The Museum's permanent collection consists of more than 6,500 objects, ranging from Chinese jade to comprehensive holdings of Louisiana art, including the New Orleans-made Silver and Newcomb Pottery. The collection also holds American and British portraiture and decorative arts, American Arts and Crafts pottery, and modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures, with a focus on southern artists.
A primary intent of the display of the permanent collection is the presentation of Louisiana’s complex regional history, alongside a series of exhibits of artwork by regional contemporary artists. With 15' ceilings in the galleries, works of art in a wide range of media are displayed.