Visual Arts Delights in Kentucky

Every work of art is a story, and Kentucky has many to tell. Our rich heritage of craftmaking goes all the way back to the pioneer days of the Commonwealth, when settlers living on the frontier learned to make the things they wanted or needed, and then passed those skills down through the generations. These traditions still thrive today, with a new class of Kentucky artisans crafting handmade music instruments, sculptures, intricate quilts, ceramics and pottery, textiles, paintings and many more objects of art.

Visit Berea, the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky,” for charming shops selling some of the finest folk art Kentucky has to offer, and stop at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea to peruse the work of more than 800 Kentucky artists. Travel to western Kentucky to discover just why Paducah has been designated a UNESCO Creative City, from the historic floodwall murals along the riverfront to the eclectic studios of the Lower Town Arts District. And other arts destinations, including the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman and the annual Kentucky Crafted Market, provide even more opportunities for visitors to bring home magnificent art and a fascinating story or two.

And if contemporary art is more your style, don’t miss KMAC and the 21C Museum Hotels in Louisville and Lexington, which showcase eclectic exhibitions from global artists.

New: . The Stephen Rolfe Powell Memorial Sculpture Garden and Outdoor Classroom at Centre College in Danville, conceptualized and led by one of Powell’s former students, Brook Forrest White Jr., owner of Flame Run Hot Shop and Gallery in Louisville, features a 25-foot-tall sculpture that spectators can walk through, as well as a garden and an outdoor classroom. The memorial serves as an endearing reminder of the Kentucky artist’s legacy by creating a landmark where visitors can experience and appreciate his profound impact on glass art, not only as an arts professor but as a preeminent artist of world acclaim.

Trip Inspiration

Articles

Fall Fun on the Farm

State Wide

Kids love an adventure, and exploring a corn maze and picking a pumpkin on a Kentucky farm are among the most fun fall adventures for the young — and young at heart.

Kentucky Corn Mazes

You can find mazes open to the public on several farms throughout the Bluegrass State. Corn mazes appear in many different designs. Some mazes tell stories or portray a particular theme. For example, Devine's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Harrodsburg regularly features a design portraying Triple Crown-winning horses, including American Pharaoh and Justify. This year, the maze is celebrating all things fall with its corn, jack-o-lantern and scarecrow design. In Mayfield, navigate your way through the state's largest corn maze at A-maize-ing Farms. This year's design pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Hollywood classic "Jaws." At Trunnell's Farm Market in Utica, the corn maze is designed like their brand-new mascot, Hattie the Highland cow.

Most mazes have a path that goes all around the whole pattern, either to end in the middle or to come back out again. Since the corn is taller than you are, getting lost amid the loops and dead ends in a large corn field can make for big fun.

Kentucky U-Picks

Families will also enjoy autumn outings to harvest pumpkins, apples and other fall produce on U-pick farms around Kentucky. Places like Sleepy Hollow Farm Pumpkin Patch in Campbellsville, Bi-Water Farm in Georgetown, Shady Lane Farm in Shepherdsville and Heavenly Haven Farm & Zip Line in Columbia offer families a chance to get out in the fresh air on weekend afternoons. Kids will long treasure memories of picking their own Halloween pumpkin on a trip to a Kentucky farm. Savoring a freshly picked apple on a crisp fall day in Kentucky is another experience not to be missed.

Hayrides, petting zoos, play areas and other activities geared toward kids are also found at many Kentucky agritourism attractions.

Visit the Kentucky Tourism family page for more family trip ideas. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can find a farm featuring a maze or U-pick opportunities wherever you’re traveling in the Bluegrass State. Use this directory to confirm location, days and hours of operation, and attractions offered before making your foray into fun fall adventure.

Explore Visual Arts in Kentucky