Institute of Contemporary Art

17 Best Museums in Boston

"The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (known as the ICA), built its permanent home in 2006 on the edge of the harbor in the Seaport District. Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed the contemporary building to mirror the industrial cranes that load container ships nearby. Inside, you’ll find provocative contemporary art and a dedication to stellar programming. ICA’s collection is anchored by remarkable work by twentieth- and twenty-first-century women, including Louise Bourgeois, Doris Salcedo, and Eva Hesse, all donated by philanthropist and activist Barbara Lee. In summer 2018, the museum inaugurated the ICA Watershed, a seasonal satellite space for large-scale work that’s open Memorial to Labor Day. Located in a former factory in East Boston, it’s reached by a free shuttle included in the price of admission. (Be sure to book it ahead.)" - Elizabeth Wellington, Andrew Sessa