Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

I didn’t know what to expect from a small-town art museum, but Bainbridge Island Museum of Art was a really pleasant surprise. The space is modern, open, and free to enter — which already earns points. The exhibits focus on contemporary artists and themes like social justice, identity, and the environment. Some pieces were bold, some confusing, some really moving. There was also an interactive poster printing workshop when we visited, which made the whole experience feel alive and hands-on. It’s not a huge museum, but it packs personality. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re on the island.

A small museum full of art from local artist’s. Extensive gift shop and some things to look at. Overall, I spent maybe an hour checking out all the art pieces with my friend. I like how it works on a donation bases! The photo is from the last time I visited and the exhibits have changed around some! Love this place! And like how it supports local artist, which is so important for the community!

Really nice museum. We enjoyed reading about the exhibits in here and seeing the unique pieces upstairs. The docents were nice and really knowledgeable. The outdoor area was cool spot to chill. The restaurant on the first floor was pretty good and fair priced. Parking was easy on the weekday we visited. The best part is that’s free, but they accept donations.

I am totally gaga over this place. Each selection felt especially made for me by someone who took special interest in my enjoyment. Reserved online, so the walk from the ferry was timed perfectly. Just Wow!! 😍🤩💜

Little gem on the island. Free access. Great service and exhibitions. The boutique is great and staff is lovely. Great stop.

It was a really nice cozy local attraction. They will make you give your bag or purse in exchange for a key to keep while you are visiting the museum. It will not take long to go through so plan for multiple things to do while visiting Bainbridge island. Best benefit! Its free and accepts donations.

Fun art museum. They have rotating new exhibits; if you go in a few times a year you will always see something new. The displays are well lit and there is plenty of room to maneuver within the museum. The facility itself is spectacular and well maintained. All the displays are easily accessible even for someone with mobility issues. If coming from Seattle it is best to walk onto the ferry if possible. It's a 5 minute walk to the museum. Not dealing with a car on the ferry will make your experience much more enjoyable.

Great museum! It’s on the smaller side but the exhibits change frequently and they had a lot of mixed mediums on display. My favorites were the “ice dyed” fabrics (Do not remember the artists name) and the cut out work by Nikki McClure. Well worth a quick stop.

Such a cute, initmate musem of art. We loved looking at the cool glass installations the most. And since it was a small museum compared to others, it wasn't packed at all and staff were very nice and accomodating to us. And to mention, there was no entry fee!

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is before the business district from the ferry. They are on the NW corner of Route 305 and Winslow. Their focus is Washington artists in the direction of contemporary craft. The Northwest has a strong history of craft-informed fine art continuing to the current day. The gallery includes Native American artists, which by its nature, is craft - art outside other contemporary art academic analysis. I was in the neighborhood and attracted to their show of Nikki McClure. At the time of my visit, admission was free; thanks donors. The museum has a permanent collection, rotating shows, an auditorium space, a cafe, and scheduled programs. In the current show, many works are sourced from the Traver Gallery in Seattle. Nikki McClure is based in Olympia, forming work from painting and paper cuts. That is produced out as children's' books, prints, and original works. Their gift shop has children's books and toys, and for all, jewelry, crafts, and more. It would be good for children interested in art. The staff was great! The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art is a recommended stop if you are in the neighborhood.

I attended an art exhibit here two weeks ago and it was such a beautiful space. The people who run the gallery were so down to earth. The exhibits were eye catching and ranged from fine art paintings, abstract, portraits, couture, sculptures, and more. The have space for events in which they serve refreshments and wine. I enjoyed a complimentary glass at this Elevate PRM event, along with entertainment from spoken word artists, love painting, speakers, and a dj. It was worry a unique and absolutely lovely evening. I look forward to returning to view new exhibits and explore more of the gallery offerings.

I recently had the opportunity to visit this museum and attached fully serviced cafe offering coffee, breakfast and lunch options bc of a work related training. What a nice venue for a training with convenient free parking lot, cafe attached, walking distance from ferry terminal, variety of restaurants and shops in walking distance Very comfortable theater seating with large stage and media. Yes! I'll be back for another training opportunity held here!

A really fun and cool free art museum where you can explore and view some local art! Open 10am - 5pm, my friend and I came in the morning, one of the first stops after getting off the ferry. The front desk is really friendly and they speak very fondly of the art in the museum. It's a small art museum and when we went some of the exhibits were closed but my friend and I had a wonderful time exploring and admiring the artists' work. We spent about 45 minutes looking through everything. There is a cafe area and gift shop area for souvenirs. They also have a little outdoor rooftop garden area.

Came here as the first stop when visiting the island and while small, it is packed with a lot of little galleries for are and pieces. There are staff on hand if you have questions about anything which is nice. The featured gallery during the visit were all artists of or doing pieces on Indigenous and first nation influence. There were all sorts of art including pieces that are recycled or repurposed material, paintings, sculpted and more. A lot of the art seemed to tell as story, such as environmental changes that was the inspiration. On the lower level there was a small section of video art with a recorded artist and model taking part. Very different than the usual stationary objects. From there, an artist featuring a line of her artistic jewelry work was present before circling back to the gift. shop. I'd recommend a visit here. It is free (but donations are welcome and easy to make at the kiosks at the front counter). It's a decent way to kill an hour. Even taking your time, there are only 4-5 galleries to walk through and see some art.

Such a cool way to spend an hour or two, and for free! Bainbridge Museum of art is within walking distance to where the ferry lets you off, is nicely air-conditioned, and offers a really diverse array of local art. It does a good job of presenting Seattle and bainbridge island culture and is a perfect tourist activity. I tend to get bored or overwhelmed at museums, so I appreciated how small and approachable this one was. The staff were all really friendly, too.

This is a lovely little art museum within easy walking distance of the ferry. It has lots of local art in a variety of styles and mediums. It's donation only, so no fee to enter. They have a cute little gift shop with a variety of local art pieces that fit into all budgets. You can get a $5 sticker or a $500 necklace, but there's something for everyone. There is plenty of seating scattered through the museum, so if you have a hard time standing for a while you can take a seat and enjoy. They also held my backpack and coat at the desk so I didn't have to carry them. There was a small cafe in the back, they didn't have many pastries so I didn't get anything. Can't speak to how good the cafe is, but the museum itself was wonderful.

Having lived in Chicago for most of my adult life, I am extremely spoiled when it comes to museums. But I really enjoyed my short visit here. What struck me is how well curated this museum seems to be. All the artists and exhibits on the second floor flowed together beautifully and I was really keen on the work on display. The first floor had a special exhibit as well, which had some really compelling pieces. I had family on BBI for years and this museum sprang up around the time when all family was on their way off the island. I never made an effort to come here during the inaugural years but finding myself back on the PNW I figured I had to check it out, finally. And I'm glad I did. Admission is free!

There are a couple of free museums on Bainbridge Island and I had just finished going to the historical one so my next stop was the art one. It's a small museum but the cool thing is it's free! There are two floors with different types of exhibits, some by local artists. I got to see a clown exhibit and a glassblowing exhibit which are both pretty unique and interesting. Some of the artwork throughout the museum was to be part of an online auction so if you wanted to bid on them you could check out some of the artwork beforehand. There was also an auditorium showing different films that are on average about 10 minutes each. This museum is closer to the ferry side of the island so it's very convenient to make a stop if you're visiting the area.

Fun museum to visit if you are in Bainbridge Island. Admission is free with donations accepted. They feature local artists on both floors. You are free to take pictures. A small cafe / restaurant is attach as if you need a recharge. Lots of interesting items located in the gift shop. Last, don't forget to check out the exhibit below the staircase. There is a very comfortable lounging couch for you to use!

a cute, small, and free art museum located on bainbridge island shortly after you get off of the ferry. exhibits have a lot of really nice multimedia art, scrapbooking, poems, etc. two floors though the museum is pretty small so you can go through it in under an hour.

Nic Schluter came to my child's school and taught a lesson about the printing press. She gave them a history lesson about the printing press and then talked about kindness and how you can make a difference in someone else's life by being kind. Then the students were able to print "Kindness is.......," and the students were able to choose a word that explained what kindness meant to them. I watched each child use the printing press and smile after seeing their finished art work. It was a special treat and I am so glad that they were able to experience this wonderful engaging and hands on lesson. The students asked questions, laughed and learned throughout the whole process. The adult helpers enjoyed the lesson as well. Nic is a wonderful presenter and is so knowledgeable about art and the printing press. Thank you :)

I really enjoyed my visit to this beautiful museum! They have contemporary art and focus mostly on local artists, but there were also some exhibits from artists from Europe and other parts of the world. It's amazing that the museum is free. The gift store is excellent. Very nice people work here. It's easy to get here, walking distance from where you get off at the ferry. The building itself is beautiful. There are skylights and even an outdoor terrace. Highly recommended! Closed temporarily.

Do not let the size of this museum in picturesque Bainbridge Island fool you into thinking that this museum is not worth a visit: It is full of beautifully and wonderfully curated art from local artists. The smaller real estate just forces them to choose more carefully and as a result, every collection is interesting. Glass windows encompassing one entire side of the building brings plenty of natural lighting inside. A good looking café/restaurant on the ground floor appears to attract locals, whether or not they are planning on seeing the artwork. Best of all, entrance and parking are FREE!

This was a really cute place to swing by after coming on the ferry from Seattle. I love art museums, even better if it's weird art. This place had no shortage of weird stuff. We spent a good hour or two looking around, as there was plenty to see. Maybe art isn't your thing but I think there is something for everyone here. It wasn't a far walk from the ferry. And the staff was really nice. If you're over the city and want a quick getaway, this is a nice stop!

I had the opportunity to ditch the car and actually wander leisurely in Winslow on this bright sunny summer Sunday. My first stop was a first time visit to the Bainbridge Museum of Art on 8/27/17. This is easy to find also if you are a foot/walk on passenger or cyclist off the ferry from Seattle at the entrance of Winslow Way. Like the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, the admission is free. Nice variety of installations featuring local artists, metal large scale displays, block prints, photography, paper and fiber arts, and even a lovely outdoor garden. Nice detour before or after a ferry ride or as part of a spontaneous day trip.

Relatively small, cozy and quaint, the museum is clean and perfectly accessible from the ferry terminal. Easy to get to, and easy to see the entirety of the collections in a short amount of time, makes it perfect for a visit on your way to or from Bainbridge Island's "downtown" from the Seattle ferry. On Father's Day weekend, the collections were even more sparse as they were hidden away during the weekends fundraisers and parties. Staff are friendly, inviting and warm. And admission is free (donations accepted), which is a lovely added bonus.

It's a nice local Art Museum on Bainbridge Island. The exhibit there at the moment is a woman's show with a variety of artists. I particularly enjoyed the black and white photography of people from the late 1980s. I don't remember the photographer's name. But I feel she captured the look and feel of the era and the people beautifully in her work. I wasn't terribly fond of the artist whose work focused mostly on women's bodies. I mean don't misunderstand, I think our bodies are beautiful, but it just didn't quite present something meaningful as I studied the pieces There were a couple of abstract art pieces as well at this exhibit. I've never understood abstract art. Just usually looks like blobs of color on a canvas. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be a Rorschach image or what. And honestly that doesn't matter whose work of art it is, abstract is just something that I just don't know how to interpret. I will say I do like the fact that this Museum offers a place for local artists to really showcase their work. I met with two mutual friends over lunch in the Museum's Bistro. That was worth the trip. I mean the art was good to view. And learning about the huge number of art related books in the library was pretty cool. But I'm all about the food no matter where I go. So the Bistro is small, with a pretty small menu, and a daily special on it. I'm not sure how much it contributes to the fundraising for the museum. But it's definitely worth stopping by and enjoying a nice meal knowing that some of the revenue helps support the local artists and the local community's art museum.

This is a great art museum, especially considering that they specialize in art from the Puget Sound region and offer free admission to everyone every day. The docents in the galleries were friendly and knowledgeable. I also think the LEED Gold-certified building architecture is pretty and interesting. The museum's location in downtown Bainbridge makes it a very easy day trip from Seattle.

This is a local museum in Bainbridge on Windsor st. that is the main strre with restaurants and shops in the downtown. It is a delightful area to visit. We just happened to see the museum. It is contemporary art that we found interesting. It isn't a big place, but ii is laid out nicely and there is plenty of room to enjoy the permanent and traveling exhibits. We found all the people from the front desk greeting you to people throughout to be very friendly. The museum is very wheelchair friendly too as a person with me as in a wheelchair. The museum is free, but please a donation to support the museum!

Not so big museum, but they have a good exposition. I would say this is a museum of modern art like we've seen in Amsterdam, Netherlands. They not classic paints, but they have some interesting things like book with stitching text on itself pages. Also they have Café. But we've took there only tea and coffee (they serve only ground one or with cream)

I wouldn't mind making a stop at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art during every trip to the island. There is something new every time. Tickets: They offer free admission all year long unless its a special event. I have not had a chance to attend any special events so I cannot comment on those. You can donate how much you wish (if anything) upon entry. Pandemic response: During COVID, there was lots of space to be 6 ft apart from others, masks were required and worn by all, and hand sanitizers were available. Atmosphere: The staff is friendly and warm. The atmosphere of this place is great because you know you are learning something but at the same time it's very approachable and connected to the local community. During one of my visits, there was an exhibit about sustainability which is important to the Bainbridge community and I learned a ton about it - including about fleece in fashion. Time: You can probably make it through the museum in an hour at a normal pace, and can take longer if you want to go in depth into any of the exhibits.

This quaint museum offers a pleasant first stop when you get off the ferry. I was taken aback by how small it appeared on the outside, but rest assured it hosts plenty of art to admire and reflect upon. I especially enjoyed the exhibits Breathe and Paul Rucker: Forever. Everyone, no matter which walk of life they come from, can stand to learn something from these exhibits. The rest of the contemporary art collection was solid and intriguing, and the layout immersive while allowing for social distancing. The gift shop, in addition, sported a neat selection (check out the wooden bookmarks!), and hefty discounts. The best thing is the way they welcomed us in, as if we had gone there our entire lives. It definitely left an impression. Oh, and it's free! Any donations you may choose to give are discretionary. So, enjoy! :)

Oh so charming. I'm glad I made the trip to Bainbridge just for the privilege of visiting this sweet little gem of an art museum. It's right at the heart of downtown and easily accessible by foot from the ferry terminal. It's also free! These sweet, friendly people who greeted you at the front desk are volunteers. Make a donation if you can, that's what this museum mostly relies on. I came at the end of March, and the exhibits on display were lovely and so unique. Finding and experiencing this place just made me smile. I can't wait to come back again.

I've been wanting to go to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art for a while now and finally made it over there a few weekends ago. What is so cool about this museum is that there is no entry fee. You can check in at the front desk and the receptionist will tell you a little bit about the museum and what exhibits are currently on display and then you are free to go wonder around. When Steve and I was here one of the main exhibits was a "Home" themed one in which 25 different artist provide a piece or pieces of work for what they interpret to be home. This may sound a bit bland but it actually wasn't at all and the art in this exhibit was exciting and experimental which made our trip here very rewarding. Also a major theme here is that most of the artists here are either from Bainbridge Island or the Puget Sound area. The museum isn't a very large one but it has everything you would come to expect for one to have. They have a cafe and a gift shop. I didn't get anything to eat at at the cafe so I'm not too sure how the food is (there also seems to be other eating places in the same complex as well). The gift shop is really cute and had lots of souvenirs to pick from. They also have some pieces of art for sale too. This was a cute little museum and I would love to make a return trip and will keep an eye out for what exhibits they will be getting in the future either by checking out their website or from emails that you can sign up for when you go to the front desk when you first come in!

This museum has some very original artwork. My favorite was the geologic, Strada art on the second floor. The artist depicted every stratigraphic layer from the sky to bedrock using paper discs. You have to see it to believe it. Customer service is a little bit lacking at this museum, but the admission is free so I'm not counting off for that. There's also a fantastic room of pop-up art, like pop-up books you're familiar with from when you were a kid. Don't make a special trip to Bainbridge Island to visit this museum, but if you are here you absolutely must stop in.

The highlight of my visit to Bainbridge Island. I walked here from the ferry port. Admission is free and all sections Can be seen in less than half an hour Due to the side of the museum. I love museums, especially ones with art, Bainbridge Island has a small selection of different types of artwork from local artist. It has some abstract pieces I really liked. It's worth your time if you're in Bainbridge since it doesn't take much to view the entire art prices and it's free.

This little museum is a must stop when you visit the Island! It has a little cafeteria for snacks and lunch, the exhibits are of local artists and very interesting. The staff does an excellent job of filling you in on the artists and even we're to purchases some of the work. The lady at the front desk greeting visitors while knitting scarves, was such a delight wish I could remember her name she was so helpful. The cost is free, but donations are encouraged. They have some pretty thought provoking paintings up, that really drew me toward them. All art is worth admiring so stop and admire the hard work love and attention these artists poured into their pieces. It's a great way to pass some time waiting for the ferry to arrive.

I enjoyed every moment at the museum. I also saw something that I had never seen before which was a donation tool that allowed you to donate using a debit/credit card for your admission ticket. This place felt very safe and clean with covid precautions taken seriously. Also, a lovely calm ambiance throughout. And, the scenery inside and out was just gorgeous! I would recommend everyone check out this museum. I also purchased a bit of art in the gift shop. They have items at reasonable prices. Made my trip to WA very special!

I would say this is more of a gallery than a museum. The space is rather small...2 floors that can be viewed in less than 30 minutes. The art is rather pretentious and mostly devoid of any emotional significance, but visiting is free so there's that.

This museum is a local gem. Situated not too far from the ferry dock on Bainbridge island (perhaps 5 min if you are a slow walker like me), it is a must-see. It may not have classical pieces but is full of eclectic art from local artists and pride. The docents are very friendly, giving out details and revealing interesting information that adds to the background of the art pieces. It's worth checking out this attraction before you venture further into town. Besides, no one would turn down free admission, right?

Cozy little free museum. What's not to like? Cool building, nice location. If you're walking off the Seattle boat and you have the time there's no reason not to check it out - even if you're not usually big on art museums.

While visiting Bainbridge Island with my family, we decided to stop into the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and was surprised to find the cool exhibits inside. Though the museum might be small, they had plenty to show with their two showroom floors. Filled with many works of local artists which rotate out frequently (every 3 months) so there will alwasy be something new to view when you happen to visit the next time. They also house a book museum which they are one of many few museums in the country which has a book museum on display. And as many mentioned in posts below, the best part is that you can see all their wonderful work for FREE!

Stopped at the museum to look around while we were on bainbridge island. Really friendly and informative staff. Pretty small museum but it's free! They accept donations :) walked around the 2 floors and explored the gift shop. Cool to check out if you have the time

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) is the museum to go for interesting local art from Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, as well as the broader Puget Sound region. It's close to the ferry terminal, so its very accessible if you hop on the ferry without your car. I really enjoy the collection BIMA has to display. It's great to see talent from the area. They do have workshops and seminars open to the public. During my visit, I popped into a workshop that featured an artist on how he creates his metal artwork and showed the tools involved. Currently, there is no admission fee although donations are encouraged.

Visited the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art yesterday for the first time. It was well worth the trip over from Seattle. The museum, itself, is a beautiful work of architecture and is situated such that it is the first structure seen when walking up the hill from the ferry terminal. The volunteers at the front desk were informative and enthusiastic about the exhibit and about their 6 year old museum. The current exhibit was well-curated and we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.

From the moment you walk in to this museum, you feel at home. The worker at the desk (I think the name was Aiden) was so educated on the museum and was as friendly as can be. We went during covid, but still had an amazing experience. It's 100% free, and it seems like the exhibits change pretty frequently. If you're in the area, I would definitely recommend stopping by. I will without a doubt be returning.

It's so refreshing to walk in a museum and it's free/donation to enter. Filled with the art of locals. Has 2 floors, not overwhelming to tour. Cafe bistro attached. The room with book bindings was exceptional!

Tiny art museum with free admission. Loved the pieces on the second floor and the room of hand made paper art. Has more of a gallery feel to it. Within walking distance of the ferry and free parking lot available.

This place is pretty okay. Lots of local artists on display and a good place to take up a little bit of time in the afternoon. There were a lot of pieces that were literally just thousands of lines, Xs, and/or Os. One of these pieces would have been more enough but there were 5+ of them throughout the building. Can't complain too much: this place is free.

Local free museum with Washington artists' exhibitions. Large bright beautiful space. Very relaxing and interesting to go through the exhibits. Cute store as well with some fun items.

Wow what a great surprise. We wandered in not knowing what to expect. The Fiber Arts displays were breathtaking. What a beautiful unspoken poetry.

Beautiful museum just a short ferry ride from Seattle. The cost of the ferry was 8$ and some change and it was a round trip ticket. The museum is free and has a wonderful book arts room. Their other spaces are wonderful as well.

One of the best museums I've ever visited and admission is FREE! There was a great variety of artwork on display that all required a bit of brainpower to appreciate but still didn't require a guided tour. The building itself is pleasant to experience with its rooftop garden. By far and above my favorite part of the museum was the collection of artwork by Steve Jensen. I found myself drawn to it over and over again. Was I ever excited when I went to the gift shop and found I could buy an original painting of his! With the 10% yelp check-in offer the painting was very affordable. Definitely the highlight of my day in Bainbridge.

I think that this is a great small museum. Because it is small, and as one reviewer said "it feels more like a gallery than a museum" I love it more. This is an intimate space, where you can walk through, enjoy several interesting exhibits, surprised by a interplay of the outside to the inside, the water feature glimpsed from a patio, the hanging wire art through an interior window, and you get to be in this beautiful space without a security person hovering, on your own, with art. I can have a seat and just feel the space. And, it's a beautiful space, seriously lovely. It's a small local museum, it has great arts and crafts, it shows local artists, as well as distant artists. I especially have enjoyed the handmade book section, so creative and glorious hand made books! I just wandered back and forth, trying to decide on my new career as a book artist. Then when I wandered through the Richard Jesse Watson's exhibit, I changed careers and decided to build whimsical found objects. It's not the MOMA, but it's not really trying to be that sort of museum. And, I think it's doing a great job being what it is trying to be, which is accessible. Remember, Bainbridge Island is about 20,000 people, I challenge you to find a nicer museum in any small community that even comes close to being as lovely.

I'm a museum lover, and this one I loved! It's not very big, they had good collections when I was there. Feels very homey and cozy inside too.

Magical! That's all I can say about this new museum on charming Bainbridge Island. My artist aunt and chef uncle lived on Bainbridge long before the museum was built and I intend to nag them until they take the ferry for a visit. It's beautiful inside and out and the gift shop has lovely trinkets, books, cards and all the standard art museum fare. We didn't have a lot of time but very much enjoyed the time we spent. I bought earrings for just 20 dollars and can't wait to wear them.

Fabulous small museum with really great circulating art and exhibits. The book room is a must see! The bistro food is delicious and changes with the seasons and local produce.