RISD Museum

This is a great museum. I've been there twice, and when I was in town for a family event I specifically left time in my schedule--it's about a ten-minute walk to the train station--to visit before going home. It's free on Sunday, and wasn't crowded. Note they have free lockers for your bags and whatnot.

A very impressive museum! The array of artwork and genres was very impressive. There’s even an old Victorian era house. There’s also a room full of fashion through history. I highly recommend spending a day there, it’s a delight!

So amazing and huge!!! From teacher and student works, to contemporary art, to ancient Egypt and Rome, to Van Gogh, Patisserie. Rodin, and Picasso. The tapestries and fashion was so intimate and intricate. Also tour an original R.I. home. The museum goes on and on. 3 hours was not enough.

The cafe’s kitchen closes at 2 o’clock I think, so there was no food when I went, which was very sad, but they did have a really great selection of tea! The museum is quite pricey. I think it’s like $22 to go in, but they do have a few times that are free like Thursday nights and I think Saturday morning or maybe it was Sunday mornings. When you enter, there are stairs immediately in front of you. I could not figure out where there was an elevator. I’m assuming there is one, but I couldn’t find it.

RISD has vast collections for European artists and American artists worth to visit. College Students fee is $12 with a valid college ID and below 18 is free. It shows great value for educational responsibility to the society! What impressed me most were the last four photos in my review. Bee wings necklace, everything ties up, loud silence by Chen Zhen, Sunflower seeds by Ai Weiwei

One of Rhode Island’s must see attractions! The museum is a must see! My favorite gallery was the Grand European gallery. With sky blue walls and sky lighted feelings this room encompasses with simmilar art galleries in its area such as MFA Boston and Wadsworth Anthenium in Hartford. The gallery encompasses a wide variety of European art from Baroque to Neoclassical art in Europe. A unique feature of this museum is the Charles Pendleton House. The house was built in the late 1700s and was recognized as the first instillation to the American wing of the museum. The house is fully furnished in time period furniture and furnishings

Located within the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, the RISD Museum is a hidden gem that impressively balances academic rigor with public accessibility. Founded in 1877, its mission—to inspire creativity and foster critical thinking through art and design—shines through in every gallery. What makes the RISD Museum stand out is the sheer breadth and curatorial elegance of its collection. Walking through its galleries is like time-traveling across centuries and continents: from ancient Greco-Roman sculptures and 18th-century European masterpieces to vibrant African textiles and cutting-edge contemporary installations. Highlights from this visit include a stunningly modern, biomorphic sculpture that seems to ripple with color, and a room adorned with exquisite wallpaper and textile designs, testifying to RISD’s deep roots in design innovation. Equally compelling are the intimate gallery spaces—whether it’s a richly furnished 19th-century American parlor, a serene classical sculpture hall, or a sunlit salon lined with Romantic and Impressionist paintings. Each room invites slow looking and quiet reflection. A cubist painting and a meticulously detailed Flemish altarpiece demonstrate the museum’s ability to place works of vastly different eras in thoughtful dialogue. Whether you’re a student, an artist, or simply a curious traveler, the RISD Museum offers a refined yet approachable experience. It’s not just a museum—it’s an evolving conversation between history, craft, and creativity. A must-visit cultural cornerstone in Providence.

i absolutely ADORED the textiles section, i came in just for this! the greek section was amazing too, such ancient pieces that have so much life in them. my friend works at a museum so we got in for free, the front desk worker was so kind and bubbly! it was so cool seeing the huge range of textiles across time and cultures, we spent so much time pulling out the display drawers and fawning over the beautiful fabrics. i’d love to come back and explore the rest of the museum next time i’m in providence. the museums in such a great spot right next to the canal, perfect for exploring the area.

Let me start out by saying I have been to the RISD Museum so many times, and not once did I complain ever about the same old stuff, not once, because while some of the stuff like the Pendleton House is the same, the art pretty much rotates in and out and they've added so much over the years it's absolutely beautiful. I have come with adults, and with kids and both alike enjoyed their time. Don't underestimate the time you'll be in here though, easily a 3-4 hour long day. They have many floors and tons to see. Even if you don't read every single piece of information you still will get caught up in the beauty that RISD Museum has to offer. One fair warning there is no parking, only street. So be mindful of this, you will have to walk a little bit from where ever you park and this can sometimes be extremely hard especially since you're in residential areas. Anyone can go Sundays- it's free for everyone. It can get crowded but it's still very enjoyable for the most part everyone pretty much respects your space. And the staff are very friendly and insightful, they're always ready to answer questions. You also aren't allowed specific cameras or oversized bags, so please look at the specifics online before you go. Otherwise have fun! Even if you've been before, go again so much new adventures awaits.

Not knowing what to expect, I was pretty surprised at how large and varied the collections are at RISD! They did a great job curating the same. Food isn't allowed and their locker room is easy to use. The only con is that there isn't technically a gift shop, just an art supply store across the street that kind of has a small section for postcards and small things. We even got a chance to go to the cafe. I'd recommend if you're in the area!

When you call the RISD Museum's number (401-709-8402), one of the options is to hear about parking. They indicate that on weekends you can park for free at the RISD faculty lots. 7 Congdon St is the closest one - it only has 6 parking spots. There were only 2 cars parked there when we arrived around 11:45ish on a Saturday. Otherwise, there is street parking if you park much further. The museum consists of 6 floors. There's also a cafe that serves Bolt Coffee. The store is outside, across the street. We were short on time and couldn't see everything. I imagine you would need 1.5 hrs to leisurely view everything. There are some audio parts you can listen to (using QR code to get to the URL) so I'd recommend bringing earphones/headphones that connect to your phone.

Providence is a pedestrian friendly city, and only a 30-minute drive. It boasts beautiful parks, interesting architecture, a plethora of restaurants and an impressive art museum called the RISD Museum. For those who aren't local, RISD stands for the Rhode Island School of Design, a well-respected, top ranked art and design college in Providence. Some fun facts about the museum: * RISD has collected 100,000 works of art/design * 2,275 of these are exhibited in the museum * Over 80,000 are available to view online * They are the 20th largest museum in the US Is it the Louvre or the MFA? No, but it's a very interesting and enjoyable venue and includes some interesting design exhibitions. I especially like the Charles Pendleton House (a house within a museum), which includes a series of historically depicted rooms featuring American art, paintings, sculpture, etc. It was built to look like Pendleton's home, circa 1799, located at 72 Waterman Street in Providence. The museum is a member of NARM, the North American Reciprocal Museum Association. If you're a member of another museum that offers NARM benefits (Old Sturbridge Village for example), entry is free. The RISD museum is well worth a visit.

Visited again recently and greatly appreciate that they are open to the public for FREE on Sundays. I love to see that they have updated several of the displays from the last time we visited and still kept the other ones that I remembered from 2017! They had several new exhibits and this time around we even checked out the student artwork located on the second floor! For a museum on campus it's much bigger than I initially anticipated spanning across five floors plus they have several works from very famous artists. If you are in Providence, this is very worthwhile stopping by!

The RISD Museum is truly a museum worth visiting, there is so much history through the 3-4 floors. Amazing art work, fashion, history, culture, religion and so much more. You get parts of the past and present from all over the world. They have a nice cafe on entering. There are brochures with a layout of the space and employees through to help answer questions or direct you. They have foldable chairs for you to sit and enjoy any art along with seating in certain sections. Pls don't touch which is so tempting to do out of curiosity. This is truly a learning while having an enjoyable time. Good for all ages. Sundays are free but you do need to go on the RISD website to get tickets. Library's also offer tickets. It took about 4 hrs to truly enjoy without rushing. I would recommend and can't wait to go back. Keep in mind they do not have parking and street parking can be limited so be prepared to take a little walk once you find parking

Nicely put together cafe on 2nd fl. Small tables and bench seating for a larger group. Clean lines. Well lit. Limited in size. At 4:00 sold out and kitchen closed. Too bad. I would love to have had a sandwich. The biscuit I had was delicious and grapefruit soda. I think there is a way to come in and use the cafe without purchasing a museum ticket. Nicely done, staff helpful. Order at the register no table service. Limited menu.

I would not go out of my way to go to this museum. It's a fairly random assortment of items. I'm in the minority of reviewers but honestly, there wasn't much that was of interest to me in the museum.

RISD Has an excellent museum covering a wide variety of contemporary artists in paint, print and fabric. Colonial, 18th,19th and contemporary American paintings, sculpture, porcelain, fabric art, furniture and silver. I loved the Japanese woodblock prints on display, ukiyo-e period, during the Edo period 1603-1868. Great museum which demands another visit@

I visited the RISD Museum on a Thursday night for their free admission (5 PM - 8 PM). The museum features a surprisingly huge collection of art, including Asian, French Impressionist, Ancient Greek and Roman, Egyptian, and more. I enjoyed taking my time exploring each section. Some highlights for me were the Van Gogh painting and the sarcophagus with a real mummy inside - definitely unexpected finds in a smaller city museum. Normally, general admission is $22 for adults, which seems fair for the quality of the exhibits. Unfortunately, I didn't get through every section since I took breaks along the way, but I did manage to see most of it. I think you could comfortably complete the museum in a day without feeling rushed. If you're an art lover or just looking for something interesting to do in Providence, I'd recommend checking it out - especially on free Sundays and Thursday nights!

Great museum! Free admission on Fridays and Sunday's. Worth it to come here. Mix of modern and older renaissance art.

I love RISD RISD definitely lives up to its reputation as a creative powerhouse. The campus is beautifully integrated into downtown Providence, with a mix of historic buildings and modern spaces that really reflect the school's artistic vibe. The RISD Museum is a gem--not just for students, but for the public too. It's surprisingly extensive and always has something interesting to see, from contemporary pieces to ancient art. Overall, whether you're a student, visitor, or just strolling through College Hill, RISD adds a unique pulse to the city. Don't forget you can get in free on Thursdays-5pm to 8 pm and Sundays 10am to 5 pm !!

You can go for free Thursday evenings and Sundays, which is a big advantage. It's worth visiting for free. I'm not sure if it's worth $20 regular, but if you can come on a free day, it's worth the time. There is an eclectic selection, from an old house boasting a collection by Charles Pendleton to antiquity up to contemporary art. I thought the layout was confusing, but if there are certain exhibits you want to see, the helpful staff will point you in the right direction. There is nearby street parking, but the website says you can park in the faculty lot on weekends. I thought it sounded risky and had no problem finding somewhere to park on the street. They have some impressive spaces for 18th-19th century art that are well-lit and reminded me of the Met. There is seating all around if needed. This is a great collection and a good way to soak in some culture for a couple of hours.

This is a great Museum that covers many genres of art....from Greek and Roman sculptures to 21st century art, the RISD museum has something for everyone. There are over 100,000 artifacts on display here and you can easily enjoy Classic Roman art, Asian carvings, 18th Century American furniture and styles, Impressionist or Renaissance paintings, Monets or Picassos, or just cool Modern art... The museum has a large variety of styles, rooms and floors to visit...the one downside for me is the maze that the museum is...it's a bit difficult to stay on course as some of the rooms and hallways do not follow a straight line pattern. Still, a great place to spend a few hours. Free on Sundays and Thursdays from 5-8pm.

Stopped in on a Sunday when admission was free, and was happy to spend some time in such a well curated museum - with so many amazing artifacts from ancient Egypt and Greece alongside some very modern and contemporary art. Well worth the visit.

I was visiting Providence and staying at the Omni next door to the Convention Center. I grabbed a pamphlet at the Convention Center for the museum and decided to walk over there and check it out. About a 10 minute walk, very easy to find. I was amazed at the depth of this museum. I guess I assumed it would be mostly works from the students (which would have been fine because they are amazingly talented!) but it is a true museum. It takes hours to get through it and it's absolutely beautiful. I recommend everyone visit if you are in Providence!

Fantastic art museum in the heart of Providence, the RISD Museum has a wide variety of art including paintings, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, porcelain tableware, and more. There is a small courtyard in the middle of the museum, a very nice place to get some fresh air and sit for a while (weather permitting). Tickets aren't too expensive, and admission is free on Sundays. I spent about 2 hours here on their first day open since covid, and I only got through half of the museum, if that. You could easily spend the better part of a day here if you really appreciate art.

Great Museum. Free on Sundays, I was surprised how many great pieces of art and the size of this place. Park near the river walk it's a short beautiful walk over. Free parking on Sunday as well

Excellent art venue. Innovative, current, well curated. Perfect venue for the art scene.

A surprisingly large museum considering where it's located. I'd suggest parking in a free RISD faculty lot if visiting over the weekend. They offer several different discounts for admission, including free for military. They showcase several different types of genres and exhibits. Definitely worth checking out!

This is an unassuming museum but the works they have are really great. I didn't think a school museum would have so many famous artists work or interesting pieces but they do. A great mixture of modern and classic. I could easily spend a couple hours here, there are three large floors separated by various periods/subjects. The works I saw here were interesting. If you want to go to a Museum that won't be overcrowded with people, this is the place to go. We also went to the museum cafe bc it's sort of a thing with my sister and I. They had a chocolate chip cookies that looked ok but it was actually very delicious! All in all a very relaxing experience

Beautiful museum, very large. Friendly staff, huge variety of art. It was reasonably priced and a lot of fun.

This is a great museum with a huge array/range of exhibits from modern art pieces and photos to ancient Egyptian exhibits. It is huge, multiple rooms, in a couple buildings, on 5 or 6 different floors. Plan plenty of time, we spent almost 2 hours and still felt rushed. They offer all kinds of discounts; active military, senior, AAA, specials for different times and days of the week, etc so check the website before you go. Definitely well worth a visit.

The RISD Museum has a great collection of art, a lot of which was seems to be created by RISD students. When we visited we were able to see photography, sculpture, paintings, so there's something here for everyone. Tip: Admission is free on Sundays! Check if you qualify for any of their other discounts if you come another day (First Saturday of the month is free for Bank of America card holders)

5 stars for the free admission Sunday and free i street parking, also some excellent works here. Donation box near the entrance to help fund the museum, Little disorganized at the front desk and a few rude staff members in the museum. Most of the staff were friendly but some need training. Overall great experience, plan a Sunday at the museum

We love museums and RISD is no different! We were able to come on their free Friday sale and check everything out. Be warned, this place is HUGE. It's incredibly deceptive and you can get lost, but there are so many exhibits here. Make sure you check them all out! You are allowed to take pictures so have a good time and make sure you check out the African and Asian exhibit!

I came to RI not necessarily thinking of going to a museum, however, anything that says "design" in it pulls me in. I mean, how much art can you see in your life? But design, that is another story. So I found parking on the back street, walked to Main Street where you find the main entrance to the main building (there are 3 buildings), paid and walked around. Very interesting, well curated and somewhat unique, I got a lot of history in a matter of minutes, specially from the Gorham Co. exhibit. You definitively have to visit if you are here.

loved this museum. i would come back. it was just so nice to see different types of art and artifacts. you do have to lock your bags up in a locker but you hold the key. they have a great cafe where i got avocado toast. it was huge! i asked for no onions and had greens added to it. i loved it.

With 100,000 pieces of art across a wide variety of collections such as textiles, ancient Egyptian clothing, Asian and Contemporary art it would be difficult for anyone to visit this museum without finding to hold his/her interest. For me it was the European gallery with works by several well known artists including Cezzane, Monet, Van Gogh and Matisse.

Something here for everyone! Personally, I loved the student galleries. PRO TIP: get a map if its your first time here because it can be really confusing and you might miss something. Make sure you check out the Pendleton House! Has very beautiful staging and theres a lot of lovely vintage items. One of the photos I attached is Philippe Stark's juicer: "Salif." Yes, the spider UFO-looking thing is a lemon juicer. Its such a strange and fascinating item that I always think is fun to see in museums. This item is famous in the Product/Industrial Design field. You can by reproductions of them online if you want pulpy juice and a freaky chrome display piece. The RISD store across the street has plenty of gift items and RISD merch (though, very expensive). Check out the acrylic pins if you want a good chuckle.

Great spot to spend the day in Providence. Didn't know how big it was until we got inside and started exploring. Lots of different exhibits are there including Egyptian, Asian and amazing European art and paintings. Also the Pendleton house is quite good and gives you an insight into art and furniture decor at that time. They do have student exhibits on display as well. Some of the sections were being renovated when we went there. Overall great experience. Admission is free on third thursdays and every Sunday. Otherwise it is 15$.

Very nice museum with entrances on both Main and Benefits Street. This museums houses several rotating exhibits including student art. This location is served by a Bolt coffee on the Benefits Street entrance.

I thoroughly enjoyed the brain-breaking arrangement of the various curated exhibits at the RISD Museum this week. Each exhibit is of interest for its own sake, but moving among them is often a moment in both time travel and interpretive dislocation. My favorite, due to its unique lens, was the display of vessels used across cultures for storage and use of salt, sugar, tobacco, alcohol, and other common items of trade and colonialism. I was with a friend whose background is sociology; our conversation about this display continued throughout the rest of our time together. However, for a museum with the word "Design" in its name, the map in the visitor's guide and the layout of the stalls in the ladies' rooms could use some work. Then again, I don't think RISD has either a cartography department or a school of architecture...

The Nancy Elizabeth Prophet exhibition with Kajette Solomon was FANTASTIC. Kajette waa not only knowledgeable and professional but kept us engaged throughout the tour. I left feeling empowered and excited to know such a phenomenally talented woman was a native Rhode Islander. Thank you Kajette for eloquently taking us on a journey into the life of Nancy Elizabeth Prophet through each piece of art. Thank you RISD for pulling together and hosting this exhibit.

I hadn't been here in years but I came for one reason: to revisit my favorite sculpture in this museum. Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier's 'African Venus,' an 1851 bronze bust with silver and gold patination sits prominently in the center of a gallery. He capitalized on European lust for 'exotic' cultures and churned out variations of this piece and others in different mediums. (I saw a Cordier exhibition years ago and the variety of richly and brightly colored stone and metal was eye-popping seeing it assembled in one large gallery.) If one can get past the stereotype of the exotic nature of his pieces -- if you can't, I get it -- then dive into the palpable realism. Cordier was sensitive to the people who posed for him. I like this piece, especially, because seeing the light against the metal surface from different angles reveals contrasting colors. This Venus is absolutely beautiful and her incredible dignity and haunting gaze can't be ignored. This museum has one stunning work after another. The small but select Egyptian and Asian collections are superb. For example, to see an actual Egyptian artist's paint box with the paint compounds still in the box -- very few exist -- is a thrill.

Interesting. Made easy for kids and adults to enjoy and look around, read, and learn.

My family and I really enjoy this museum. It's our Go-To on Sundays when there's nothing to do and we just feel like taking a ride and walking around... and best part.. free on Sunday! I also like the new coffee/refreshment area when you first walk in. I could definitely see myself bring my laptop or a good book and relaxing for a bit there. My son especially likes to see the Mummy and my husband and I love the huge Buddha. Definitely worth a visit!

I have a Boston MFA membership but this museum in beautiful Benefit Street in Providence is my favorite museum due to its eclectic collections and the activities that are available to the community. Street parking is readily available for free in the vicinity, and admission is free 10-5 on Sundays and every third Thursday during evenings. There are also concerts open to the public periodically.

One of the most diverse art museums ever! There's something for everyone! Give yourself at least 1-2 hours to stroll through all the exhibits. I fully enjoyed the immersion into art and history of various eras and cultures! Tip: AAA members receive $1 off admission.

There is an unexpectedly broad collection, much of it originally donated by the RISD founding families. The museum owns and displays three paintings by Monet, three by Cezanne, two by Renoir, two by Matisse, two by Picasso - and that's just the Impressionists/post-Impressionist collection! There's one of the finest 18/19th century American furniture and collectibles collection in the country, nearly 5,000 significant pieces of silver manufactured by the Gorham Silver Company (many were compiled into an extraordinary show that's now traveling), one of the largest early wooden statues of Buddha still in existence along with a collection of an early Japanese wedding carriage and samurai ceremonial clothes, several garments designed by Coco Chanel herself, oh and a mummy. The museum mounts special exhibits from their storage quite frequently so there's generally something new to see every few months. Through 2020 the museum has a Raid the Icebox Now series of exhibitions that will blow your socks off (in a good or bad way, based on your artistic sensibilities). Regrettably, there is no dedicated parking lot and parking around either entrance call be challenging. There are two entrances and four or five connected buildings and no really clear map to navigate your way around. The gift shop is across the street. Those observations aside, this is still a jewel of a museum, and it's still free every Sunday. Visit!

Just now, on the 3rd floor, my mother and I (both masked) were walking around perusing the art. Only got close to read better but weren't touching anything. A security man came up to us and asked us to keep a distance from the art. Meanwhile i walked 6 feet to the right and there's someone unmasked SITTING IN FRONT OF A PAINTING. I cannot make this up so here's a pic for reference. If i thought i could leave and get my money back i would. But we won't be back - respectfully.

A friendly and interesting museum that is easy to access and well organized. Also one of the places that when I lived in RI I never seemed to get to but now that I don't, I visited as a tourist. Being RISD, the focus is on art. The most interesting to me were the Egyptian and Asian galleries along with the special exhibit on the Gorham Silver company. For art enthusiasts they also have paintings from some of the world's most well known painters including Van Gogh, Renoir, etc Obviously if you live in RI, you go on one of their free Sundays but they also have student and senior discounts on other days. Weekdays in August tend not to be crowded give or take a summer camp trip or two. I also like that they have benches on which to sit, friendly (for the most part) docents and a cafe and coffee shop on the ground floor (Benefit St entrance) that I did not get to try.

Wish we could have spent more time here! RISD Museum is HUGE and it was one of the most fun and different museums we have been to!

This location museum proudly showcases student works' along side well established artists' installations. If you have a couple of hours to spare in Providence then you should go explore this museum.

If you're visiting from out of town, you have to make a stop at the RISD Museum. It's a perfect way to spend a few hours, looking at really lovely and meaningful art. On Sunday's it's free - so definitely come on a Sunday and take advantage of the deal. Otherwise, tickets can be a little pricey. Despite its size, this museum had something for everyone - whether it was ancient art, contemporary or modern art, digital media experiences, photography, etc, making it a good place to go in a group. The curators were able to snag some really lovely artist names, which I was surprised to see (David Hockney, Wilfredo Lam). And the museum even has a cafe, if you need a coffee or drink break. My day at RISD's museum was a day well spent!

Free on Sunday! What a great deal for a very unique museum with student art as well as established pieces that were beautiful to look at it. Everyone in the museum was helpful for us to find what we were looking for. Definitely check around if you're near brown or RISD.

Free Sunday admission to this neighborhood museum. Went for the BLACK FLYYY exhibit. Loved the mid-century furniture exhibit and student art pieces. There were some expressive pieces from various black artist. Worth a visit whether your from the neighborhood or visiting Providence, Rhode Island.

This is a cute museum and has a lot of artwork done by RISD students, which is interesting to see. There were many 3-D art projects, including some fall scenes and interactive exhibits. There were a few rooms that were all lit up which was a nice break from everything else. The only thing was it seemed like a lot of the exhibits were closed or being renovated when we were there so I would recommend looking at the website beforehand.

Wonderful museum with an amazing variety of art. There was art from throughout the world and from many different parts of history. The pieces are well displayed & well cared for. It was a pleasant walk through the museum. We recognized that the pieces were separated enough that our pace was fine and never in conflict with others. The museum curators deserve strong credit for a fantastic display. It was well worth the price of admission.