One doesn't have to go to New York City to encounter a world-class art museum. In fact, in the city of Buffalo there is an institution that could go toe-to-toe with any museum in the state. We are talking about the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, which boasts impressive architecture and an even more impressive collection of important artworks. We think it is one of the best art museums in New York State, and it makes for a fun day trip. To learn more, keep reading, below.

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum used to be known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which was opened in 1905. The museum closed for construction in November 2019 and then reopened in May 2023.

The remodeled museum features an expanded campus and a building design by Shohei Shigematu, which is a three-story gallery that is encased using a curtain wall made of glass. The building is linked to the institution’s older structures using a transparent bridge.

In full, the museum has doubled its exhibition space to a whopping 50,000 square feet, which will all be focused on the institution’s permanent collection. Every year, there will be a new reinstallation that will showcase over 400 works of art.

Before the expansion, the museum could only fit 200 works, which is only three percent of its collection.

The museum has a storied history of obtaining works from living artists before many other institutions. For example, it was one of the first museums to collect artists like Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Mark Bradford.

Other highlights of the collection include pieces by Robert Motherwell, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and many more. There are also works from contemporary artists including Nick Cave, Tony Conrad and Cory Arcangel.

For anyone in New York State, we think that a visit to this great museum is almost mandatory.

A little art, a little food, and a little drink? To us, that sounds like a perfect day in Buffalo. We think that it's worth anchoring a whole trip around a visit to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. After a stopping by the museum, why not check out Ulrich's 1868 Tavern, which is the most historical bar in Buffalo and features great bites to eat and great beers on tap. And, for those who want to turn their day trip into a full weekend, we recommend The Hilton Garden Inn, which is located smack dab in downtown Buffalo.