Osaka city museum oｆ fine arts opened in May 1936. Although the museum is presently located inside Tennoji Park, the property used to belong to the Sumitomo family for their main house, and was later donated to the city of Osaka together with a garden (Keitaku-en) for the purpose of building a museum. The museum consists of the main building which was built at the time of foundation, and basement exhibit rooms that were built underground in front of the museum in 1992. It has three floors above ground and two floors underground, and special and regular exhibitions hosted by the museum are held in the exhibition galleries of the main building. In the regular exhibitions, over 8,000 works of Japanese and Chinese paintings, sculptures, and decorative art that are collected through purchasing and donations, as well as articles entrusted by temples and shrines, can be seen at any time. Many of them are designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. In the basement exhibit rooms, a number of exhibitions sponsored by various art organizations are held on a regular basis. The Art Academy is also located in the basement of the main building, which instructs techniques and skills in sketching, painting, and sculpture.

　　　　　

Chronological History of the Museum
1920	Construction work resumed. Exterior work completed.Research committee formed in April.
1921	In December the Sumitomo family offers to donate its main house in Chausuyama to the City of Osaka for the establishment of the museum.
1928	Ground-breaking ceremony for museum held.
1929	Topping-out ceremony held.
1930	Although reinforced concrete work is complete, construction work stopped temporary due to the world depression.
1934	Construction work resumed. Exterior work completed.
1936	Osaka city museum oｆ fine arts opened on May 1. "Re-organization 1st Imperial Art Exhibition" held as opening memorial exhibition.
1942	Abe Collection of Chinese paintings donated. Requisition by the army.
1943	Materials related to Ogata Korin stored at the Konishi family donated.
1944	Works for Kansai Japanese Painting Exhibition donated by the Sumitomo family.
1945	World War II ends. Office moves due to requisition by the Allied Forces.
1946	Art Academy opens in the old Seika Elementary School, where the office has moved.
1947	Museum derequisitioned.
1948	Exhibitions at the museum resumed.
1951	Museum placed under the authority of the Board of Education due to constitution of Museum Act.
1977	Large-scale repair started. (Ended 1979.) Yamaguchi Collection of Chinese works of art assigned (until 1978).
1980	Taman Collection donated.
1981	Casal Collection of lacquer works assigned (until 1984).
1987	Tennoji Park begins to collect admission. As part of the exhibits by art groups in the south building have moved to Abeno Belta, a part of the south building becomes regular exhibition gallery.
1992	Exhibit rooms built on basement floors of the museum. Exhibits by art groups in the south building and Abeno Belta unified and moved into basement exhibit room. The south building becomes regular exhibition gallery.
1997	Repair work for exhibition galleries on the 2nd floor of the south building begins. (Ends 1998.)
1999	A part of exhibition gallery on the 1st floor of the south building repaired.