The State Art Museum of Altai Krai, opened in Barnaul in 1959, is often referred to as the "Barnaul Hermitage" due to its rich and unique collection. The foundation of the museum's collection consists of works from private collections, as well as exhibits from the Local History, Russian, and Historical Museums and the Tretyakov Gallery.

The museum's exhibition is divided into seven thematic sections. Its holdings include over 300 icons created from the 16th to the early 20th century, including works from the icon-painting schools of Moscow, Yaroslavl, Novgorod, and local Altai masters. An extensive collection of copper casting is also presented: crosses, triptychs, and icons that were popular due to their accessibility and durability. The collection of rare books features 29 exhibits, including the Gospel from 1600, Lives of Saints from 1852, and songbooks with musical notations.

Visitors can enjoy portraits and genre paintings by masters such as V. A. Tropinin, K. A. Korovin, and I. N. Kramskoy, as well as landscapes by I. V. Shishkin, A. K. Savrasov, I. I. Levitan, and V. D. Polenov. The graphic part of the collection includes about 300 exhibits, including the first view engraving by A. Shkhonebek and works by B. M. Kustodieva, the Bryullov brothers, and Vasnetsov. The sculpture section features around 20 works in various styles, while the decorative and applied arts include products from well-known factories such as Popov, the Terekhovo brothers, and Kuznetsov.

The painting section includes works by masters from the art schools of Moscow and St. Petersburg, such as E. E. Moiseenko, I. E. Grabar, and Yu. I. Pimenov. A large collection of watercolors, engravings, and drawings was transferred to the museum from central museums in the country. Later, the collection was supplemented by private collections and artists' studios. The graphic works fund constitutes more than a third of the museum's collection and includes about five thousand works reflecting the history of Soviet and Russian art. The sculpture section includes works from various materials and genres, while the decorative and applied arts are represented by dishes and plastic works on the theme of friendship among peoples.

The museum's collection includes works by local authors and artists evacuated to Altai during the war, totaling over 3000 pieces. A significant part consists of works by G. Choros-Gurkin and members of the "Altai Art Society," representing the artistic chronicle of Altai. Among the graphic works are ethnographic sketches, watercolors, travel sketches, and set design sketches. The sculpture section is small but includes works by D. F. Tsaplin and S. R. Nadolski, who created during the war in Altai.

In the art of this period, the traditions of the first half of the century are preserved. Landscape remains a popular genre, and the nature of Altai is a beloved theme for artists. These same principles are evident in the graphics. Significant development has been seen in themes from the life and work of V. M. Shukshin. The main sculptural genre remains the portrait, along with small architectural forms and urban sculpture. A special place is occupied by the section of photo art, which began to take shape in the late 1970s thanks to Sergey Ivanovich Pirogov, the museum's staff photographer.

The first exhibits of the folk collection were Old Believer household items brought from an expedition in the Ust-Koksinsky district of Mountain Altai in 1868 and 1969. Today, the collection includes textiles, dishes, furniture, and utensils, as well as Russian, Mordovian, Chuvash, and Altai costumes. The section of folk arts and crafts formed in the 1960s-1980s includes Bogorodskaya, Filimonovskaya, and Dymkovo toys, items with Khokhloma painting, Zhostovo trays, and Gzhel.

Additionally, the museum features a collection of art from Mongolia of the 20th and 21st centuries.