CHATTANOOGA STATE'S OUTDOOR MUSEUM OF ART

On a beautifully landscaped and bucolic campus, the Outdoor Museum of Art (OMA) is the only gallery of its kind in Tennessee higher education and is a distinct asset of the College and the community. The museum was established in 2003 to enrich the studies of Chattanooga State students and to enhance the lives of visitors from all walks of life.

Comprising seven galleries, the Museum features the works of student and faculty artists as well as local, regional, and international sculptors. There is a permanent collection of approximately 40 works, and temporary exhibits are installed every six to nine months. In overseeing the OMA and its activities, College faculty member and sculptor Joe Helseth partners with Chattanooga State teacher and sculptor John Henry, whose works are on display throughout the United States and around the world.

Chattanooga State’s outdoor sculpture program is a significant complement to the City of Chattanooga’s nationally-recognized public art program. It uniquely pulls together the College’s programs of study in sculpture, art, painting, welding, machine tool technology, engineering, computer-aided design, and metallurgy. 

The OMA is available for all to use in a variety of formats, from classroom activity and school field trips to individual relaxation and contemplation. Descriptions and photos of the collection are available by clicking on the gallery hyperlinks on this page. For additional information, please contact joe.helseth@chattanoogastate.edu