The Everson Museum of Art is downtown Syracuse's most important cultural institution, housed in a striking 1968 I.M. Pei building whose four interlocking cubes of poured concrete have aged into an architectural landmark. The collection focuses on American art from the colonial period to the present, with particular depth in studio ceramics — the Everson holds one of the finest collections of American art pottery in the country.
The permanent collection includes work by Georgia O'Keeffe, Andrew Wyeth, and a strong representation of the Syracuse china tradition (the city was once a major ceramics producer). Changing exhibitions cover contemporary art, photography, and craft. Admission is free, which makes it one of the best deals in the city.