Bechtler Museum of Modern Art 🇺🇸

Located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of the Levine Center for the Arts, the 36,500-square-foot Bechtler Museum of Modern Art offers an intimate encounter with mid-20th-century modernism. You should visit to experience a remarkable collection assembled by the Swiss-born Bechtler family, featuring over 1,400 artworks that were previously held privately.

Designed by acclaimed Swiss architect Mario Botta, the four-story building itself is a masterpiece, boasting a terracotta-tiled cubic exterior, a dramatic glass atrium, custom-designed furniture, and a cantilevered fourth-floor gallery supported by a massive 47-foot column. Inside, you will explore diverse works spanning major 20th-century movements, including deep holdings from the post-World War II School of Paris alongside pieces by legendary artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, and Barbara Hepworth.

Before you even walk through the front doors, you can admire The Firebird, a glittering 17-foot mosaic sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle resting on the outdoor plaza. As you wander the luminous foyer, look for Sol LeWitt's vast mural, Wall Drawing 995, which diffuses natural light alongside Botta's striking architectural materials of granite, steel, and wood.

What to see at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

• Niki de Saint Phalle's 17-foot mirror-mosaic sculpture, The Firebird, located on the plaza
• Mario Botta's unique architecture featuring a cantilevered fourth-floor gallery and terracotta tiles
• Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing 995 mural displayed inside the multi-story glass atrium
• Mid-century modern artworks by masters such as Picasso, Warhol, Giacometti, and Miró
• Extensive holdings from the post-World War II School of Paris

Visiting tips

Be sure to view Niki de Saint Phalle's Firebird sculpture on the outdoor plaza before heading inside to see custom furniture designed by architect Mario Botta.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is easy to reach on Charlotte’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Charlotte travel guide.