Harvard Art Museums

"What’s this place all about?When you walk into the renowned Harvard Art Museums—which became admission free in June 2023—you’re technically stepping into three museums at once: The Fogg Museum showcases Western art from the Middle Ages to the present day; the Busch-Reisinger Museum focuses on on all modes and periods of art from northern and central Europe, with an emphasis on German-speaking countries; and the Arthur M. Sackler museum features a collection of Asian, Islamic, and later Indian art. Once housed separately, the museums now peacefully coexist in the Fogg Museum building, which made its expanded and modernized debut in 2014, redesigned by Renzo Piano. Behind the beautiful brick facade, dating to 1927, the museums cluster around a historic atrium, now topped with a Piano-conceived pyramidal glass ceiling. The Italian architect’s impressive work for the institution re-endows it with a sense of the breadth and depth of the university’s footprint in the art world. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one?The Fogg Museum building was the first structure in North America created specifically as a place to train art scholars, museum professionals, and conservators. This emphasis on education imbues the collection with a deeper intention: teach the community about art history. Galleries present frequently changing selections from the museums’ 250,000-piece collection, which spans from ancient Greek pottery to contemporary paintings, affording you a well-balanced survey of the world’s art. Insightful details in placards make this museum a dream for art lovers and novices alike. But exhibits keep us coming back. What can we expect?Temporary exhibitions in several third-floor galleries add a crisp edge to the experience. Dynamic and diverse, they often present new art historical research, and they rotate from contemporary installations to retrospectives and thematic features like an exhibition on women in Southeast Asian art. What did you make of the crowd?Harvard University attracts throngs of tourists who come to see the famous college and take photographs in its eponymous yard. Many of these same visitors make their way to the art museums alongside art appreciators and Bostonians who want to make the most of the proximity to Harvard’s campus. On the practical tip, how were the facilities?The Harvard Art Museums are accessible for visitors using wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Free wheelchairs are available for guests, as are assisted-listening devices and large-font programs. Any guided tours worth trying?Harvard students give free thematic tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Consider attending a gallery talk or seminar if the tour schedule doesn't jibe with your plans. Gift shop: What will we find?Serious art lovers should plan on leaving this museum with a stack of art books, many of which were written or edited by Harvard faculty. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere?Jenny’s Café is lovely for taking a moment to digest the collection over a homemade snack. Drinking a cup of tea in the covered Calderwood Courtyard is hard to beat—even with Harvard Square’s coffee shops around the corner. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?If you can’t commit to a half-day, opt to dive into the period you’re drawn to rather taking than a quick glean of everything. There are noteworthy pieces from most time periods." - Elizabeth Wellington