Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

420 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Bessie and Hans Bechtler began collecting modern art in Zurich in the 1950s, building friendships with artists as well as a collection. Their son Andreas and his family later gave their portion to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, which opened in 2010. The collection now approaches 2,000 works and includes artists such as Picasso, Warhol, Giacometti and Calder. The museum's history explains how this family collection became a public one.

Swiss architect Mario Botta designed the museum. Give the exterior a look even if your schedule only allows an outdoor stop.

Choose a day and budget

Regular hours, checked October 4, 2026: Monday and Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m. Closed Tuesday. All times are local to Charlotte. The museum lists closures on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Confirm your date on the official visit page before setting out.

Listed general admission: adults $10; seniors 65+, educators and college students with school ID $7.50; ages 11–18 $5. Children 10 and under, military visitors, members and donors are free. Disabled visitors and their companions also receive free admission; see accessibility information.

For a lower-cost visit, use Wednesday, 5–9 p.m., when museum admission is free. Check Wednesday Night Live for that evening's program. Check separate event listings before assuming a concert is included.

These are admission prices, not an all-in outing cost. Allow separately for transport or parking, food, and any ticketing fees shown before payment.

What you will actually see

The collection appears through changing exhibitions. Owning a Picasso or a Warhol does not mean that work will be on the wall during your visit. Start with the museum's current exhibitions, especially if you are coming for a particular artist.

Outside, look for Niki de Saint Phalle's mirrored Firebird on the welcome plaza at South Tryon Street and Levine Avenue of the Arts. The sculpture was installed here in 2009. It makes a useful landmark for finding the museum and an outdoor art stop when you are not planning to enter the galleries. About the Firebird

Where it sits

The Bechtler sits in the Levine Center for the Arts cluster, alongside Mint Museum Uptown at 500 South Tryon, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture at 551 South Tryon, and Knight Theater. These are nearby stops with separate opening arrangements. Blumenthal's campus overview identifies the four institutions.

A two-museum Wednesday: start at Bechtler around 5 p.m., choose the exhibitions that interest you, and move to Mint Museum Uptown around 6:30 p.m. Both museums currently offer free admission from 5–9 p.m. on Wednesdays. This is a suggested pace, not a timed tour; leave yourself time for the outdoor walk and whichever galleries you want to linger in. Use the Mint Uptown visitor page to confirm its hours and any exhibition-specific conditions. The Uptown location is the nearby one.

Watch the closed-day mismatch: Mint Uptown is closed Mondays; Bechtler is closed Tuesdays. Plan the two together on another day. If you prefer the Gantt, check its current hours and admission for your date rather than carrying over another museum's hours.

Parking and arrival

The museum directs drivers to the Levine Center for the Arts garage, using 130 West Brooklyn Village Avenue for GPS, or The Green garage, 435 South Tryon Street. Ask the Bechtler admissions desk for its $10-off parking coupon. The museum warns that the Levine garage can fill on weekdays; its suggested alternative garages do not receive Bechtler validation. Museum parking details

For a budget before validation, the operator currently lists both garages at $3 per 20 minutes, up to $21 daily, and $10 after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. Check the entry sign and ask how the museum coupon applies before paying. The listed discount alone does not establish the amount you will owe. Levine garage rates · The Green rates

Coming by rail? The museum recommends 3rd Street Station on the Blue Line. Use CATS station and park-and-ride information to plan your trip and check current service before leaving.

Access and short tours

The museum says its public areas and elevators accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices, with complimentary wheelchairs available. It lists drop-off access on Levine Center for the Arts Avenue. Check the accessibility page for the current contact if you need help arranging your arrival or confirming equipment availability.

For a short guided visit, ArtBreak runs at Bechtler on the second Thursday of the month, noon–12:30 p.m., with free admission and no RSVP required for the tour. Check the current events calendar before going. For a school visit or a group of 10 or more, use the tours page and arrange it in advance rather than arriving as a walk-in group.

Before you go: hours, admission and parking · what is on view · events · accessibility

Visitor information checked October 4, 2026. Opening arrangements, admission, parking and programs can change.