Discover Boston’s art scene: My favorite museums & hidden gems

When I was a kid, I took painting classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. So naturally, this city cultivated a special place in my heart for art. 

Boston just oozes with opportunities for art lovers to explore and indulge. It’s the ultimate treasure trove for history, culture, and the arts. Enthusiasts can wander through world-renowned art museums, galleries, and vibrant street art. 

As a local and art lover, I wrote this article to help guide you through Boston’s best art destinations, as well as some personal favorite places and works. Let’s discover how Boston celebrates a wide range of creativity.

My Favorite Boston Art Museums

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is the oldest and largest art museum in the city. Located in the Back Fens/Kenmore Square neighborhood, this museum is the top attraction in Boston, with foot traffic from all over the world.

I always allow myself to get lost in their 100+ galleries of artwork. I’m talking about exhibits that cover Asia, Europe, Africa, Ancient Egypt, and more. This museum houses a collection of paintings, sculptures, historical artifacts, and instruments (to name a few). 

The museum has an extensive collection of ancient works and contemporary art pieces. In my opinion, what makes the MFA a gem is the permanent display of work by my favorite Impressionist artist, Claude Monet.

Although I appreciate their permanent exhibits, I always make it a point to visit their traveling exhibits, too. I consider myself lucky to have seen works by Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Katsushika Hokusai. The MFA is notorious for not only showcasing the work of iconic artists, but also telling their stories as humans.

I spent my last Mother’s Day at the MFA taking in Vincent Van Gogh and his Roulin Family Portraits. The museum displayed what I found to be colorful portrayals of the postman Joseph Roulin, his wife, and his children. 

I was surprised to see that Van Gogh had created multiple portraits of this family while he lived in the south of France. This exhibit beautifully displayed the friendship that Van Gogh had with the Roulin family. 

Intimate letters written by the postman, Joseph Roulin, were encased in glass. My daughter read each letter as it brought to life the deep bond between the artist and the family. It helped shed light on Van Gogh’s humanity, where he grappled with life in a brand new city and struggled with his mental health.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is very busy on the weekends and in the summer months. I recommend you reserve your tickets online in advance. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous photo op? The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum transports you to another era with its Venetian-style courtyard, which can be viewed from every floor. 

This charming art museum is also located in the Back Fens/Kenmore Square neighborhood.
It houses the private collection of the American art patron, Isabella Stewart Gardner. She collected art pieces from different eras, countries, and cultures. 

She was also a philanthropist and advocate for emerging artists, such as her close friend, John Singer Sargent. They spent a lot of time working together in the museum. You can view his iconic portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner, which is on display. It’s quite striking.

Speaking of striking, this museum is famous for the mysterious art heist that took place in 1990. This true story captivates the imagination of all who visit the museum, myself included. 

It is one of the largest art heists, as $500 million worth of art pieces were stolen. Some of the pieces they took from the museum include work by artists Rembrandt and Vermeer. It’s always eerie to see the empty frames still hanging throughout the museum when I visit. 

Seven people were arrested in the most recent art heist at the Louvre in Paris, one of the world’s most secure museums. Yet, despite an ongoing investigation, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art has not been recovered, and no arrests have been made.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is still offering a $10 million reward for any information about the heist. Fascinated? Check out This is a Robbery on Netflix. I binged all four episodes in one sitting. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner believed in making art accessible for all. Her wish was to offer children (under the age of 18) free access to the museum’s paintings, books, letters, tapestries, furniture, and more. If your name is Isabella, and you’re on a budget in Boston, you also get free admission into the museum, always. 

This museum is very busy on the weekends, especially with students and visiting tourists. I recommend you reserve your tickets online in advance. 

Institute of Contemporary Arts 

The Institute of Contemporary Arts is a much smaller museum compared to the others previously mentioned. This intimate museum is located in Boston’s Seaport District, overlooking the water. 

The ICA may be small in size, but it’s still worth a visit. It isn’t a museum to aimlessly roam, but it does have a great art program and stunning waterfront views. Dynamic evolving exhibits are located on the fourth floor. These galleries challenge perspectives and push boundaries.

I had the delight of visiting the ICA when they showcased the installation and work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Kusama is one of today’s most successful and celebrated living female artists. She creates cutting-edge works of art, like her massive art installation, LOVE IS CALLING.

Kusama created an immersive room that felt like stepping into a colorful painting of sorts. It was an abstract experience. The room was dark and illuminated by inflatable tentacles covered in her iconic polka dots and a mashup of colors. 

Over the speaker, Kusama was heard reciting her love poem in Japanese, “Residing in a Castle of Shed Tears,” that played on loop. The poem and entire installation clearly depicted her message of love as an infinite concept.

The ICA always has thought-provoking installations and performances. But the main draw to this museum is its full calendar of events, such as First Fridays. These events are a space where art meets an evening out with music, dancing, and drinks. Date night, anyone?

The SoWa Art & Design District of Boston

The SoWa Art & Design district is home to many local professional studio artists. I highly recommend this Boston neighborhood if you’re an art enthusiast or collector. 

Take a stroll through this neighborhood and immerse yourself in the art that is on display. Whether you’re an avid collector or simply appreciate art, you will discover a great mix of contemporary and traditional works. 

The SoWa Art & Design District is lined with trendy art galleries and amazing restaurants. I suggest you combine your art gallery excursion with a culinary experience. Give Capri a try. It is one of Boston’s latest restaurants and has taken the city by storm with its elevated Italian cuisine.

Art Galleries

The SoWa Art & Design District in Boston has over 20 galleries. It is a playground for art lovers and collectors to discover new artists. 

On First Fridays, from 5 pm to 9 pm, galleries, showrooms, and boutique shops open the doors of creators and designers in the neighborhood. The galleries and studios are located at 450 & 460 Harrison Ave.

On SoWa Second Sundays, you can buy directly from over 80 artists in their studios. This monthly event runs from 11 am to 4 pm in the 450 Harrison Ave Building. Many galleries remain open for this event as it complements First Fridays. 

You can still explore the galleries and meet plenty of local artists in the SoWa neighborhood anytime. I suggest you start at 450 Harrison Ave and head down Thayer Street. Two large buildings stretch back to Albany Street. Art galleries and shops fill the bottom levels, and artist studios occupy the top floors. 

Art Fairs

I was recently invited to attend the First-Look Event of the internationally renowned Affordable Art Fair, Boston. This fair was founded in London but has since popped up in cities across the world, including New York City, Hong Kong, and more. 

The Affordable Art Fair, Boston, brought contemporary art to the SoWa Power Station. They showcased local, national, and international artists and galleries. 13 of its nationwide roster were Massachusetts galleries. 

This fair transformed an industrial landmark into a destination for exploring, conversing, and collecting art. I was able to directly engage with friendly galleries and artists. I also discovered original works without any intimidation. My experience was memorable, approachable, and elevated. 

SoWa Winter Fest & Open Market: 

The SoWa Winter Fest is a complete indoor winter shopping village. It is one of Boston’s biggest winter holiday markets. There’s everything from shopping for handmade gifts to sipping on craft cocktails and live ice sculpting to holiday workshops. 

Guests can shop for holiday gifts and enjoy tasty bites from over 125 local vendors. The thing that sets this Boston holiday market apart from others is that you can explore open artist studios and galleries in the SoWa district. 

The SoWa Open Market is the largest outdoor market in Boston during the summer. Every Sunday, from mid-May through October, people and families from all over the city come to shop from local art makers and other vendors. There are so many handmade items to shop from, including art, jewelry, and more. Adjacent to the open market is the building that houses the art studios on the top floor, featuring more collector items.

My Favorite Art Murals & Monuments in Boston

A VHILS Original in Boston’s Fenway

One of my favorite street artists, VHILS, the visual Portuguese artist, created a large mural in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Alexandre Farto, known as VHILS, is recognized globally for his unique technique of removing surface layers from walls to reveal a work of art underneath.

With many years of development and trips to Boston, VHILS created an impactful mural inspired by influential women in life sciences. There is a building located on Brookline Ave, where he composed an astonishing portrait of Rosalind Franklin, alongside Clara Barton and Mary Mahoney. It pays homage to their historical contributions to science and humanity. [Source]

The Embrace in Boston’s Common Park

In the heart of Boston’s Common Park, near the starting point of the Freedom Trail, you will find a large bronze sculpture called The Embrace. This art installation, by Hank Willis Thomas, is a staggering 25 feet wide and weighs a whopping 38,000 lbs. [Source]

This sculpture honors Martin Luther King Jr. and his beloved wife, Coretta Scott. They met and fell in love in Boston as college students. The work of art depicts four arms intertwined, representing a warm embrace shared by the couple. 

This is the first monument in Boston Common to celebrate African Americans. It celebrates the importance of love and taking action together, as a team.

The Museum of Modern Renaissance and House in Somerville

There is a house in Somerville that is brightly colored and oddly stands out from the rest of the street. Hundreds of Tufts students in the area walk by it daily, without really knowing what it is. 

The house itself is, in fact, an entire work of art. This building is covered in colorful frescos, murals, and other designs inspired by different cultures. The exterior features vibrant designs, such as roosters, suns, plants, and more. 

The art inside is visually abstract with interpretations of different myths, legends, and fables. There is also a Grand Hall within the museum. It’s used for musical events, meditation, and breathing workshops, among other purposes.

The Museum of Modern Renaissance and House is also the primary residence of its owners. So the home is occasionally open. Check out their website for a schedule of events. 

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Boston’s art scene is thriving with ever-evolving creativity. This city is rich in creators, innovators, and barrier-breakers. From the Museum of Fine Arts to the vibrant street art in Fenway, there is something for any art enthusiast. 

Next time you’re in the city, indulge in the art scene and allow yourself to be inspired with this 3-Day Boston itinerary.