See Rotating Contemporary Art for Free at UNLV
Current closure notice: The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is temporarily closed. The museum homepage currently says it plans to reopen with new exhibitions on August 25, 2026, while a separate UNLV roof-renovation notice lists construction through September 30, 2026. Confirm the current status on the official museum website before visiting.
The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is a free contemporary art museum on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. Its rotating exhibitions may include paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, prints, video, audio, installations, and other work by local, national, and international artists.
The museum also presents workshops, lectures, artist talks, educational programs, and community activities. It gives art lovers and families another option among the city’s free Las Vegas attractions, although exhibition schedules and public programs change throughout the year.
Last reviewed: July 11, 2026. The museum is currently closed, and UNLV pages contain conflicting reopening information. Hours, exhibitions, events, parking rates, and campus access can change.
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art Quick Facts
- Current Status: Temporarily closed. Confirm the reopening date directly with the museum before visiting.
- Admission: Free when the museum is open. Voluntary contributions are welcome.
- Suggested Voluntary Contribution: $5 for adults and $2 for children and seniors.
- Regular Hours: When exhibitions are on display, Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Holiday Closures: Closed on state and federal holidays.
- Location: UNLV main campus, inside the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art/Harry Reid Center building.
- Address: 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154
- Phone: (702) 895-3381
- Email: barrick.museum@unlv.edu
- Visit Length: UNLV recommends approximately 45 minutes for a guided group visit. Self-guided visits vary with the exhibitions.
- Best For: Contemporary-art fans, students, families, educators, and visitors looking for a quiet cultural stop near the Strip.
- What May Cost Extra: Campus parking, transportation, and optional contributions.
What to Expect at the Barrick Museum
The Barrick is a university art museum rather than a large commercial attraction. Exhibitions rotate, so the artwork, gallery layouts, and themes can be different from one visit to the next.
The museum focuses on contemporary art and works to feature artists and communities that have historically received less representation in American art museums. Exhibitions may address identity, place, social history, environmental issues, community experiences, and other contemporary subjects.
Visitors may encounter paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, drawings, ceramics, video, sound, and mixed-media installations. Some exhibitions are visually accessible to casual visitors, while others reward taking time to read labels and consider the artists’ ideas.
Programs can include artist talks, workshops, lectures, school activities, exhibition receptions, film presentations, and community events. These programs are not offered continuously, so check the current calendar before planning around a specific activity.
Admission is free. The suggested contribution is optional and should not be described as an admission charge.
From Natural History Museum to Contemporary Art Museum
The museum was founded in 1967 and originally housed scientific specimens and exhibits about the desert. It later became the UNLV Museum of Natural History and was renamed the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History in 1989.
Its focus changed after the museum joined the UNLV College of Fine Arts. It reopened as a contemporary art museum in 2012 and officially became the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art in 2016.
The museum’s current public identity centers on art exhibitions and educational programming. Visitors should not expect permanent galleries devoted to desert animals, Southwest ecology, geology, or general natural history merely because those subjects appeared during earlier periods of the institution’s history.
How to Find the Museum on the UNLV Campus
All buildings on the UNLV Maryland Parkway campus use the same street address, so entering only the address into a navigation app may not lead directly to the museum entrance.
Drivers should approach from the west side of campus and travel east on East Harmon Avenue until the road enters UNLV and ends near a parking area. Look for the building marked Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies. The Barrick Museum entrance is at the east end of the building beside a desert landscape garden.
The official campus listing identifies the combined building as the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art/Harry Reid Center. Visitors who cannot find the entrance should use the official map or ask a campus employee for directions.
Visitors considering public transportation can review the Las Vegas public bus guide before traveling to UNLV. Confirm the closest current stop and walking route before departure.
Official Campus Map: Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art/Harry Reid Center map
UNLV Visitor Parking
Metered visitor spaces are available in the lot outside the museum entrance, along East Harmon Avenue, behind Lied Library, and in other designated campus parking areas.
UNLV currently lists visitor and pay-space parking at $2.00 per hour. Payment rules, rates, permitted spaces, and enforcement schedules can change, so follow posted signs and current PayByPhone instructions.
The museum states that visitors may use staff, student, and metered spaces without charge after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, after 1:00 p.m. on Fridays, and throughout Saturday and Sunday. Because the museum’s regular public hours end at 5:00 p.m. and it is normally closed Sunday, the most useful free-parking periods for a standard visit are Friday afternoon and Saturday.
Do not park in reserved, accessible, service, permit-only, or restricted spaces unless authorized. Special events and construction can also affect nearby parking.
Tips Before You Go
Confirm that the museum has reopened:
The museum is temporarily closed, and two official UNLV pages currently provide different timelines. Check the museum homepage or call before traveling to campus.
Check the current exhibitions:
The museum rotates its displays. Images and descriptions from older articles or videos may not represent what will be visible during your visit.
Use the official campus map:
The shared UNLV street address can direct visitors to the general campus instead of the museum entrance.
Review parking signs before leaving the vehicle:
Campus parking depends on the day, time, lot, and type of space. Do not assume the free museum includes free weekday parking.
Allow time to read:
Contemporary-art exhibitions often include artist statements, wall text, and interpretive labels that add context to the work.
Supervise children:
Families are welcome, but children should stay with an adult and avoid touching artwork, display cases, walls, or installation materials.
Ask before taking specialized photographs:
Casual photography may be permitted in many exhibitions, but restrictions can vary by artist, lender, artwork, or program. Follow gallery signs and staff directions.
Keep gallery spaces clear:
Do not block entrances, artwork, pathways, or other visitors while reading labels or taking photographs.
Video Preview of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art
This UNLV promotional video provides a general introduction to the museum. Exhibitions shown in the video may no longer be on display.
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art FAQ
Q: Is the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art free?
A: Yes. Admission is free when the museum is open. The museum welcomes voluntary contributions and currently suggests $5 for adults and $2 for children and seniors.
Q: Is the museum currently open?
A: No. It is temporarily closed. The museum homepage currently lists August 25, 2026, as its reopening date, while a separate roof-renovation notice lists construction and public closure through September 30, 2026. Confirm directly before visiting.
Q: What are the museum’s regular hours?
A: When exhibitions are on display, regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The museum closes on state and federal holidays.
Q: Is this still a natural history museum?
A: No. Although the institution began as a natural-history museum, its current identity and programming focus on contemporary art.
Q: What kind of artwork is displayed?
A: Exhibitions may include painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, video, sound, installations, and mixed-media artwork. Displays rotate throughout the year.
Q: Where is the museum located?
A: It is on the UNLV main campus at the east end of the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies building, beside a desert landscape garden.
Q: Is parking free?
A: Not at all times. Paid visitor spaces are available during campus enforcement periods. The museum currently states that parking becomes free after 1:00 p.m. Friday and throughout Saturday in eligible metered, staff, and student spaces. Follow current signs.
Q: How long should visitors allow?
A: UNLV recommends about 45 minutes for guided group tours. A self-guided visit may be shorter or longer depending on the number and size of current exhibitions.
Q: Does the museum hold public events?
A: Yes. Programs may include receptions, artist talks, workshops, lectures, film presentations, and community activities. Check the current museum calendar for scheduled programs.
Q: Is the museum worth a special trip?
A: It can be worth a dedicated visit for contemporary-art enthusiasts. Casual visitors may prefer to combine it with another UNLV or central Las Vegas activity.
