The Carnegie Museum of Art features a distinguished collection of fine art, film, video, sculpture and antiques, as well as exhibits of architectural drawings and models and plaster casts of American architectural masterpieces. It is arguably the first museum of contemporary art in the United States with roots dating back to 1896, when Pittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie began a series of exhibits focused on the nation’s most accomplished artists of the time.

Early acquisitions that included the works of Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler and Camille Pissarro set the foundation of a collection that today is regarded for its American art from the mid-19th century to the present, French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings and its late-20th century works. The museum includes the recently renovated Scaife Galleries, where many of the collection’s paintings, sculptures, works on paper and decorative arts are exhibited.

The museum is also home to the Carnegie International (May 3, 2008 through Jan. 11, 2009). The exhibition – the 55th – presents the work of a wide range of established and emerging artists on the forefront of contemporary art.

Child magazine recently ranked the Carnegie Museum of Art one of America’s five best art museums for children, giving it high marks for its free, weekend drop-in art making programs for children and families, gallery play dates for preschool-aged children, art classes and summer camps, child-friendly audio tour and family-oriented conveniences.

Henry Clay Frick, born in 1849 in Westmoreland County, Pa., rose to become one of the leading industrialists of his time, first in the production of the coke that fueled steelmaking and later in steelmaking itself as Andrew Carnegie’s partner in the Carnegie Steel Company, a major player in America’s industrial age. As his wealth grew, so did Frick’s investment in art and at the time of his death in 1919 he was a collector of international standing.

The Frick Art & Historical Center is a complex of museums and historical buildings on five acres of lawns and gardens in Pittsburgh's residential East End devoted to the life and times of Henry Clay Frick. The restored family home, Clayton, a 23-room chateau-style mansion, stands as it was for the 22 years Frick lived there before moving to New York in 1905. More than 90 percent of the artifacts found in the house are original

Also on the grounds is The Frick Art Museum, built in 1969 to hold the fine and decorative arts collection of Frick’s daughter, Helen Clay Frick. Among the exhibits are porcelains, bronzes, rare 17th- and 18th-century furniture and paintings by Rubens, Boucher, Giovanni de Paolo and others. Guests are also invited to visit the Greenhouse, the Frick children’s playhouse and the Café, which offers fine cuisine and a panoramic view of the grounds. More than 20 vintage automobiles are on display at the Car and Carriage Museum, including Henry Clay Frick’s 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost touring car and Howard Heinz’s 1898 Panhard.

The Mattress Factory, housed in a former mattress factory and warehouse located in the historic Mexican War streets section on the city’s North Side, is a museum of contemporary art that exhibits room-sized installations by artists from the United States, Europe and Asia. This "art you can get into" utilizes a variety of media to engage all of the senses and is created on-site by the museum’s artists in-residence

The museum’s growing permanent exhibits consists of distinctive installations, such as James Turell’s Catso, Red; Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Dots Mirrored Room; Bill Woodrow’s Ship of Fools: Discovery of Time; William Anastasi’s Tresspass; Allan Wexler’s, Bed Sitting Rooms for an Artist in Residence; and Music for a Garden by Rolf Julius. In addition, innovative temporary exhibitions are staged throughout the year, such as a recent two-part exhibition featuring the installations of 10 select artists from India.

Over its 30-year history, The Mattress Factory’s residency program has supported some 300 American and international artists. Each year, selected artists are brought to Pittsburgh to live at the museum, explore, experiment and create new work. Each exhibition of the installations they produced is coupled with educational programs, including hands-on art projects, workshops, lectures and tours.

The Pittsburgh Glass Center broadens the perception of glass from its purely functional use to a medium of artistic expression with critically acclaimed exhibitions of contemporary glass art. One of the top glass art centers in the world, the work showcased at the center ranges from student exhibitions to cutting-edge installations by established glass artists that incorporate light, sound and time-based elements.

The center combines a public access school, gallery and state-of-the-art glass studio to meet its mission of teaching, creating and promoting glass art. It attracts top artists from around the world who come to Pittsburgh to create new work as artists-in-residence. Visitors can watch glassblowing demonstrations from start to finish, see how artists gather, shape and create their work, learn about Pittsburgh’s rich history in glass and explore the center’s contemporary art exhibitions.

The nationally-recognized Hodge Gallery presents acclaimed contemporary glass art exhibitions throughout the year, such as the recent, Recollection, that explores the theme of collecting through a collaboration between two resident artists, Michael Rogers, who works in ceramics, and glass artist, Richard Hirsch. In another recent exhibition, glass artist Dale Chihuly teamed with horticulturalists and landscape designers to fuse nature and art by planting his flamboyantly colorful glass creations in the lush gardens of the city’s Phipps Conservatory.

This architectural masterpiece listed on the National Register of Historic Places has a collection exceeding 20,000 individual works from contemporary to colonial, including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Georgia O'Keefe.

The Maridon is the only museum in the region with a specific focus on Chinese and Japanese art and culture, housing a permanent collection of over 800 art objects including jade and ivory sculptures, tapestries, landscape paintings, scrolls and artifacts.

Established in 1972, Concept has presented exhibitions on subjects from contemporary art glass to 19th century European paintings. Representing some of the region's most established artists along with artists of national and international reputation. Specializing in historic regional painters as well as a large inventory of contemporary prints by American and European artists. Owner Sam Berkovitz is a licensed auctioneer who conducts the gallery's fine and decorative art and antiques auctions. Concept also offers in-house, insured archival framing services.

Elan exhibits a diverse selection of art, including fine art originals, glass and sculpture. Owner Joan Barenbregge created a gallery which embodies eclecticism; its pieces blend artistic elements into a unique creation providing nourishment for today's urban souls.

Established in 1974, Four Winds represents the most respected Southwestern American Indian artisans. Featuring contemporary and historic jewelry, pottery, paintings and vintage furniture. Qualified appraisers. Also at One Oxford Centre.

Both locations offer an exquisite collection of fine European art chosen by owner Melanie Werner, who also has a gallery in Paris. Typically oil on canvas or panel, the works date from the late-18th to the early-20th centuries with the majority from the mid-19th century. The collection ranges from paintings executed in the style of the Old Masters to the Impressionists and turn-of-the-century modern artists. Most pieces have beautiful frames.

Ready for an art adventure? Stop here for a perfect balance of the serious, the kitsch, the aesthetic and the intellectual. Look for hand-made books, funky ceramics, circus canvases by Venezuelan Carlos Sanchez-Vegas, pop surrealism by West Virginian Brian Fencl and metal drawings by outsider Canadian artist Scott Griffin. Also, natural pigment paintings by artist/musician Karl Mullen and rubber sculptures and wall pieces by Adrienne Heinrich, 2002 Pittsburgh artist of the year.

Established in 1986 and recently acquired by Kathleen Miclot, this intimate gallery houses several exhibitions a year representing a variety of contemporary regional artists, appealing both to the corporate and private collector. Custom framing and specialty designed framing provided as well.

A renowned collection of important and antique botanical art is archived here, but the gallery also hosts exhibitions such as the International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration.

Five gallery spaces boast works from local, national and international artists in a variety of media. The 1,200-sq.-ft. sculpture garden adds dimensionality to the space that also hosts corporate gatherings/parties. Behind the gallery is the Frame Foundry, offering exquisite framing options.

Erected during the reign of Queen Victoria, this Victorian Italianate building is home to resident artist Adelaide La Fond, who has become famous for her paintings of South Side scenes. The gallery also shows work from new and established artists and offers a variety of products and services from custom framing to framed works of art.

La Vie is a platform for local artists. Every 40 days the store hosts a reception to welcome new artwork. The retail space has the feel of both gallery and studio, creating an intimate atmosphere where shoppers can purchase works or commission pieces, as well as pick from made-to-order items.

The old bordello purchased at an IRS auction by owner/curator Steve Mendelson seamlessly houses both his gallery and eclectic home. This contemporary gallery presents local, national, international and tribal pieces from all corners of the world. Exhibiting here and in Paris since 1979, Mendelson has brought artists such as Not Vital, Vik Muniz and Keith Haring to town before their rise to fame. Ask to see Steve's personal collections.

Michael and Sherle Berger set up the Gallery through the Michael and Sherle Berger Foundation to raise awareness of fine international art in the region. The idea is to encourage Pittsburghers to buy great art at an affordable price and enjoy living with it. For a list of exhibitions and artists represented, go to mbergerart.com.

Owner Amy Morgan is in the forefront of the glass community, selling important sculpture, unusual collectible goblets and other pieces from the finest emerging and established glass artists. The jewelry is fabulous. Museum-quality exhibitions change frequently.

Featuring art by Southwestern Pennsylvanian artists in glass, pottery, wood, paper, jewelry, fiber, metal and the written word. The 900-sq.-ft. gallery features a back room for painting, book-binding and paper-making classes. Well-priced art and great gifts.

The PCA is the East End's hub for book arts, printmaking, ceramics, beading, sculpture, creative writing, photographic arts, jewelry, decorative arts and more. This non-profit arts campus offers arts education programs and contemporary art exhibitions, providing services and resources for artists in the region.

Owner/artist Linda Breen's philosophy is that there's no need to look beyond this region for good art, and her intimate gallery features local work. You'll find eclectic art from floor to ceiling, hung salon style and including paintings, pottery and more for sale and discussion.

Dedicated to the understanding, appreciation, education and promotion of photography as an art form and as an expressive form of visual communication. Featuring a gallery and workshops focusing on photography, along with changing exhibitions.

Only two years old, Sirani already has established a reputation for representing more than 100 contemporary artists from around the world. Specializing in original works on canvas, Sirani also has an exceptional selection of objets d'art by award-winning national artists. Sirani Gallery offers complete consultation services, including convenient private viewings in a client's home or office.

Showcasing works in clay, metal, wood, fiber and found materials from around the world. Exhibits feature multicultural and non-mainstream art that challenges visitors to think in new ways about art. The Society also offers an assortment of classes.

The arts hub of Sewickley offers painting, drawing, photography, traditional crafts, yoga, pilates, cooking classes, guitar, violin, piano, voice and more. Also, a variety of performances, changing exhibitions, films, lectures, demonstrations and gallery tours.

Located within a unique space at the tip of the cultural district, Wood Street features multi-disciplinary artists from all over the world. It specializes in thought-provoking installations and art exhibitions relevant to contemporary times presented via non-traditional media. The current exhibition, “Workin' Down Under,” presents the work of six contemporary Australian artists.