The foundation Lillehammer Art Museum was established April 1 1994. The foundation is a further development of the 67-years-old institution Lillehammer City Collection of Paintings. Lillehammer Art Museum's permanent collection comprises Norwegian visual art from the 1800s up until today. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions of Norwegian and international art. Lillehammer Art Museum is considered one of the country's most important and representative works from the year 1820-1939.

The core of the museum's collection was generously donated by two private collectors: In 1921 the merchant and local patriot Einar Lunde donated over 100 paintings to the city of Lillehammer and in 1958, antique dealer Oscar Johannessen from Oslo gave his collection of paintings from the 1800s to the institution. In course of the last years the collection has been strengthened by a number of substantial donations and by acquisitions mainly focused on contemporary art.

During the XVII Winter Games, Lillehammer Art Museum was a main cultural forum. Architect Erling Viksjø's building from 1963 was remodeled and to it was joined a new distinctive building designed by Snøhetta Architecture & Landscape A/S. Between the two buildings sculptor Bård Breivik has created a sculpured garden in which stone and water are the main elements.

The permanent collection includes paintings and drawings by J. C. Dahl, Hans Gude, Adolph Tidemand, Erik Werenskiold, Eilif Peterssen, Christian Krogh, Frits Thaulow, Edvard Munch and others. The Lillehammer Painters including Kristen Holbø, Thorvald Erichsen and Lars Jorde are well represented.