Arts District

The museum is in the middle of the city, near a mix of public garages and paid street parking. There is a four-story building built into a part of an historic home. The layout works well to exhibit an impressive mix of art for a museum of this size. Renoir, Rodin, Picasso (sculpture as well as paintings), installation rooms, and more. There are some reconfigured exhibitions that juxtapose Native American art with early American colonial art, and signage to ask viewers to reconsider the paintings before them. Many of the plaques feature visitors' reflections on a given piece. I took about ninety minutes here and that felt like the appropriate amount of time for the visit. The gift shop has items of various price points and I was happy to leave with a few items.

You can find the Portland Museum of Art at 7 Congress Sq, Portland, ME 04101 - this is pretty much in the heart of the Arts District, close to the local art college and surrounded by galleries, boutique shops and interesting restaurants. There's quite a bit of paid street parking but most spaces were occupied so we settled into a lot about a quarter mile away and walked back to the museum. We often do this as it provides better context - word of advice, if you ever want to really experience a city you need to be on foot to take everything in, something I like to do whenever I'm traveling and luckily my wife buys-in. The street entry is fairly unassuming, so difficult to get a sense of the museum's size. Once you enter there's an expansive modernist lobby - we were lucky in that the Friday we visited admission was free (2023.09.08). We skipped over the photo exhibit currently in the main-floor gallery and went towards the back behind the gift shop (as an aside the bathrooms are down a floor). The back section has, I believe, more of their permanent collection and also provides access to the original museum's building - worth a visit if you're into architecture as it's rich in moldings and features a canvas floor below a gallery of stairs - something I've never experienced. As you climb floors the exhibits become more and more local. My favorite pieces: * George Braque "Still Life with Pears, Lemons and Almonds" * Wassily Kandinsky "Strong" * Rene Magritte "Le Coeur Devoile, Portrait de Tita Thirifays" * Max Ernst "La Mare aux Grenouilles" * Winslow Homer "Young Farmers (Study for Weaning the Calf)" * Pierre-Auguste Renoir "Confidences" * Winslow Homer "Weatherbeaten" * Winslow Homer "Dressing for the Carnival" * Winslow Homer "Sharpshooter" * NC Wyeth "Dark Harbor Fishermen" * Claude Monet "The Manneporte Seen from Below" The many Winslow Homer works are a real treat, I also appreciated examining the John Singer Sargent portraits. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Picasso but nice that they have examples. The best thing about this museum is the accessibility to the art - these days the large institutions keep viewers well away from the art to prevent damage - at the Portland Art Museum you can get up close (they recommend no closer than 12") so you can view the impasto and brush techniques. Moving to the top there's an an animal theme that includes paper mache birds suspended from the ceiling made from printed paper (like magazines and the like), culminating in the fabulous Bernard Langlais remains of the Samoset Resort fountain - hard to believe it was dismantled after only one year, but glad to see the menagerie of animals saved. In all a great visit - we basically had to be kicked out before closing and unfortunately weren't able to see the photo exhibit "Drawn to Light." We spoke to many of the staff including a few docents - they were all art geeks with a love and appreciation for the collection so very knowledgeable; they answered many of our questions - hopefully we weren't too obnoxious.

I was impressed by the art that this museum had. There were multiple floors. Every worker was kind and helpful. The outdoor sculpture garden doesn't open until May. A great mix of different forms of art as well!

Great way to spend a few hours while on a day trip in Portland Maine! Highly recommend! Staff is very friendly and helpful. If you purchase a ticket you don't need to rush to see all the exhibits the museum will Allow you to come and go throughout the day. Well worth it!

Not sure how to start this review, as I sit in the basement of the Portland Museum of Art sipping on a hot Oat milk Chai. I hail from Los Angeles County... born and raised. Growing up, I would spend good amounts of my time in museums in Los Angeles. Recently, I visited home again. I had to see the Getty. I spent so much time, especially in college, roaming the Getty. Inspired by its art collections, history, meaning, and sense of purpose as a museum and its influences in my life and community. Upon my return to Portland, I was eager to check out the Portland Museum of Art! For starters the staff roaming around are unfamiliar with hospitality and kindness. Instead, you are greeted by men on their cell phones only looking up to give you a dirty look rather than a friendly hello. Although, I was greeted with much kindness from a young woman in the Cafe! Most of the art felt less than desirable and inspiring. I was hoping to see pieces that spoke of the history of Maine and Portland. But instead I was met with anything but that. The descriptions of the art felt highly politically charged; I thought I was paying to visit an art museum not paying to be influenced by political views. The children's art exhibit was more interesting in my opinion. A note to whoever runs the museum: train your staff in the meaning of hospitality and kindness. Perhaps, a no cell phone policy should be in place?

Awesome collection! Well worth a stop if you're interested in both some traditional art and modern art!

Spent a lovely afternoon here on a cold weekend and we were pleasantly surprised. It is bigger than I expected with a good collection and lots to see. I don't understand art too much, but I still had a good time. The facilities were clean and well maintained. It's modern and elevators to help you access other floors If you are looking for a break, there is a café at the basement level that sells beverages and snacks with some limited seating. All of the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.

What an awesome place. A wonderful combination of permanent exhibits and special galleries. Everything from pieces by world renowned artists to local favorites. Also a wonderful mix of mediums from paints to sculptures to glass works. Took us a bit over 2 hours to drift through all 5 levels. Of all the Portland museums I've been to this is a definite favorite.

This is a great regional museum. It had its own personality and was well-curated. I had a very refreshing and invigorating visit. There is Maine flavor throughout and local artists represented such as various Wyeths, Winslow Homer, and Marsden Hartley.

Visited the Portland Museum of Art while in town. It was nice to check out for a couple of hours. if driving there is no free parking, paid parking only either on street or parking lot. There is artwork on 2 floors - a mix of classic (saw a piece of Pablo Picasso and replica of the Mona Lisa) and modern day art (Dale Chihuly). There is also some cool artwork outside. Great place for art lovers alike to enjoy both paintings and other works of art. Restrooms on the lower level. Was able to get a good discount savings with Groupon.

Not crazy about most of the art in this museum. Expensive to get in, $20. Parking down the street was $20 for 2 hours. Spent $60 for the 2 of us to see a ho hum museum. Not worth it!

The Portland Museum had 4 floors of art, including sculpture, paintings, ceramics and glass. The current exhibit is from Katherine Bradford, entitled Flyong Woman.i liked a few of her paintings, especially Feat of Waves. Their permanent collection includes works by Ledger, Braque, Kandinsky, Winslow Homer, Miro, Max Ernst, Dali.

We wanted to check out what the museum was like since we noticed there weren't many in the area (at least I think). The museum itself wasn't super big and there were some closed off sections but the parts we saw were pretty nice. I'm not a huge art guy so I can't speak on the things I saw but it was all interesting. I might be a little spoiled since I live near DC but we're not used to paying for most museums. That being said, admission was $18 per person and they do have free admission on Fridays too.

Really lovely museum. I only had about 2 hours to explore but honestly, that was pretty sufficient. The staff was very kind and allowed me to stow my luggage in their coat room since I was coming straight from traveling. There is also a cafe on the first floor with the typical libations and snacks. Definitely recommend checking this museum out if you're in the area!

I love museums it was my first time in Maine and decided to make a stop here. First of all very cold staff the whole time I was being followed by security like I was gonna steal something. No smiles or hellos felt very unwelcomed. I was taking pictures and security was there all the time. He got in my pictures way.

Worth a stop if you are in Portland for a while but the collection is small. The Portland Museum of Art consists of a collection of primarily American artists spanning a number of different time periods with a focus on paintings. There are a number of impressive works for art in this museum, but the size of the collection is not consistent with the price of admission.

This is a lovely well curated museum. The exhibits are interesting and the museum is an enjoyable experience. I like that the building is designed with lots of natural light and not a solemn dark mausoleum. It's just large enough to explore and small enough to be intimate. Who was the genius behind the self check coat room with the lockers and strollers!!! I often end up at the museum after some errands and shopping, so the lockers were so handy. The staff are friendly and want to engage. Portland is so smart to have this treasure in our community.

Amazing museum for the size of our city and the price to get in. I took my mother in law here for a Sunday afternoon adventure and she loved it. We spent about 2 hours checking out each floor. I can't wait to go back with the kids.

Well it's an interesting art museum. A mix of new England 18th and 19th century painting and some modern and rare Artist. I never heard of Richard Estes and like his refine works of art with a unique technique of making the painting almost real like a photograph. Similar to Andy Warhol silkscreen media. There was a rare small Pablo Picasso painting I took too. Is a mix of traditional self portrait paintings as well. Anyways Maine state has diversity and just wanted to share my experience on Yelp and on my Facebook page especially in the city of Portland. Do come here

We had just one full day in Portland & were so happy to stumble on the Portland Museum of Art & discover it was free Friday! We went in & enjoyed walking through the David Driskell exhibit as well as part of their permanent collection of statues, pottery & paintings. The Driskell exhibit was laid out perfectly to help visitors understand the evolution of his work in connection to the major events of his life. I found his pieces very poignant & dynamically diverse in both medium as well as color schemes. The people we interacted with were very friendly & I was thrilled to see a quality art museum in the city!

We loved the time spent on a recent visit to this beautiful museum.  The permanent collection truly holds something for everyone while then current exhibition "The Great Atlantic" turned out to be even better than expected. The small gift shop is well worth your time as we ended up walking away a "Flowing Rhythm" mobile that now adorns our kitchen/family room.  The outdoor sculpture garden was unexpected bonus. Visit on a Sunday as we did and you can park on the street for free. Visit on a Friday and admission is free.

This place is very well curated, you can walk it and feel there is a continuity in the art and color palette. It just flows. There is also a good amount of famous artists, something worth looking at, like lesser known works. They also had a couple of rooms that were interesting an cute, like the Pre-Columbian art section. The added bonus was the sculpture garden, the views of the city from the inside of the museum, and when I visited, they had a very interesting exhibit of New England/Upstate NY/Maine artists that created art communities and actually shaped the course of art trends. Very cool. Only downside: the snobby art crowd, whispering in your ear "German Impressionism" or flat out standing in the middle of a room and loudly ranting on the merits of such art school or whatever, some even discussing personal life and stuff. It is the sad side of American art museums... feel free to ask them to shut up.

Enjoyed this small museum. Certainly worth a visit if you are spending more than a day in Portland. Quality museum pieces and kept up very well. Additionally, I thought there was a decent range of periods and styles represented. Pass

Well, I have to support art and I couldn't bring myself to give this only two stars, but the museum was a bit of a disappointment for me. I know funding the arts is tough; I often donate to the Art Institute in Chicago so I don't have a problem with giving money to the arts but at $18 a ticket, I would like to have seen more. I know, I'm spoiled because I have lived in Chicago, Philly, New York... cities with the most amazing museums. But even a wander into one of the art galleries on Middle Street had more interesting work (in my opinion). I guess I should take into account that this is Portland and not Paris, but the price was just too steep to make me excited about anything. And because of Covid measures still in place, two entire sections were shut off to the public as well. No consideration for that? have to be honest, I don't think I would ever go back here unless there was a really specific artist that I liked on display.

When it's not a beautiful, sunny day, a day at the museum is an excellent idea! Despite having three floors in the main building and 2 smaller sections, you can finish the Portland Museum of Art fairly quick. A lot of random pieces of art, a lot of older, curated, American art. It is recommended you start on the top floor, and continue until you reach the bottom. The top floor starts with a bunch of random animal pieces. After, good luck trying to make sense of it all... There were some notable pieces of big name artists, such as Renoir, Monet, and Matisse-- which were my favorite.

I usually hit a museum every city I visit. Not my usual excitements from the museums it was too modern I think, the exhibits weren't as interesting and it wasn't a lot of collections from different eras. I think the exhibits could've been all better and more organization (unless this is a theme they were going for). One exhibit didn't correlate to the next. I think a more informational guide rather than a map would be more beneficial to the museum goers. The museum is beautiful with some very talented pieces; exquisite but I think there is more that can be displayed and explained. They can do more for the city of Portland. P.S. Parking on the street is scarce and the signage for museum parking is not clear. Keep your eyes open.

The first major work to enter the museum's collection, 'The Dead Pearl Diver,' a white marble sculpture by Benjamin Paul Akers from 1858, sits in a busy upper floor gallery. If this young diver weren't dead, he'd probably be upset with all the museum visitors passing just inches from his head. It's an odd placement of a sculpture but it does allow you to get close and check out the absolutely meticulous skill used to carve the delicate fish netting that covers his otherwise nude body. This lifts what may have been a rather ordinary neo-classical work into a tour de force. Imagine the countless hours holding a mallet and chisel to produce something so delicate. I can't: I would have gone mad. The upper floor gallery is filled with Bernard Langlais' primitive wood sculptures. It's one of the highlights of a visit to this museum. My attention, though, lingered on his 'Animal Farm,' a 1963 wood relief. His menagerie of farm animals is deftly placed on wood planks. As I looked closely, the animals seemed more life like due to the clever use of different woods to accentuate their muscles and shadows. Revisting old favorites that I haven't seen in years, such as Gaston Lachaise's massive 'Garden Figure,' a 1935 concrete nude (that must weigh a ton) was fun. A small joy for me was Harry Bertoia's 1976 copper and bronze 'Small Sonambient Sculpture.' As many times as I have seen Bertoia's works both small and large, this was the first time I listened to one. Two times a day, a museum employee gently strums the upright rods and a music box cascade of sound spreads into this and other galleries. Wonderful.

Nice little museum. Free on Friday. A good mix of modern and classic art. Lot's to do near bye. I was surprised to see so many great paintings.

What a fantastic little museum. So many famous artist in such a small, clean and well maintained gallery. First and second floors have Renoirs, they also have a Picasso and a Monet in addition to European art they have several other American artist as well. It's just amazing to see so many famous artist in such a small museum. The basement also has a restaurant. The outside had some modern art sculptures. It's easy to go through and a must see in Portland Maine.

A group of friends and I went to see the extraordinary exhibits on hand. It was my first time and I thought everything was amazing, if not surprising, with some of the art they have on display. Looking forward to going again and perhaps become a member. Thanks to the staff and security(who know everything about everything) for a wonderful experience.

Got drawn in by the cheap tickets ($15 for adults!Free for kids!!)ease of street parking, and promises of Monet and Renoir on view. Surprised at the fantastic smattering of Picasso's (!!!), Sargent portraits, and a really lovely small gallery exhibit on Isamu Noguchi, who I had never heard of before but could have enjoyed for a solid hour if I hadn't had my family with me ready to move along. Lovely curated collection that was much more varied and interesting than I expected. I find a lot of the coastal museums are ONLY about coastal themes but this has plenty of local art, old and contemporary, as well as many more famous pieces to enjoy. I loved the layout of the museum and the meandering gallery spaces so you could really take your time and didn't really know what to expect around the corner if you left the map alone. Lots of kind docents and gallery staff with gentle reminders about keeping away from the art and lots of teaching about the pieces and other parts of the museum for my kids. I think we expected maybe to blow through it in an hour or so, since it didn't seem very large, but we spent almost three there and again, could have probably lingered another hour more if we didn't have my three year old getting hungry for lunch. It was a really wonderful experience.

The Portland Museum of Art provides culture to the city and is a worthwhile visit. Even on the outside the Museum offers a sculpture garden. I particular found the person created from stone and wire an interesting one. Inside they have a number of quality pieces and have a fair number of sculptures as well. The museum is centrally located and easily accessible.

The museum is free on Fridays, so we took advantage and planned our visit on a Friday. It's a very nice and well kept museum with some great pieces from well renowned and local artists (Picasso, Renoir, Monet, etc). Due to COVID, our visit was limited to an hour, but I could have easily spent 2 hours here. It's a nice way to pass the time on a rainy day in Portland.

This is a smaller museum that is nice to visit on a gloomy day. ( I was also able to find discount admission on Groupon.) This is a unique place with a few people wandering around, but by no means is this place packed on a Saturday afternoon. Some of the art I liked way more than others, but that's the beauty of art- that is is subjective. It's a nice place to spend an afternoon- but it's not a must see in Portland. 3.5/5

I was very impressed with the museum's collection. Paintings from big name artists. Friendly staff.

My work had a reception on site. The PMA was in the middle of installing their next exhibit, but there was plenty to look at during the reception. The food set up downstairs was perfect. The staff was very attentive and the display was awesome. The PMA staff was so helpful, answering questions and directing people to certain areas to view the exhibit. We are lucky to have such a nice place in Portland. Thanks again.

The museum had a difficult layout to navigate, at least initially, but there was a lot of great art to check out, and some ridiculous "art" that was intriguing nonetheless. Nice variety of styles, quite a few works by well known artists. Interesting writeups on a lot of them as well. Most of the art is upstairs over the main lobby/ticketing, but don't miss the wing past the gift shop. That area was much less busy than the rest while we were there, but had some works that are not to be missed as well. Check Groupon before going...worked out for us, and as of this review it is still available.

This is a very pleasant museum to go to. Its not a huge museum but I think its average compared to most other New York Museums (not just the tourist favorite ones like Moma and definitely not the Met.) The quality of the art pieces here are very good too and they have a nice amount of classical, photographic and modern art pieces. They have a permanent selection of Maine artists which is pleasant to see if you like New England or Hudson Valley paintings. When I came here I got in for free during their Friday free hours which was fantastic! Normally the cost is around 15 dollars or something so if you want to see the old port of Portland keep Fridays in mind. Besides the art pieces they have a cafe downstairs which is nice to go to and you can see all the art pieces in under a hour.

Portland Museum of Art is a small museum that represents very well. On my visit, I was fortunate to see the exhibit "Women Modernists in New York" featuring Georgia O'Keeffe, Marguerite Thompson Zorach, Florine Stettheimer, and Helen Torr. (O'Keefe is the most famous but do not miss Stettheimer's jazz age pieces, wonderful). The museum's permanent collection includes famous artists attached to the region (Winslow Homer, Gilbert Stuart), and various works of major artists and sculptors (including Monet, Hopper, Renoir, etc.). The museum is very well designed, and it's peaceful to stroll through and observe the art. And considering it's size, you can plan a two hour visit and feel comfortable that you've enjoyed the majority of the museum. There is a free admission promotion for Friday afternoons, but for a walking town like Portland, it may be smartest to visit when the weather is a bit off.

Another return visit for us. This is such a nice museum it's a shame that many tourists may pass it by. With features of local Maine artists, this collection is well-curated and worth the time to discover.

A lovely collection of modern art. The cost is $24 pp and you can easily get through in an hour. Ask for a AAA discount and you get a $1 off. Parking lots are in the area with one closer to the museum for $5 flat fee, or one further down for $4.50 per hour. Multiple floors with many different exhibitions and a self-guided tour. If you're in the fence with the cost, consider that money as a donation to the museum that regularly changes the exhibits. Impressive artwork for sure.

The PMA is just lovely. I visited on a very cold, rainy day and had drinks in the Cafe on the bottom floor with my boyfriend prior to wandering about the museum. He had a Maine Beer Company beer and I had a Maine Craft Distilling canned cocktail. They were reasonably priced and tasted as expected. Looking at the pieces throughout the museum was fun and interesting. One of the security guards walked right in between us and the painting we were looking at multiple times. I would expect them to be trained to respect people clearly spending time with a piece of art and not walk in front of you. It's not like he had anywhere to be. Frustrating, but everything else was nice.

Wonderful small art museum with superb works of art. Various painters with excellent skills are given a venue here

Fun time with a wide array of art. The place isn't that large though, depends on the person to see if it is worth it. We happened to get in for free so it was definitely worth it. There is a nice little thrift store across the street too for afterwards!

Such a lovely museum! The woman who sold us our tickets gave the excellent suggestion of taking the elevator to the fourth floor and then walking down. She also could not have been nicer. We really enjoyed the mixture of exhibits. Modern with American artists from the 19th century -- I am not sophisticated enough to describe the genre of Homer and Whistler -- and European artists. I really enjoyed the repurposed houses. I love viewing 19th century homes. The woman at the gift shop was also wonderfully friendly. Make sure you make this part of your visit.

I live locally and make sure to visit the PMA several times of year to check out what's new and to revisit my favorites too. They have a unique space with multi levels and I always enjoy the perspectives of the city as you can look out from the stairway and hall windows. It even connects to a historic house with SAIL fabric (that's right as in sail boat) used for the floor of the home which also has a "floating" staircase. They have pieces from all over the world and time periods, many who you will recognize (Monet, Homer-the list goes on) and they periodically showcase works from Maine artists and photographers that is also a plus. In the spring they host "Art In Bloom" which has local florists and groups who create works of floral art inspired and often a near perfect match to pieces on the walls which is truly a must-see. They also have a theater which regularly shows thought provoking documentaries and other films. Staff overall are quiet, but friendly and they have made suggestions to make sure I haven't missed something on exhibit. If you are visiting for the first time you can pick and choose to make it a quicker visit and still enjoy, but I'd give yourself 2 hours for sure. Also keep in mind they have free lockable lockers to shed those jackets for a more comfortable time. A small casual cafe is located downstairs for lunch, etc but can't speak to the food and drink as I've never tried it. My only gripe-they claim it's fully handicap accessible but what about those handicap door buttons for those without easily recognized disabilities?! The main entrance doors (2/2 of them) are SUPER heavy and I know someone personally who could not get in or out without assistance of another person. Overall highly recommended!

When I was walking around PMA, I was a little disappointed about the size of the museum for the price of admission. (It's $12 for adults, and they were also asking another $5 for a special exhibit.) However, in hindsight, I'm really glad I visited PMA while in Portland. This museum has a small collection, but it's a little bit of everything. It's easiest to start on the top floor of the main building and work your way down. The 4th floor is mostly contemporary art, including an inventively displayed Warhol and the recently recovered Wyeths when I was here. The 3rd floor featured two unique Picasso vases and a Calder mobile. The 2nd floor was mostly taken up by a gallery of Maine land/seascapes from a variety of big names, including Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, and George Bellows. Glassware and sculpture is sprinkled throughout, creating a nice balance. Once you've made your way through the main building, you can walk past the gift shop through an atrium full of classical sculpture and into the older part of the museum, which is mostly 19th century portraiture and landscapes. It was cool to see Winslow Homer's easel and a set of paints on display. Finally, you can enter McLellan-Sweat Mansion, which featured some crazy wallpaper and beautiful details in the molding and trim. There's a feature for many paintings where you can use your cell phone to call in for information, instead of having to carry around an audio guide. This is a cool concept, but unfortunately the sound quality is poor. I hope they can improve it since I really liked the idea of involving the community in recording the sound bites. Photography without flash is allowed everywhere except the special exhibition, so you can snap away to your heart's content. I didn't get to try the museum cafe in the basement, but the pastries looked really tasty. I loved the selection of local jewelry and ceramics in the gift shop. If you don't mind small museums or only have an hour to spare on your road trip, PMA makes a great stop. If you can make it on a Friday night, when the museum is free, even better!

Portland, Maine, punches way above its weight in the arts. This would be an impressive museum in any market, but it is more amazing given a market which ranks 78th in terms of TV audience. Their current featured exhibit, "American Perspectives," was curated by the American Folk Art museum in New York.

**Review for PMA Cafe** After spending a bit of time at the museum, wanted to get a quick bite to eat before heading off to the next destination. This cafe, located on the bottom floor near the entrance, has lots of seating and an inviting atmosphere. Nice pastry selection as well as savory options. Decided to split the Blueberry Muffin ($3) and the Mushroom Quiche ($13). Quiche is a little on the expensive side, yet incredibly well made. Good balance between the egg, mushroom, and brie cheese. Side salad had cranberries scattered inside, making for a sweet kick. Muffin is packed with blueberries inside and had a moist interior. A little sticky on top from the sugar. Had a blueberry cider ($5ish?) to wash it down, which was okay. Like the fact you can visit the cafe without paying for admission. A surprising option if you don't want to make a separate trip to a different restaurant.