Seeing Art in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is best known for its glittering lights, 24-hour casinos, and nonstop nightlife, but it’s also a place to experience art. True to Vegas’ flashy reputation, most of the art isn’t found in museums — but rather in nontraditional installations, on the streets, and even along the famous Strip.

Here are some of our favorite art experiences you shouldn't miss during your next vacation in Las Vegas.

ON THE CUTTING EDGE: AREA15

AREA15 is a dramatic addition to the Las Vegas art scene. The massive warehouse-like space is home to Omega Mart by Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe-based art collective that’s grown into a full-scale entertainment force.

The immersive installation is a provocative grocery store spoof with “portals” that lead to the “corporate offices” behind it. Along the way, guests encounter individual multimedia pieces — some contributed by local artists. Pulse by Claudia Bueno, for example, is a room of layered acrylic plexiglass animated by light patterns.

AREA15 also blurs the line between art and entertainment with Wink World: Portals Into the Infinite (a colorful room-to-room journey by a Blue Man Group co-founder); Museum Fiasco “Cluster” (a hall of infinity mirrors with the energy and music of a nightclub); and Art Island (parking-lot installations that include a towering owl, the remains of a jet fuselage, and a reimagined version of the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign).

THE DOWNTOWN ARTS SCENE

Vegas’ Downtown Arts District has morphed into a hub for local creators and street murals. Art Square and the Arts Factory are popular destinations for galleries, showrooms, and workspaces. Explore both during First Friday, a free art walk and block party.

The Fremont East district features street art created for the Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, which takes place in September. Installations include Mike Ross’ Big Rig Jig, a display of intertwined trucks at Fergusons Downtown. Murals inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement have also emerged at the site of the long-shuttered Moulin Rouge, the first desegregated casino in Las Vegas.

INDIE ARTISTS ON THE STRIP

Even the famous Las Vegas Strip is getting artsy. The Fashion Show mall makes a point to champion a variety of independent art — from a pair of hand-painted staircases near the east entrance to Katy Boynton’s Heartfullness, a steel heart sculpture once displayed at the Burning Man festival.

At the Museum of Dream Space at the Grand Canal Shoppes, projections, lights, and other 3-D components form a series of selfie stations. A similar exhibit, the Museum of Selfies, is on display at The LINQ Promenade. Much like AREA15, both prove that art and entertainment aren’t mutually exclusive, and — at least on occasion — the most interesting piece of art could be … you.

Marriott's Grand Chateau

WHERE TO STAY

Couple your art-forward vacation with a stay at Marriott’s Grand Chateau^®, located just off the Las Vegas Strip. In addition to easy access to the city’s best sights and experiences, you’ll find your home-away-from-home offers extraordinary views from the rooftop, where you can swim in the afternoon or sip cocktails at Skybar 38 in the evening.