Presented by The Blanchard Family
Van Gogh and His Inspirations is an original exhibition organized by the CMA that brings the work of one of the most beloved artists in the world to Columbia, South Carolina, alongside a variety of handpicked paintings and drawings that shaped his vision. From 2001 to 2010, as Steven Naifeh and Greg Smith researched their New York Times bestseller Van Gogh: The Life, they built a collection of over 30 works by artists who influenced Van Gogh’s aesthetic thinking. These works join loans from 12 museums across the U.S. to explore the artistic evolution of Van Gogh through the lens of the artists who inspired him.
This exhibition also brings 12 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh, including an outstanding painting of flower fields from the National Gallery of Art, a sensitive painting of a peasant weaving from The Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the world-famous self-portrait from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Side-by-side with their inspirations, these works offer visitors a window into the mind of Van Gogh.
This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.
Be a member!
Join today to see this exhibition for free, plus gain free admission for a full year.
Group Tours
Have a group? Plan a group tour and save on admission!
Our schedule is currently booked for weekday school tours of Van Gogh and His Inspirations. If you'd like to be added to the school tour wait list, please email tours@columbiamuseum.org.
Reserve Your Tickets
Tickets: $15 each or less
Member Tickets: FREE
Advance Ticket Information
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Your ticket includes admission to all CMA galleries
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Admission to Van Gogh and His Inspirations also includes admission to all other CMA galleries. We encourage you to explore the Cross Hatch, an interactive space for all ages, right next to the exhibition, as well as other exhibitions and the CMA collection.
- All tickets will be held at will-call
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Tickets will not be sent via email or mail; your name will be added to the day’s will-call list. You will receive an email receipt for your tickets for your records.
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Choosing your date online
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When you click the link to buy tickets, you will automatically be taken to October 4. If you’d like to choose another day to visit, click on “Other dates…” just below the date shown. A calendar will appear to help you choose a new date.
- Return and exchange policy
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Advance tickets can be returned or exchanged any time on or before the date for which they have been purchased.
- Some dates are not available for advance tickets
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The CMA galleries are closed on Mondays and major holidays, so you will not have the option to purchase tickets for those times. You may also notice that the first Thursday of each month is unavailable. The CMA galleries are open and free for First Thursdays on Main from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Advance tickets are not available for these days. The galleries will be open on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Advance tickets are not time-restricted
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You can use your ticket at any time during our open hours (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) on the day you’ve selected. Same day re-entry is allowed with your admission.
- Galleries are likely to be more crowded in the mornings
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Education is central to our mission at the CMA, so we’re excited to have plenty of school field trips planned for this exhibition! These field trips are generally scheduled early in the day due to the school day hours, so keep that in mind as you plan your visit.
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Plan your visit to downtown Columbia
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Looking for hotels or restaurants to complement your CMA visit? There are so many to choose from! See some options here. Our Visitor Services team will also be happy to help you choose a great destination for a meal or cocktails after your visit.
Looking for the best place to park? The PJ Cannon Garage is located only a block and a half away at 1227 Taylor Street. Find more information here.
- Call us with questions
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Have more questions? Give us a call!
803-799-2810
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are your hours? And how much is admission?
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The CMA is open six days a week (every day except Monday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. Admission to see Van Gogh and His Inspirations is $15 or less. For full details, see the hours and admission page.
- What does my $15 get me?
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Your admission to Van Gogh and His Inspirations also includes admission to all other CMA galleries. We encourage you to explore the Cross Hatch, an interactive space for all ages, right next to the exhibition, as well as other exhibitions and the CMA collection.
- Do I need to buy advance tickets?
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Walk-up tickets are also sold for this exhibition, so you do not have to purchase advance tickets. The advantage to advance tickets is that you will gain faster access to the galleries on crowded days.
- Are advance tickets time-restricted?
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Advance tickets are not time-restricted. They are good for admission at any time between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day for which they were purchased.
- What about Soda City Saturdays and First Thursdays?
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Soda City Saturdays provide an opportunity to see Van Gogh and His Inspirations for $10 on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. These tickets are not sold in advance and must be purchased when you arrive at the museum.
The CMA galleries are open and free for First Thursdays on Main from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Advance tickets are not available for these days.
The galleries will be open on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to this exhibition's popularity, there may be a wait to enter.
- How do I book a group tour?
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If you have a group of 10 or more visiting the museum, book a group tour to save on your admission! Get more details here.
- What about public tours?
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Public tours of Van Gogh and His Inspirations are offered every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and every other Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. See all upcoming talks and tours about the exhibition here.
- Where can I park my car?
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Metered parking is available on all of the surrounding streets and is free on Saturdays and Sundays. The PJ Cannon garage on Taylor street is only a couple of blocks away. Learn more here.
- Do you have wheelchairs?
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We do! Wheelchairs are available free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit our visitor services desk to check out a wheelchair. If you need assistance while using a wheelchair, please bring a caregiver to help you.
- When will the museum be most crowded?
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This exhibition is popular, so it may be crowded at times. We can't fully predict when this will happen, but we do have some guesses. The few weeks right after it opens and right before it closes are likely to be more crowded. On the weekdays, school tours take place in the mornings, so afternoons may be less crowded. See the field trip forecast to the right for more information about school tour attendance this week.
- Will this exhibition travel anywhere else?
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It won't! This original exhibition has been created by the CMA, and involves loans from multiple museums and private collectors. It will not travel.
Field Trip Forecast
Planning to visit this week? Here's how many students will be touring the galleries each morning:
| Date | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, January 7 | 215 students |
| Wednesday, January 8 | 129 students |
| Thursday, January 9 | 244 students |
| Friday, January 10 | 127 students |
Learn more with these lecture videos
Sponsors
Presented By
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The Blanchard Family
Premier Programming Sponsor
Sponsors
Dr. Suzan D. Boyd and Mr. M. Edward Sellers; Hannah and Ron Rogers; 1649 Catering; Mary and Clinch Belser; Jeffry Caswell and José Cotto; Crisp Event Rentals; Jerry Dell and Benjamin Gimarc; Susan B. and C. Carroll Heyward; Joyce and George Hill; Governor and Mrs. James H. Hodges; Mary and John Kessler; Dr. Carolyn Kressler-Greenberg and Dr. Stanley Greenberg; Marcia and Allen Montgomery; Michel Moore; Sidney and Ben Rex; Myrtle T. Robinson; Kathy Schaffer Olson and Robbie Barnett; Susan Thorpe and John Baynes; Mr. and Mrs. Claude M. Walker, Jr.; Brenda and Rick Wheeler; Free Times; Grace Outdoor; WXRY