with great enthusiasm. The Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, later to become the New Orleans Museum of Art, was completed in 1911.

NOMA's collection includes an outstanding survey of Louisiana art from the 19th and 20th Centuries, including important works by contemporary Louisiana artists. The art communities of New Orleans and Louisiana continue to flourish, and many of NOMAÕs treasured artworks have been donated to the Museum by generous Louisiana individuals and families.