The museum opened in 1936 in a corner of Tennoji Park. It was originally the main residence of the Sumitomo family with its garden, but was donated to the city of Osaka for the purpose of building a museum. The museum consists of three floors above ground and two below ground, including the main building when it was first established and the underground exhibition room that was added later. Special exhibitions and collection exhibitions are held in the main building exhibition room. The collection exhibitions display over 8,500 pieces of Japanese and Chinese paintings, sculptures, and crafts, as well as works entrusted to the museum by shrines and temples, and many of these works are designated as Important Cultural Properties. In addition, the Tennoji Gallery (formerly the underground exhibition room) regularly hosts public exhibitions organized by various art groups, and the main building also houses an art research institute where practical research on drawing, painting, and sculpture is conducted. In recent years, the museum has also held gallery talks by curators and practical art instruction from experts for elementary and junior high school students.