Explore the Arts at These 5 Columbus Spots

Columbus’ art and culture scene stretches far beyond the galleries that dot the city’s Short North Arts District, reaching back to the 1896 opening of The Southern Theatre at the corner of High and Main streets. Ohio’s capital city is a hive of arts activity with a thriving fashion scene, performance venues and longstanding institutions. Check out these museums and attractions that paint a picture of all the creativity Columbus has to offer. 

Columbus Museum of Art
The exterior of the Columbus Museum of Art presents an appearance as varied as the more than 14,000 works contained inside. Standing along East Broad Street in front of the original 1931 building, the Second Renaissance Revival-style arches echo grand 19th-century architecture. Inside, visitors can see paintings from masters such as Winslow Homer, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. Walk a few feet east, and the 2015-built Margaret M. Walter Wing’s patinated bronze boxy structure mixes contemporary styling with an age-old material. The Walter Wing features works from luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Nick Cave and Gordon Parks. 480 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/221-6801, columbusmuseum.org

Wexner Center for the Arts
The Wexner Center for the Arts — or the Wex, as locals call it — hasn’t changed much since it was completed in 1989. Yet the interior of this center of art and culture on the Ohio State University campus is always changing. The three-story building isn’t a museum, so it doesn’t have a permanent collection. Instead, it hosts a rotating selection of contemporary art exhibitions each year. The Wex also screens popular arthouse films and thought-provoking documentaries, serves as a hub for performing arts and hosts Q&A-style artist talks. 1871 N. High St., Columbus 43210, 614/292-3535, wexarts.org

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum 
Housing one of the largest collections of comics and cartoons in the world, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum on the Ohio State University campus is the picture-perfect spot to find old friends, discover something new and learn how cartoons reflect our culture and society. The museum’s immense collection spans 300,000 original cartoons, 2.5 million comic strip clippings and more. The special-collections library offers a wealth of cartoons and comics to explore upon request, while the museum’s curators create a lineup of special exhibitions each year. Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High St., Columbus 43210, 614/292-0538, cartoons.osu.edu

Thurber House
Humorist, cartoonist and author James Thurber was known for drawing quirky characters and having his works featured in publications such as The New Yorker. Located in the restored 1873 former home where Thurber’s family lived while he attended Ohio State University, the museum and literary center is sure to inspire young and old visitors alike. The house’s first two floors feature antiques and artifacts from Thurber’s life, including his Underwood typewriter. Thurber House hosts year-round writing workshops for all ages, and its annual Thurber Prize for American Humor has honored writers such as John Hodgman, Trevor Noah and David Sedaris. 77 Jefferson Ave., Columbus 43215, 614/464-1032, thurberhouse.org

Southern Theatre
Opened in 1896, the Southern Theatre’s history is as rich as you’d expect for something that’s been open across parts of three centuries. The stage here has seen the likes of actors Ethel and Lionel Barrymore, dancer Anna Pavlova and entertainer W.C. Fields. Now, the 925-seat theater welcomes nationally touring acts and is home to Opera Columbus, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Music Columbus and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Hearkening back to the 1896 Renaissance-style building’s dual use as a hotel and theater, the building is also home to the Westin Great Southern Columbus hotel. 21 E. Main St., Columbus 43215, 614/719-6906, capa.com/venues/southern-theatre

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