The best arts & culture spots in Ithaca

“Need a quick culture boost between Cortland errands, MIX Art Gallery & Event Space presents "Where Culture Takes Flight," a public exhibit at Ithaca Airport featuring more than 50 works by seven local and regional artists.”

From the Cortland newsletter, October 13, 2026

“The Mink Gallery brings Barbara Mink’s contemporary work to life with large-scale alcohol inks on canvas and acrylics that channel Finger Lakes seasons, all interplay of color and line with just a hint of landscape. Great if your walls are big, your taste is modern, and your mood needs a lift.”

From the Ithaca newsletter, October 13, 2026

“Corners Gallery is the Finger Lakes go-to for contemporary art, curatorial exhibits, and heirloom-quality custom framing, plus unique gifts that feel nothing like big-box afterthoughts. Recently voted Best Gallery in the Finger Lakes Region, this woman-owned spot makes leveling up your walls feel easy.”

From the Lansing newsletter, October 10, 2026

“If your idea of a good time is geeking out over oaks, grasses, and the stories plants tell, LHB Hortorium Museum delivers, from a vast herbarium to living collections in the Liberty Hyde Bailey Conservatory. Founded in 1935, it’s a low-key local treasure for brainy green-time.”

From the Finger Lakes newsletter, October 7, 2026

“CAP ArtSpace Gallery is the Community Arts Partnership’s rotating exhibition space showcasing Tompkins County artists with shows that actually say something, from capoeira explorations of resilience to BIPoC-centered pop ups.”

From the Ithaca newsletter, September 30, 2026

“Handwerker Gallery keeps Ithaca College’s creative heartbeat front and center, with rotating contemporary exhibitions and occasional cross-arts events that feel more like conversations than museum visits. Easy choice when you want fresh work, curious crowds, and that just-right nudge to think a little bigger.”

From the Ithaca newsletter, October 4, 2026

“Gourdlandia turns humble gourds into wearable art, glowing nightlights, and sculptural showpieces. Stroll the gourd garden, learn how to grow and dry your own, then jump into a workshop or simply shop and get inspired this week, a quirky creative reset for locals.”

From the Finger Lakes newsletter, August 6, 2026

“Whether your crew is into reptiles, weather, or building wild contraptions, Sciencenter packs over 250 interactive exhibits that actually invite touching. Zip balls through the fifteen-foot Airways Maze, play Pet Vet, then explore Ocean Bound to see how our watershed choices protect the ocean.”

From the Finger Lakes newsletter, August 27, 2026

“Whether you’re fossil-curious or just need a break from doomscrolling, Museum of the Earth delivers hands-on science, a 44-foot Right Whale skeleton, and the Hyde Park Mastodon. Swing by the Fossil Lab this week to find and take home your own tiny ancient souvenir.”

From the Ithaca newsletter, September 24, 2026

“Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art packs 40,000 works into that striking I. M.”

From the Ithaca newsletter, September 17, 2026