RISD Museum

RISD has a bit of everything from modern all the way to ancient works. It took us a couple hours to go through the exhibits, and it's very well curated. The Liz Collins exhibit was intriguing, I was not familiar with her work. Check it out while it's still there. I also enjoyed the Pendleton house the museum essentially surrounds with period pieces of American making. The Asian and medieval exhibits were also highlights. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The entrance is un assuming, and 30 ft from the street in the side of the building. You then take an elevator to the 3rd floor and start your way to the 6th floor. We were nearby on a Sunday and visited. Admission is free on Sundays. It's worth checking out!

We had a wonderful time visiting the RISD Museum. It’s truly a rich and inspiring place, filled with impressive collections from around the world. The museum showcases both artistic and historical pieces, and every corner offers something meaningful to see. It’s not just a museum, but a place where you can spend hours discovering and learning. Anyone visiting Providence should definitely make sure to see this museum!

My family and I love to go to museums and we decided to check this one out due to the size. The employees could use some training when it comes to attitude. We found the front desk lady to lack some basic communication skills. I understand museums and security specially certain ones in corners etc. However I didn't feel comfortable with some of the security people following us around and staring us down when we'd be the only ones in the room. It didn't make me feel comfortable or like I could take the time to admire a piece. I wanted to leave 20 minutes in because of this. The museum is extremely large, expect to be here a minimum of 2 hours. The total admission for 3 adults was 66 dollars. Overall, I loved the art and pieces we did get to see. They're displayed quite well. Some even felt magical :)

So much fun to explore! Beautiful exhibits! We had my 6 and 9 year old daughters with us and some staff was so sweet with them and informitive while others gave them dirty looks for pointing at painting not touching just pointing at things they liked about them. I felt uncomfortable in some areas when we were being followed like suspects. We didn't let it ruin our experience though and still explored everything.

Rsid was amazing. I was in town for a conference and looking for something interesting and the fact that Sundays are free made it even better. I had an amazing time exploring the various levels of the museum. If I had a suggestion, it would be to have a shop there or make sure to tell visitors about the rsid store that is across the street. I found it on my own but might have missed it otherwise!

Found this delightful art museum when visiting Providence on a whim one Sunday which turned out to be the bonus day when entry is free to all every Sunday The whole experience of visiting this place really uplifted me from the super helpful and friendly staff at the door to the many myriad of design art on display from many different cultures and across both historical and contemporary timelines As an Engineer, I left feeling creatively inspired by the many different art forms on display. I truly did enjoy my time walking through the well laid out exhibits

First time visitors. What an amazing place. Helpful staff, beautifully displayed work. Spent about 2 hours here and enjoyed every minute. We are definitely not art or museum folks but this was a great way to spend a part of our day. Highly recommend

An absolute must see whilst in Providence. Whilst the first few floors are dedicated to modern art, it is the top floor that is the real gem. I have been fortunate enough to visit several museums of antiquity across the world and I was shocked at what I saw on the 5th floor. An extremely fine collection of Greco-Roman artefacts dating from BCE, including some from civilisations that are several millennia older. Normally you would be queueing for hours to get a close-up view of some of these artefacts, we practically had the place to ourselves. They also feature some van Gogh’s and Monet’s on the same floor. Entrance is free on a Thursday evening.

I stopped into the RISD Art Museum on a Sunday when admission was free, and it was such a great experience. The museum has over five floors of exhibits, and everything was open the day I went. It wasn't crowded at all, which made it easy to really enjoy the art and take my time seeing everything I wanted to see. They rotate different showcases each year, so there's always something new to discover. There's also a coffee shop connected to the museum, which is a nice touch if you want to take a break. Parking is street parking, and since the museum sits at the crux of a hill, you may need to walk up a bit if you don't find a close spot -- but it's manageable. Overall, it was a really enjoyable visit. Peaceful, inspiring, and a great way to spend a day in Providence. I'll definitely be back!

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!

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.

The collection at the RISD Museum is spectacular, particularly when you consider the low price (free admission on Sundays!) and size of the museum. I think it's a cool place to visit. The parking situation isn't the best and it isn't a great walking area because of the hills, but those things aside it's a great experience!

Super centrally located downtown and has amazing collections. I wasn't sure how big it would be because I assumed it would be like a smaller school owned museum, but they actually have a wonderful collection. They have free days on Wednesday evenings and Sundays so you can do that or you can check it out any other time. During the summer, I like to come in after having dinner on Wednesdays and go for a walk when it's super hot just to get out without having to be outside. Same thing in the winter. Their staff is lovely and it's always a good time. There's a little something for everyone even though it's not a massive museum.

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.

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!

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@

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.

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

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

I've been to the RISD Museum many times over the decades, and my experience on a Sunday in Sept 2025 was AWESOME! RISD Museum is affiliated with one of America's oldest art schools and is spread over five floors on the slope of historic College Hill on the East Side of Providence. This moderately-sized museum has some gems in its diverse collection, so plan to spend at least three hours here. The staff of the museum is simply AMAZING! I spoke with one of the security staff members - an artist himself - in the Pendleton House section, and he gave me some in-depth information about the collection there. I DO wish that the museum had an small gift shop and a guide in book format to the museum and its collections.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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$.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

I love the RISD Muesum. It's constantly reinventing itself with new exhibits and features of student work. The students at RISD are so talented and work so hard that it's nice to see a portion of the museum is dedicated to their work. Best part: it's free on Sundays!

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.

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!

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

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...

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.

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.

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.

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!