Boise Art Museum

The Boise Art Museum snuck up on me emotionally, which is rude for a building with such clean, well-behaved lines. I walked in expecting a quiet stroll and instead got ambushed by an exhibit that made me question whether I’ve been living my life in the wrong color palette. One gallery had a video installation looping something both soothing and vaguely unsettling—like a screensaver having an existential crisis. I lingered way too long. A security guard gave me the “you good?” look, which, honestly, fair. The ceramics section felt like a meetup of objects with secrets; I kept wanting to pick them up even though my inner adult screamed NO. Kids were doing some art project in the corner, splattering paint like joyful chaos gremlins, and it made the whole museum feel more alive. I left with my brain buzzing, my heart weirdly lighter, and the sense that Boise hides its magic in places you don’t expect—like inside a perfectly lit white cube.

I brought my kids and were followed around by museum employees. My kids were very well behaved, quiet, and respectful of the museum, but unfortunately we were followed around rather than other people in the museum. It made it difficult to enjoy or comment with my children about the art due to someone standing a few feet behind us everywhere we went. Some other adults accidentally set off alarms by standing within the 18 inches of a painting, even so the museum employees hoovered around us instead. We were so uncomfortable we got out of there quick. If this was improved I'd give it a much higher rating.

Wonderful exhibits. Really engaging works by each of the highlighted artists. Spent about 45 min there. It's relatively small, as museums go, but was chock full of art you could spend some good time taking in. It's free to enter. Do please consider leaving a donation on your way out near the entrance so this place can continue to provide an inspiring experience to visitors of Cedar City.

Small but beautifully curated art museum that had great flow, allowing you to go all the rooms and exhibits in an hour or two.

Was really fun. Not completely what we expected but not bad. The Last Meal exhibit was showing and the star of the visit. Wish I could have taken some pictures... I did get to try their color blind glasses. Didn't work as much as others have said but great option!

Was fairly boring. Not much to this place. Had 2 rooms of plates and with writing on them as "none". Or "declined last supper".... Maybe I just am not hip to art but you have been warned. 🤷

Great museum. Enjoyed our family visit very much! Loved the gift shop and outdoor space around the museum as well. Beautiful things to look at and enjoy. Very reasonable price.

My grandpa and I decided to go to the Boise Art Museum (or BAM) for some rare one-on-one time together. We had a great time! The main two artists had a bunch of mind blowing art pieces that are easily one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Hurry down to the art museum soon if you want to see some beautiful and unique art!

I love love love a few of their exhibits and wouldn't miss the rest. It's only $9 so totally worth checking out, especially bc parking is free. I don't love the no photography rule. But I did like that I saw the entire space in less than an hour. Worth it!

An unfortunate visit to Boise's little art museum. The no photography rule was baffling when most museums around the world tolerate picture taking without a flash. I've only encountered that rule at privately owned galleries. The woman at the entrance treats every patron like he/she has never visited a museum. The lone guard was certainly annoying. Most of the exhibits lacked descriptions on the walls. Some text was available in folders but the guard became incensed when visitors would try to view the art with the folder in hand. Apparently too close to the art for her comfort. First Thursday of the month is free so at least I got my money's worth.

I had high hopes for my visit to the Boise Art Museum, however it was a horrible disappointment from the moment I walked in the door. The admissions girl was incredibly rude and condescending, and when I asked another staff member about one of the exhibits, she also gave me a rude response stating that she didn't know anything about the art and that I "shouldn't have come there" as apparently the staff isn't equipped to answer any questions about the artwork or the artists featured in the exhibits. I've been to art museums all around the world including the Louvre in Paris, and you're allowed to take non-flash photography. Not sure why this museum thinks it's so special that its patrons can't capture their experiences in photos and share them with others which would in turn encourage further patronage. Biggest disappointment in Boise...don't waste your time.

Some great exhibits roll through periodically, but the museum staff are like robots or zombies. Are they human? Can they smile? Blink 3 times if you need help? What's in the water there?

Last week, after sooo long, I finally made it the Boise Art Museum. First time ever going there and probably...my last. Ok, art museums have always been one of my favorite places to go and will always be one of my favorites. This place was such a let down. I get it, Boise is small, the museum will be small and yada yada yada. Boise is one of the fastest growing cities in America (unfortunately). All my years here, they have yet to bring in an exhibit that makes people rush to them. If they brought in any exhibit, best believe it had a political message. Giving this place 2 stars was being generous. I gave it 2 instead of 1 because Boise is still considered a small city and apparently people aren't supposed to expect much from a small city's art museum. The place is super small. I accidentally walked into the History Museum. Friend was visiting from NY. I'm now wish we would have gone there. As mentioned, the place is very small. That's fine. The majority of the art is art from the past 30 years. There are no true pieces of art..well, the kind people want to see when they go to an art museum. Instead, this place is full of political leaning pieces and one side of politics. If you've been, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I don't want to go to an art museum to see it completely full of political pieces pushing one sides agenda. I really don't want to see any political pieces. Ok ok, maybe a piece here and there, but this place has a theme going on and the director knew what he or she was doing. Imo, it's not a good look for a place that's supposed to celebrate art vs this place that wants everyone to know that...the person in charge of the place is this in their political stance and you'll accept it no matter what. Honestly, I'm surprised that whoever is in charge of this place is still in charge of it. I mean, TRY to get an exhibit here that people want to see...you know...actual art. Don't get me wrong, there were a few pieces that were really cool, but just a few in an art museum!!!? What? The whole place should be filled with pieces that inspire us! Not make us feel like...ugh, more politics shoved down our throats. We escape all of that when we go to places like this...or so we thought. If I'm being totally honest here, politics to me..right or left is a fn BORRRRRE! I hate them! At one time I loved them and followed them religiously to stay in the know. These past several years have completely burned me out on them. Then, I go to an art museum and what do I see..... (puke) more political crap. It is what it is, I suppose. I just wish these people on either side of the aisle would realize that not all of us want to see this crap. It's exhausting and BEYOND played out. I will say something nice now. The man at the front counter who sold us our tickets...$6 to get in. Trust me, anymore than that and you'll want your $ back. Sorry, off topic there, the man at the counter was the nicest guy. Super friendly, smiley and you can tell he's just a pleasant person to be around. The place is super clean. Thank God for that. Then again, have you ever been to an art museum that was a dump? Lol I guess that's it. I wish my review would have been better. I had high hopes for this place. I just think if they got pieces in that aren't from like 1990 and aren't some kind of current events message...the reviews for this place would be better. Ok, that's it. Sorry I didn't have something better to say about this museum. Hopefully one day, I can come back and write a new review for this place after they get like an Ansel Adams exhibit or something magical like that. Thanks, YelperArters! Cheers

My daughter had a free pass for the Boise art museum. We decided to go. It was a nice experience. They had accessible ramps all around, so it was nice that my daughter was able to explore and see the art. The mini gift shop was not a place for a wheelchair my daughter almost took the glass fixture with the earrings and necklace with her she accidentally bumped into it. Other than that, it was a nice experience and something new to see.

BAM is small but well curated. Given its size, I think it's overpriced. Unlike many other modern art museums I've visited around the world, they don't allow you to take pictures (except for one large space towards the back of the museum). When I inquired why, I was told that one artist's work was copyrighted and, therefore, it was easier to prohibit photography altogether. One of the things I enjoy doing when I go to art museums is taking pictures to inspire my own artwork. BAM's policy of no photography, severely limited my enjoyment.

I have disliked this museum for years but I hoped that, after a long absence, I would find a reason to change my mind. Let's begin with their photography policy. It's banned. Well, there was a limited and temporary reprieve. They encouraged visitors to take a photo of Jae Yong Kim's 'Donut Ever Forget Me,' a ceramic wall sculpture of a lot of donuts. It's a fun piece and the museum wanted visitors to share it on social media. Do you want to take a photo of anything else? You can't. From their website: 'Photography of any kind is not allowed in the Museum. Please put away your camera and silence your cell phone.' The spirit of finger-wagging and condescension is palpable. Keep in mind that, at this point, almost all art museums in North America want visitors to take non-flash photos (minus the selfie sticks, of course). They want the publicity and it fosters more engagement with the art itself. Not here. The Sarah Sense and Stephanie Wilde exhibitions are beautiful for their layers of intricacy. I encourage you to check them out. Since you can't take photos, are there any books in the gift shop on these artists? At the time of my recent visit, no. The persons working in the shop had no information. That's incredibly frustrating. Finally, the gallery spaces are poorly lighted and poorly organized with a lot of wasted display space. The Sense and Wild pieces on display would have benefited from a much brighter environment to see the details in their works. Boise is a fast-growing and increasingly diverse city. I don't understand why this institution hasn't kept up with how other art museums operate in the 21st century.

Not family friendly. Was told upon entering not to touch the art so we made sure our children understood not to touch the art. To which they never touched any of it. Not once. Then we were told by the manager "and don't touch the walls either." My family was then followed from room to room and glared at. Our kids whispered to us, "Why are they following us. This is awkward." We explained that they're making sure we don't touch anything. When we finally confronted the manager following us and asked if it's necessary she follow us she responded, "I'm just making my rounds." We replied that we are the only family she is following. She then changed her tone and responded, "Well your kids are getting very close to the art." Apparently "don't touch" also meant don't get close to examine the art like every other human who enjoys art. At this point we decided to just leave. The clerk at the front desk responded to our complaint by saying, "Sorry, it's our policy to follow large groups." We're one family first and not just any "large group." Again, our children never touched anything as instructed. We feel most for our 9 year old aspiring artist who wanted to leave because of being followed. We never even had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the art because we were all uncomfortable with being the only people being followed and glared at. My suggestion for this place with poor business practice and lower intellect management? Be welcoming and encouraging to children who are interested in art. They're your future artists and patrons after all. If a large family enters your establishment and the size makes you uncomfortable, kindly with a smile offer a "guided tour" so that you can "help the children get the most out of the art and even help mom and dad keep them together!" See how that differs from your current approach? With my suggestion you can make sure they don't touch your art but also seem like a person who cares about the people you're serving.

Such a cool little museum! It was definitely small, it only took like 45 minutes to go through but I really enjoyed it. Staff was very nice and helpful. You can't take photos of art (except for the one I have included in this review) and can't bring water in.

My husband and I were visiting Boise from Phoenix this weekend and after spending most of our day doing outdoor activities in the 100 degree heat we were needed some AC. The art museum was the perfect place for that! It was a small museum but there is a lot of cool art in here. We liked wall that you could paint on with water and had a lot of fun with that. Liked the food related art too. Glad we visited here!

Went to escape for a couple hours and meander through a good museum and gaze at some fine local art. Instead I paid to go walk through an overtly politically and racially charged assortment of art. The wall plaques didn't discuss technique or mediums as much as they did racial and political info. This isn't to diminish the creativity and talent of some of the artists' work; there were some beautiful pieces. When it comes down to it .... I get it; politics is often portrayed in art. Yes. Their exploitation of it and overuse, however, was aggressively ridiculous. Boise Politics Museum

I had a free day in Boise and was told that the BAM had a doughnut exhibit. Food and art, peaked my interest. I am really glad I came. The doughnuts were ceramic and covered a whole wall. Each one had been hand paint and were really neat. The rest of the museum focuses on local/regional artists. I have a personal appreciation for glas pieces and there were several. Great place for the afternoon and there are other places close by and the river to walk along as well.

I love our local Art Museum! The current donut exhibit done by a Korean artist is something you must see you... can't help but smiling as you look at the ceramic Donuts! I also love that they open the museum to the community for first Thursday from 10 to 8 at night. That is wonderful and amazing. We are so lucky to have this little gem in our city

A Boise institution that deserves a visit! Affectionately known as BAM, the museum nestled in Julia Davis Park is a great stop on a tour of Boise. Whether you're a local or a visitor, the art installations are always different and thought-provoking. I just checked out the Adonna Khare exhibit and was blown away by her talent. There have been several really wonderful shows that have made me wish I had visual artistic skill over the years. On the small side for a museum, but I prefer BAM over places you must devote hours upon hours exploring. It's just enough art to engage without making your eyes cross. Plus, they have a quaint museum shop with a lot of great local and national artsy findings!

How can you not like an Art museum who's nickname is BAM? That's the nickname of the Boise Art Museum centrally located near Julia Davis Park. BAM is a small art museum but still manages to get some interesting and worthwhile exhibits. The most recent exhibit is Nick Cave's soundsuits. The exhibit began in mid May 2012 and ends in November 2012. The soundsuits are made of various cast off articles and transform into statuesque art objects as well as at time the artist will wear them at various exhibitions. They also had a small area dedicated to Asian art work as well. That was very nicely done too. I found out there was no photography in the museum which is too bad because they have very beautiful items. It was nice to wander to stroll around and take in the sights. If I had anything bad to say about this place would be the hovering of the young men who worked at the museum. They dogged our every step (bored? it was a weekday morning?). At one point admonished the YS not to touch when he was not about to touch an item. As luck would have it though, he couldn't hear them so the remark went unnoticed by him and I looked at them quizzically. The gift shop had a variety of items and there were fairly reasonably priced so that is definitely a must stop when inside the museum. They have a fairly eclectic selection of items ranging from toys, glassware, books, and jewelry. I would be back to check it out again they have a nice set up here and while small worth the trip. Admission for adults was only $5 a piece.

Saw the Guardians exhibit by Matteo Pugliese. Look up his art work. Looking at his sculptures was like taking a tour around the world. I wish that I could have taken some pictures. Check it out: http://matteopugliese.com/artworks/the-guardians/

I love art of all kinds and really wanted to enjoy a visit to BAM. I hadn't been in years and hoped the museum had gotten better. There was supposed to be an exhibit on Impressionism so I thought I would check it out. Boy was I glad I didn't spend more than $6 on the entry fee. There were only 3 paintings and a video on Impressionism. We were literally ready to leave after 15 minutes. There was just so little to see it was painful. Most of what is there isn't interesting. There was a nice glass exhibit but other than that is was pretty lame. There are so many great artists in the area maybe a portion of the museum could highlight local art and bring in more visitors so the museum could grow. Just a thought.

I love a good museum. This is the first time going to the Boise Art Museum and it was very clean and organized. I'm not sure if the Museum is always so liberal. I just wanted to see some beautiful artwork and not be bombarded by all the Social Justice stuff we see everywhere now days...if your into that you would enjoy the Museum.

We were so excited to go for the first time, but unfortunately it was a terrible experience!! I did have my 6, and 2 year old with me as was told kids are allowed to go. We were followed the entire time by 2 employees, which made it so unenjoyable. There were other families there, but they weren't being watched, and followed like we were. It was beyond ridiculous, and I get " protocol," but when you are the only ones being followed it cant be!! I will never go back, and in fact warn others of this experience!! We didn't even get to go through the entire thing as it was just too uncomfortable being watched, and stared down the entire time. What a terrible experience, and so sad you would make someone feel like they did something wrong when in fact we just wanted to enjoy the art museum, but that was made impossible to do.

Admittedly I'm much more of a 'regular person' than an art connoisseur, but honestly, I imagine most people visiting BAM are just regular people so I couldn't have been too out of place! Beautiful exhibits with a spotlight on local art and art from historically underrepresented groups. Make sure you read all the blurbs and art descriptions since they add a lot to the exhibits.

Boise Art Museum is by far my favorite place to visit in Boise. I am a local artist myself and this museum inspires me. I don't mind that it is a smaller sized operation, because each exhibit is beautifully and thoughtfully curated. There is a wide range of artistic styles exhibited, their permanent collection is diverse and impressive, and their rotating exhibits really celebrate many of the young,(and iconic) modern artists of today and yesteryear. This place is seriously my church. When I am feeling down, or uninspired, I take my membership card and get my butt over there. The grounds are so gorgeous and peaceful and filled with divine sculptures and a very cool water fountain. I always leave feeling super pumped and with the burning to create! I love the gift shop and the people who work there too. The staff is very supportive, knowledgeable and friendly. The gift shop has some beautifully crafted pieces, some fun things for kids and adults alike and great collection of quirky, artistic gift items and some pretty amazing, pottery, glass and jewelry. One of the many, cool highlights in the museum is the SAS Passenger Ticket by Andy Warhol which is a large, vibrant visual representation of a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) passenger ticket. The artwork was based on Warhol's round-trip SAS airline and baggage check ticket to Stockholm, Sweden, dated December 7, 1967. (source BAM's website). I don't have any photos to show right now, since they do not allow photography inside, but when the summer months come around, I will be sure to snap some shots of the gardens and update this review! Go check out BAM today! Support your Art Museums!

Underwhelming. We came to see the impressionism exhibit and was disappointed by the lack of art on display.

I visited here in March 2018. I was shocked to see that they didn't allow photography at all. While I understand copyright and reproduction conundrums all too well, there is no way everything in that museum was under copyright. The museum lacks signage and has an odd layout. The title walls for everything were in strange places and nothing flowed well. I was disappointed in the quality of the exhibitions and the fact that the entire museum was display of contemporary and modern art (except for that crazy quilt, shout out to my favorite thing they had there). The museum had a nice range of mediums of art but they definitely need more variations in eras. I also didn't appreciate the gallery attendant shadowing me...don't worry I didn't take photos! She probably should've been more worried with the kid running and crawling under the display case than about me and my phone. The entrance fee is very reasonable though. It is an okay way to spend two hours.

For a local museum this is pretty good. Honestly as much as I love Boise and I love art I would go for a 3-1/2 stars instead of 4. The space isn't that impressive and I haven't been amazed by the different installations. I want this to be a place that I simply "must be" but I find myself uninspired instead. If you need an afternoon to hang out at a place to spark conversation and you know and love art then by all means check it out. But it really needs an overhaul if it is going to be a relevant art space.

I've never really understood art, but I'm always amazed at the process to make it. BAM features many different types of art, from potteries to paintings to sculptures. They also have rotating exhibitions. We liked the one on LEGOs. The grounds are beautiful and historic. It's very cool to see the facade to the old 1930s building inside the new building. That's my favorite part.

Drop dead gorgeous guest art exhibition called "the kingdom" by Adonna Khare. The elephants piece is so soulful. Her amazing artistic skill brought me so much joy. Such detail. Must see up close. Go!

I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. No photography and no drinks. A lot of rules for a meager handful of artwork. Special exhibit on shoes was the only highlight. My student id got me in for only 3 dollars. Not worth your time. I did get a nice nutcracker for half off that's about it.

If you can keep in mind that you are in Boise, and not a big city like New York City, you should enjoy the Boise Art Museum. What I mean by that is that you should not expect to see a huge selection of art by world renowned artists. They have a pretty steady rotation of exhibits and they keep the place spotless. They also have a great interactive area for children should you bring them along. I have enjoyed my visits and would not hesitate to return.

Small museum but worth the visit. The entrance fee was pretty low, certainly cheaper than a lot of museums. There were two really cool rotating exhibits for my visit that were cool. Some of the pieces have numbers you can dial from your cell phone to get information. You cannot take any pictures for anything here. The layout is really nice, you can go from one exhibit to the next pretty seamlessly. It is very open and well lit. There is an indoor and outdoor sculpture area. There is an area for people to do hands-on activities. It is near the Rose Garden. Parking nearby is free. All factors combined, it's worth a visit.

This place is small, but beautiful nonetheless. I prefer this over the historical museum across the street. I think this was the first place I witnessed Georgia O'Keeffe's painting back in 2005. It was an amazing experience for me. The dim lighting and casual mood of the museum enhanced my experience.

Hands down, the best attraction in Boise! We were on the last day of a weekend trip during which Boise had greatly underwhelmed me. Feeling sullen and hopeless after experiencing numerous letdowns, I insisted we check out the art museum we had passed the day before, despite it not making the list my travel partner created for our trip. This was the one non food oriented thing I was determined to experience. Honestly, it was actually the only other thing I was set on doing, besides the checking out the tiki bar. We went inside and were pleasantly surprised by the affordable entrance fee and friendly staff. The art was really enjoyable, primarily modern art. One exhibit by a local artist had a lot of depth and emotional insight into her experience living with a disability. I also really liked the neon light display in the room facing the outdoor garden space. One of the museum floor staff we interacted with was a bit rough around the edges and responded our question condescendingly. That was the only negative part of the experience but I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend this museum to anyone visiting or living in Boise! I even found a cute board book to bring as a souvenir for my baby cousin.

What an adorable museum. Tip. They don't allow you to take pictures. Reasonably priced and lots of beautiful paintings and art work and some that's definitely progressive. Descriptions on each piece that give an Indepth background of the piece. Be sure to check out the outdoor garden that backs up to the Rose Garden.

The first time I went here was to see native son Matthew Barney explain the Cremaster cycle. Since he rarely speaks publically, I was pretty thrilled to be at the museum. I went back a second time the last time I was in Boise, not for a special event or anything, and they had a cool exhibit on Frank Lloyd Wright's home furnishing line. The museum has both rotating and permanent exhibits, and is a lot cooler then what you might expect from an Art museum in Boise. If you find yourself hanging out in Boise, this Museum is worth a visit.

I had such a nice time here. It is a bit smaller than I anticipated but they really had some beautiful exhibits. Be sure to check out the beautiful sculptures outside.

We went a few days ago. We generally enjoy our experience. This time, there was a Modernist theme. I enjoyed the pieces. We got a kick out of the "make your own lego art" activity area. It was nice to have a place for adults to be able to engage in interactive activities. There was a place for kids to engage in activities. It left me wondering if that area should be changed to allow all ages to participate. It seems like it would be a great way to get everyone involved. The only big critique I have with this place is the fact you are CONSTANTLY watched. I understand that they want to protect the artwork, but that's why glass cases, sectioned off rope, and fences are a thing. Having a person follow me around into each room as I look at the artwork always makes me feel really uncomfortable to the point where I'm distracted from feeling like I can fully take in the pieces. Plus, the employees who are tasked with doing this look super bored and like they aren't utilizing any skills. I feel bad for them. Other than that, give this place a few visits every once in awhile. They alternate the artwork periodically!

Gretat place to go when it's raining Prefect place to go on a nasty spring day, they have all kinds of art and every time we go they have something new in there. They are good about keeping the art fresh.

My father took me and my sister here when we were kids and I loved it then so when I came back to visit Boise I had to visit this museum again, and to be honest it's even better now. It has a lot of backstory of Boise and pretty much everywhere in Idaho. The art is beautiful and not too cliche that most art museums do in more popularized cities. The tickets are cheap, and for a nice calm relaxing, (and even romantic!) time I recommend going to the Boise Art Museum, oh and it's right next to Julia Davis Park, the Library! AND the freaking Boise River Greenbelt. Definitely worth the visit!

The Boise Art Museum has a special place in my heart. I had some of my art featured at their annual Beaux Arts Societe Holiday Sale several years ago. Shortly after my art was displayed here, my college art professor, Hung Liu, held an exhibit of her work at the museum. This was years after I graduated from college, and I had no idea that her paintings were being featured. It was a nice surprise, yet also a strange coincidence. I was also fortunate enough to see an amazing Dale Chihuly exhibit here. I felt honored to share the same art space as these internationally acclaimed artists.

I live in Seattle and had a couple of hours to kill in Boise before catching a flight home, so I decided to check out the Boise Art Museum. I didn't expect much cuz I'm a big-city snob, but was pleasantly surprised. First off: Free parking! You don't see that in Seattle. Big bonus. The nice woman at the front desk asked me a few questions to see if I qualified for any discounts, but I didn't, so I had to pay the grand price of $5. The exhibits I saw were well worth the $5 admission. There was an "Eastern/Western" exhibition which juxtaposed ancient Eastern art with similar pieces from modern Western artists. Then there was an abstract art gallery with pieces by famous artists such as Jasper Johns. The best part for me was a great blown-glass exhibit which showed pieces by the Northwest glass artist William Morris, and ended with a film showing a piece being blown by him from beginning to end -- and the piece shown in the film was in the gallery. Pretty cool! Being from Seattle, I love SAM and I've seen lots of "important" exhibitions there, but it was really enjoyable to go to a smaller museum and spend just an hour or so, for a small admission price, to see some great works in a really lovely space. It's so easy to get to the Boise Art Museum, so why not give it a go? (Plus, it's located in Julia Davis Park, so you can see other museums or just go for a walk, or walk from there to downtown.) Good art is good art, wherever you are. Why not Boise?

The ceramic doughnut exhibit was great. The permanent exhibit was nice but small. The glass exhibit offered considerable variety and creativity. I enjoyed thinking about what I might do with glass. My only disappointment was the overall breadth of the museum seemed disproportionately small to the size of the city. Clearly the museum was not the city's priority.

I am relatively new to Boise, and had been meaning to go to BAM since I moved here. Finally made it this weekend, and am so glad I did. It is small, as many have mentioned, but I found it just the right size. The Art of Nature exhibit currently showing is gorgeous, and I felt the curator set up each room perfectly. BAM is a great resource for the city, and I highly recommend a visit if you have an hour or so free.

This charming, if small, art museum in Julia Davis Park is a perfect way to spend an hour while exploring the Greenbelt. I loved how quiet the museum was when I visited, since it gave me an opportunity to really study each piece of artwork I was interested in without any distractions. You won't find any big name works in BAM's half-dozen or so galleries, and my impression is they like to showcase regional artists (which I think is great) so their collection is eclectic and inspiring.

I agree with others that the no photography rule should be abandoned (except for flash photography) and that the layout doesn't flow, but the museum isn't so large that it's a problem - it give more of a feeling of exploration. The range of art is good, though the museum might more properly be called The Boise Museum of Modern Art. "The Guardians" exhibit is worth going to all by itself (at least, it was the highlight for me).

Exhibitions are organized well, the flow from room to room helps guide your tour. Being the main art museum in Boise and there aren't other options to choose from, I'm still proud of our little Boise offering.

During a recent trip to Boise I had the pleasure of a visit to BAM and thorougly enjoyed myself. There were some amazing local artists as well as an exhibit of local high schoolers that blew me away. Definitely worth a visit while in Boise!

I saw the Miro/Calder/Arp exhibit there today, my first-ever visit after living here for three years. It was superb. The museum as a whole is very comfortable to move around in, and unlike what a previous commenter wrote about there being too much space and too much quiet, I found that to be a large part of its charm. Every museum is quiet, and as for space, I liked the sheer roominess of it. There's space to roam and explore without bumping into other patrons. I was thrilled to see a painting by the modern American artist Richard Estes included in the permanent collection; he deserved to be better known. The gift shop is ample and eclectic. With its convenient location and reasonable admittance fees, I'll be returning to the BAM soon for sure.

This was a great museum to visit. They highlighted artists from Idaho in a few of the exhibits; it was not so large that we got bored or grew tired of walking; and the art was not segregated by medium (painting, ceramics, printmaking etc.), but was mixed and very pleasing to the eye. They have a good variety of modern-type, as well as older masterpieces. We had a great time.

Eh. I had such high hopes for this place but it just didn't deliver. There is so much space and so much more that they could be doing with this place. Rather, when you empty it is quiet - like pin drop quiet - screaming pretentious. However, let us remember that this is Boise. The area is made largely up of families and the main art museum in a city should be fun. It should be engaging. I am not saying that kids should be jumping around and touching stuff, of course not! However, this place screams hands off. There is a kids area, and don't get me wrong... it's rad. But it is also hidden away that just seemed quite odd. It was like sending kids to a super cool kids corner - keep them out of sight so they aren't seen. At least in that kids area there is a lot of neat things to keep them occupied though. Plenty of hands on activities that will keep them entertained for an hour or so. Then for the rest of the place though it seemed dark and dreary. Maybe it was the exhibits at the time. Not sure. But it was just so... cavernous. They have a lot of space and it seems like they are having a hard time filling it all. I would prefer them to be doing a bit more with it and charge more. As it is, for the price to get in (5.00 or something like that) it was worth the trip. The exhibits that they do have were interesting and engaging. It was just lacking...