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Milwaukee Art Museum
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
700 N Art Museum DrMilwaukee, WI 53202
Neighborhoods: East Town, Downtown
(262) 790-8930
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
Thu 10 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
107 reviews for Milwaukee Art Museum
Review Highlights
"The architecture of the Santiago Calatrava is phenomenal."
(in 10 reviews)
"Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit February 12-May 15, 2011."
(in 4 reviews)
"World class architecture and world class art."
(in 33 reviews)
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107 reviews in English
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Review from Sara J.
I love visiting the art museum, a rare treat for me. The special exhibits I have visited so far have been wonderful, most recently the Chinese exhibit, my favorite pieces being the wood furniture and paintings on silk. My favorite was the exhibit of Deaf art, something I saw a year or two ago; painting, sculpture, live performance, opportunities to learn more about Deaf culture/ language/ art... it was all so interesting and beautiful. The museum seems to always find lovely and meaningful art and exhibits for people to explore, the interior of the newer part of the building is gorgeous (and fun to photograph), and this is a great place to bring kids.
The only downside I could think of for this place was my visit back in high school of eating in their dining area, the food was pricy and not great. Still, who goes to the art museum for the cuisine?! -
Review from Kyna Z.
Milwaukee, WI
1/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
When I lived out of state, I had no idea Wisconsin had such gems as the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM.) So glad I moved here and learned differently! My first experience with Wisconsin art museums was the one in Madison, a small showcase of contemporary art with no real permanent gallery, leaving the serious museum enthusiast wanting. I'm happy to say the MAM redeemed the WI museum scene in my eyes. (Though I reserve 5 stars for museums like the Art Institute of Chicago or the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.)
First, the architecture. Love it or hate it, the Quadracci Pavilion by Calatrava is worth the visit just to check out. The "wings" open or close three times daily (as long as the wind speed/weather are agreeable) - museum opening, noon, and museum closing. It's fun to watch the transformation from the pyramidal shape to a ship-like structure. There is a lot of light and space, making it good for movies (Transformers 3?) or weddings (maybe a little fantasy of mine.)
Next, the special exhibitions. They've had quite the variety of visiting exhibitions in the four years I've been a member, so if you don't like one, just wait a few months for something different! In the last year alone they have had ones on Frank Loyd Wright, China, and Impressionism. All were of high quality and told great stories.
My favorite part is the constantly updated contemporary art galleries. I happen to love modern art, which I realize is not for everyone, so I count myself extremely lucky. Recently there was one by Taryn Simon including her work on the Innocence Project, where she photographed people who had wrongly been convicted of horrible crimes, and later evidence vindicated them. Definitely an exhibit that makes you stop and think. At other times you may see curtains of rocks; an infinity room of mirrors, darkness, and tiny lights; or an installation of a suitcase that looks into the basement, revealing a surprising scene.
The museum is also the permanent home to a variety of genres of more "classical" art - Ancient Mediterranean, Early European, Haitian, Folk, and other. While there may not be anything you recognize from textbooks, there is certainly work you will enjoy if you like art.
Also in the museum is the Cafe Calatrava, which I was dying to try during Downtown Dining week (June), but ran out of time. Hopefully next year!
The best part? For students, a membership is a great deal. Only $25 for one year, which includes invites to exclusive gallery viewings and artist talks. (Attended one via Skype recently with Taryn Simon, which alone was certainly worth the cost of the membership.)
If you haven't been here before, stop on by and see what you're missing out! -
Review from Marshall S.
Milwaukee, WI
1/16/2012
Visited on a Target Free First Thursday. Always a plus if you can get in free.
The building of course is beautiful and a work of art in itself. You can walk around the Calatrava without paying admission, so go check it out.
The exhibits themselves are okay. A good variety of types of art, but not too extensive. No "famous" works of art that the non-art loving person would recognize, but still great to look through. The Impressionism exhibit was interesting and I enjoyed it. The traveling exhibits take up a good portion of the museum, so you can go every few months and see something new. -
Review from Rachel F.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went to the MAM this past week with the 'rents to check out the "Impressions: Masterworks on Paper" special exhibit featuring famous Impressionists' and Post-Impressionists' drawings, pastels, and more. I was then reminded that I actually haven't yet reviewed the MAM.
The Milwaukee Art Museum: The building itself is absolutely gorgeous. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is world-renowned for his designs, so having a museum of his -- that is so aesthetically gorgeous and so unique -- right here in MKE certainly adds to to our physical landscape and our city's cultural capital in a big, big way.
And while the permanent collections aren't of those of the Met or the Art Institute in CHI, they're certainly solid. As Joanna T noted, there is a bit of a focus on German Expressionism, which I actually really like. So... bonus for me! (I also like Modern Art, of which there are some really cool pieces. Head to the third floor!)
The rotating special exhibits are always, always fabulous as well.
Heated underground parking that's easy peasy is a big bonus too.
I love hanging out by the MAM + the lakefront during summer. Great Instagram photo opportunities!
Four and a half stars, if I could, for one of the more significant and integral cultural institutions in MKE. -
Review from bec c.
Riverside, CA
1/31/2012 3 photos
OMG is what i have to say! i loved everything about it! it looks so gorgeous from the outside, and the way everything looks inside reminded me of the Jetsons!! i went on 1/28/12 & they had a cleopatra exhibit, really it was just a few artifacts, but i didnt care, i loved everything! the oooonly downside was that it was a bit toooo warm inside, but the staff was very friendly, parking was easy and i'd love to go back.
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Review from Jeff J.
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a nice place to go if you like Art. If you don't, well, you probably shouldn't go.
I was there for a company Christmas party. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The best part was making up our own names for the impressionist paintings. Lots of fun. The place was a bit crowded as we had a lot of people there and the food lines were long, but I don't want to doc the museum because of poor planning for an outside event.
It's a great place to go learn things about art and history. -
Review from Allison B.
Indianapolis, IN
1/20/2012 2 photos
A must do in Milwaukee!
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Review from Thomas W.
Milwaukee, WI
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best art museum around. Phenomenal programming, phenomenal exhibits... The place is just a keystone of Milwaukee. Go see it.
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Review from John D.
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
OUTSTANDING
For the exhibits, the architecture, the location & the cafe.
This is a not-to-be-missed place in Milwaukee.
We saw the China exhibit, which will be gone in the Fall, but it was quite good. The permanent displays of early American art & furniture are also good.
There was surprisingly good food in the cafe, but best of all is the building itself. Stunning architecture worth the price of admission alone. -
Review from Tony K.
9/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm proud to say Milwaukee is home to the Calatrava.
Everytime I walk in - I'm taken aback at the beauty.
A must see for visitors! -
Review from Catherine X.
Chicago, IL
7/26/2011
The only reason I come to Milwaukee.
The museum is not huge, but it seems like everything they touch turns to gold. It's a great selection of art from all different eras, with no one particular style dominating. As for the architecture, I would probably pay the admission fee just to look at the building. When you walk inside, it feels like you're Jonah and you've just been swallowed into a whale's insides. Except there's beautiful art and a cute store, so this ain't so bad. -
Review from Gemma K.
Lombard, IL
6/12/2011
I would say that if you can slam down the holding fee for this location: consider having your wedding and reception here. And if marriage is not in the cards, just come here for the location and some incredible art.
We attended a wedding and reception here, oh my god!!!! All the bells and whistles is putting it mildly. This museum has some similarities in structure to the Sydney Opera House. It is right on the water, it is open and airy and all about windows. And, pieces of the exterior structure move continuously throughout the day and evening. It's wild.
Before the ceremony, we were able to snoop around the museum areas and it's unbelievably high quality gift shop. From medieval to mummies, from impressionists to Incas, the exhibits are fabulous. (Note to you ladies dressed for a wedding: have a pair of stand by shoes, your feet will thank you for it.)
The ceremony was in the main atrium, overlooking the lake. Tea lights lined the aisle. After which, we went out on this circular veranda to enjoy cocktails and then to an upper atrium to watch the sun set. The catering staff set up dinner for 350 during that time and I will say that between the place settings, flowers, candles, and crystal, Donald Trump would have been pleased. It was lovely.
Three opts for our meal: a filet, chicken, and a vegetarian choice. The food was excellent and included grilled radicchio, a wonderful broccoli soup, fresh chilled asparagus, wine and champagne.
Fortunately, they give you a breather before coffee, liquors, and dessert (which turned out to be individual chocolate bombe's). The cake, assorted fruit, other pastries kept coming throughout the dancing: and coming, and coming. One special addition to this event was that the wedding guests were allowed unlimited access to various exhibits throughout the evening. Very cool!
Everything was perfect: from location to wedding to food to weather. We hope to get back here again. Awesome.Listed in: Gemma's Gems, The Main Event
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Review from Heather H.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2011
What an amazing space, I'm completely blown away! Architecture, and modern design of the building is outstanding.
That being said, I really had a hard time with the layout of the museum. I don't understand how one second, as you're contemplating Contemporary Art, you turn a corner and BAM, now you're in the Renaissance period, and past that door is something else. It really was messing with my head.
I'd recommend you do what we did, take a break from it and go downstairs to enjoy some wine at Café Calatrava. Then you'll be ready to tackle this museum! -
Review from Joanna T.
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you haven't gone to MAM for the "Splendors of China" you should GO NOW! Leave work, skip school, just go! It was one of the best exhibits I've seen anywhere.
Building: A
The Calatrava add on is world famous, and justifiably so. The space is breathtaking. The Saarinen building is a bit dated but the interior spaces do a good job showcasing the art.
Special Exhibits: A+
The current China one is truly unbelievable. And, let's not forget that we had a Leonardo a few years back - take that, Chicago! Whoever coordinates the special exhibits has done a phenomenal job bringing world class quality shows to Milwaukee.
Parking: A
Even if you drive a Yugo, your car will feel like a BMW in this heated garage. The ribbed supports show that you CAN make a parking structure that's not an ugly piece of crap.
Permanent Collections: C
And I'm being generous...unless you are a huge fan of German Expressionism (and I'm not), most of the permanent collection is pretty second rate. A bright spot is the modern art, which has some notable pieces, and the folk art collections.
Overall...why 4 stars? I'm clearly a fan, and I think the museum is doing a great job. But - 5 stars is as good as it gets. Sorry, MAM, you aren't the Louvre, the Met or the Vatican. But for what you are, you're pretty darn good. -
Review from Rob K.
Milwaukee, WI
6/19/2011
I don't generally expect a museum to surprise me the Milwaukee Art Museum threw me a curveball. Foremost, it was informal beyond belief. This was hard to realize at first because it's such a large public institution with an architecturally stunning exterior, but was blindingly apparent after a few hours inside.
First of all, I am just someone who wants to be left alone when they go to a museum. I almost always go by myself, and rarely want to talk to anyone while I'm in there. Museums are sometimes unique for the sole fact that they are sometimes quiet. However, on multiple occasions I saw or directly experienced a docent or guard walk up to someone in the museum and talk to them. One guard just went up and made a joke to some women about a Kiki Smith beeswax sculpture. She looked uncomfortable. One volunteer outside of the Walk-In Infinity Chamber asked every single person who came out of the room how they liked it.
It wasn't just the staff either. The Donald Judd boxes in the first room were covered in a thick layer of dust, and the Sol LeWitt sculpture next to it had some white paint chips missing from the corners. The white platform in front of Robert Irwin's light/disc thing had two brown foot prints on it. I found a guard asleep in the lowest level exhibition room.
To my surprise, I began to find this all very endearing. The museum was generally absent of people, and the guards were most likely very bored. But it was quiet, open, and it started to feel like an exploration into wild and neglected space. I sat with the adjacent Agnes Martin and Cy Twombly paintings for a long time with out anyone really passing by. All I heard was the clink of metal on wood as an occasional passerby walked across 144 Zinc Plates directly behind me. I found a video installation in the basement that was footage of a woodworker working, and sat for more than an hour in silence watching something that was increasingly satisfying, unexpected, and engaging.
Its impressive preexisting collection of art coupled with this informality made it unlike anything I had experienced. While I was there, I felt the same comfort as I do when I am at a friends house and they're not home. For better or worse, I stopped thinking of the space as this hands off modernist dungeon of sterility. The space had attitude; it didn't know how to abide by the standards to which large museums are expected to. In a dopey Midwestern way, the Milwaukee Art Museum had taken the dominant mode on art consumption, rearranged it, and thrown a wench in the system.
I was confused and sad when I entered the museum for personal reasons, which no doubt initially colored my time and probably made me notice all of these little indiscretions. But as it steeped in my mind, I grew a certain affection for this way of looking at art stuff. It is serious, but not too serious. It once aspired to perfection but now is happy to be adequate. Most of all, the work doesn't scare you in its bright shiny austerity because it has dust all over it.Listed in: Art Places
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Review from Richard S.
Oak Creek, WI
5/11/2011
3.5 Stars.
5 Stars for the Calatrava...2 Stars for the exhibits I've seen there. -
Review from Chad W.
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you are in Milwaukee, you have to check out the Milwaukee Art Museum. If you are here on the first Thursday of the month - then visit on Target's dime, as they sponsor the first Thursday of each month (at least they are this summer).
My wife and I have visited this Art museum a few times - and this last time was just as good as every other time. Granted, we usually don't go in to the special exhibits - but rather enjoy the main gallery - it is still amazing to see the works on display here.
If you don't want to pay for admission, and it is not the first Thursday - the building itself is still worth the visit. Not to mention being on the lakefront and the amazing view from the entrance of the museum.
Bottom line, if you are in Milwaukee, don't miss an opportunity to see a great piece of work. While you are at it, be sure to also check out a piece of work created as a complementary piece to the building itself located at the end of Wisconsin Ave. overlooking the Milwaukee Art Museum. From the right spot, the piece actually compliments the Milwaukee Art Museum. Though, beware - there is much controversy that surrounds this piece! (http://www.examiner.co...) -
Review from Deb F.
New Berlin, WI
6/23/2011
Thank you to the Milwaukee Art Museum for another enjoyable Lakefront Festival of Arts! We missed last year, went the year before, and went nearly every year for as long as I can remember. I have to say this was one of the best I've seen.
The quality of artists was amazing. One of our favorites was back for the first time in five years...Ted Gall (sculpture). Some other great ones we met were William Kidd (ceramics), Sam Jones IV (painting/foil), Alberto Toro (leather/exotics), Jim & Tori Mullan (jewelry/objects/boxes), and Zeny Cieslikowski (photography.) We bought many great things, prices were very reasonable for the quality of the work.
The grounds have gotten much easier to navigate than they were in years past. I remember the years of plywood over mud to get from tent to tent. Now it is one long run of tents on concrete.
We have also been members of the museum, and enjoyed many exhibits and events...wine tasting in the Calatrava, and the Andy Warhol exhibit to name a couple. I also used to take my Girl Scout troop there, as they put on many wonderful events for children.
The building itself is a beautiful structure, and in a beautiful location. We look forward to spending more time there.
http://www.mam.org
http://www.theodoregal.../ or http://www.tgall.com
http://www.cuerotoro.com
http://www.MullaniumBy...
http://www.colorphotop... -
Review from Kimberly T.
Minneapolis, MN
7/19/2011
I came here for a wedding in June & it was nothing less than spectacular. If you are engaged & live in the area, definitely check out the MAM out for a potential venue!
Both the ceremony & reception were held here. The ceremony was in the main area, facing the window looking out on the water. What an amazing view! It was nice that they had a stage so regardless of where you sat, you were able to see everything.
After the ceremony, we were led to a cocktail hour in the adjacent galley hallway. There were at least four stations with bartenders so there was never a wait to get a drink. The galley also looks out to the water.
Once the cocktail hour was over, we went back into the main room where the entire space was transformed. Plenty of room for tables, dance floor, area for the band, and a cupcake station for dessert. The food was excellent & the servers were fantastic.
After attending the wedding, it made me want to come back to check out the art. Next time I'm in MKE, this will be first on my list of places to go! -
Review from Mike P.
4/28/2011
Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit February 12-May 15, 2011
This exhibit was absolutely AMAZING! I think even a casual fan of architecture would get enjoyment out of this exhibit. I'm a FLW fan who has visited Taliesin, the only Oregon FLW structure (Gordon House), all but one existing FLW Iowa home, Community Christian Church in Kansas City and unknowingly and regrettably drove past the Marin County Civic Center in California.
I think touring a Frank Lloyd Wright structure and then to see the man's architectural drawings complete with erasure marks and side notes brings another level of appreciation to his work.
The drawing "Cloverleaf Quadruple Housing" was my favorite. Fallingwater is a single masterpiece but imagine if FLW designed sprawling suburbs. This is architecture for mankind and not a kind of wealthy man :
http://www.mediaarchit...
A few other highlights: I got to see a Frank Lloyd Wright drawn carrot. I learned the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is in Wauwatosa. I recently moved to Wauwatosa and had no idea this very building I've seen in books is a few miles from my home.
This exhibit alone was worth the $14 admission.Listed in: Best of 2011
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Review from Brad O.
Milwaukee, WI
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I finally took myself on a hot date to the Art Museum as part of the First Free Thursdays event (I'm a cheap date) and promptly got lost. Maybe it's not as big as it seems, but for a first-timer I kept wandering past the same things trying to find a real exit after an hour or two. I've seen the museum from every angle on the outside, so it was fun trying to get my bearings and figure out where I was inside.
This is a spectacular piece of architecture that must be seen on a trip to Milwaukee. The view of the lake from inside is awe-inspiring and it just feels cool being inside something that magnificent. It seems like every single weekend there is a wedding or some nice event happening, which makes me want to crash it every time. Next time.
The exhibits were cool with its fair share of awesomeness and "psssh, if that's art, my name's DaVinci"-ness (three colored tiles on a wall?). There are going to be pieces that some just don't get, but without them it wouldn't be a true art museum.
Oh, and I almost crapped my pants around that sculpture of the janitor leaning against a wall... cool, but super creepy.
I'll be going back to continue exploring soon... I didn't get to see everything in one fell swoop, there's just too much to see. Very highly recommended! -
Review from Kevin T.
Oconomowoc, WI
6/18/2011
The MAM is truly a Milwaukee gem. The permanent collection is impressive, and the exhibits that they land are pretty amazing for a city the size of Milwaukee.
This weekend's Lakefront Festival of Arts is just another great reason to stop by the museum.
I've been a member for years and love just "stopping by" for a even something like 20 minutes in between appointments. -
Review from Yi Z.
3/30/2011
WOW! I'm really impressed.
The architecture is phenomenal. The views are fabulous. The art collection is respectable. What more can you ask for?
We decided to forgo the museum parking lot and found 2 hour street parking instead. The museum is rather large and we barely made it back to our car before our time ran out. I would recommend parking somewhere without a time limit so you don't feel as rushed.
They're currently having a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit that's fascinating for anyone even remotely interested in architecture.
The permanent collection is better than I expected. There's a good amount of contemporary art that I really enjoyed. The only negative I have to say about the museum is that the layout makes it difficult to keep track of which rooms you have seen. Also, there is only 1 set of elevators that takes you to the different floors. We had to backtrack several times to be able to cover all of the areas.
This museum is definitely one of the top art museums in the US. I would've never expected to see something this awesome in Milwaukee.Listed in: Museums
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Review from Rolando P.
Irvine, CA
Impressive museum. It was not expected in Milwaukee. The museum being near the lake and the park surrounding it, made it a very pleasant and relaxing location to walk around. The weather was also perfect.
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Review from Bob C.
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
We've visited the current Chinese exhibits several times now, and they are quite a coup for Milwaukee. Of the permanent displays, be sure to go upstairs and see their collection of Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. Finally, it's always fun to watch the Calatrava wings open and close.
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Review from Alfred W.
Cedarburg, WI
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of my favorite places, anywhere. We keep going back time over time. The architecture, exhibitions, collections and views are awesome. I can't believe this is in little ole Milwaukee.
I recommend parking inside the facility basement parking structure. The temperature is comfortable. You can walk from your car into the entrance without a coat in the middle of winter. -
Review from Emily T.
Milwaukee, WI
7/6/2011
The MAM is a must for everyone who lives in Milwaukee... hell, even if you don't you should try it out. Santiago Calatrava is the genius architect behind this masterpiece and the stuff inside isn't half bad either:) The MAM has a wide variety of artists on display... including my favorite, Chuck Close. This is a great way to spend an afternoon! The location is remarkable as well!
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Review from Dejan B.
2/24/2011
I was ready not to like this museum. We were visiting the museum because one of my in-laws (two of whom are artists) wanted to see it...Firstly, I am not a big art aficionado, second I had the idea in my head it was more contemporary art, and third...well...it was in Milwaukee. Ok, that sounds horrible and it is but being born and bred in the Chicago area with the Art Institute and the myriad of excellent museums that Chicagoans have makes me a bit of a snob when it comes to the attractions of other cities. I can humbly say that I was wrong on all counts.
The museum was awesome! The first thing you will notice of course is the Calatrava "sail" that is the most distinctive and awe inspiring part of the building. The surrounding landscaping and the bridge are also excellent as well. The museum has an underground parking garage with direct access to the building which is very convenient. The building itself is very clean, spacious, and inviting. The displays we saw had a tremendous diversity of very "accessible"/conventional art though it definitely did also have a lot of contemporary art, sculpture, and even furniture. Everything was very interesting and well presented and the security/staff is for the most part unobtrusive and/or very friendly. The one drawback for me is the relatively expensive entrance fee which could restrict visits by some but overall this is an awesome place which you must visit if you are in the area.
P.S. One final note that the museum is about a 2-3 hour drive from Chicago and can be a great weekend trip (though you will need the whole weekend to see a good part of it)... -
Review from Ann S.
Oak Park, IL
8/6/2011
Beautiful. Parking easy and not crowded. I enjoyed the China exhibit- but wish there was a bit more.
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Review from Erica B.
Milwaukee, WI
10/27/2010
Located in downtown Milwaukee on the edge of Lake Michigan, there is only one word for the Milwaukee Art Museum - breathtaking! The building (the Santiago Calatrava designed Quadracci Pavillion) is an incredible work of art in and of itself, and notable collections include a large number of Georgia O'Keefe and Gabriele Munter pieces. I love modern art, so the museum's large modern collection is right up my ally.
MAM's staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and the curators bring stunning special collections to the museum. My favorites thus far have been the Gilbert and George exhibition and the Andy Warhol exhibition.
This is my favorite place in the entire world - bar none. -
Review from Justin N.
3/9/2010
The structure, the art, the location: epic.
Over 25,000 pieces of art, all housed in this building with wings. Stellar collections. A museum who's very structure is art, with acclaim across the globe.
I'm truly sad I missed the recent Andy Warhol exhibit. Another time perhaps.Listed in: Milwaukee: Back at home
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Review from Jay N.
Lombard, IL
12/30/2010
I went there on a weekday with my friend and it was a great experience. The architecture of the building fits in with the lakefront and heated underground parking is quite convenient during the wintertime but it is not free. Even the elevator from the garage to the main floor can be considered art.
The layout of the museum is quite clean and spacious. I never felt crowded and there was plenty of room to look at things from different perspectives and distance. The collections were organized so that you could go from room to room and they would make sense. I'm a big fan of Georgia O'Keeffe's works and they have quite a large collection on the 3rd floor of the old wing. They also have sitting rooms where you can look out onto Lake Michigan. I would definitely visit again to spend more time on their various exhibits! -
Review from Kyle H.
What new life the Santiago Calatrava wing, (or "wings"), has breathed into the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Lakefront, and the City of Milwaukee itself! The space is amazingly open, showcasing the lakefront location and welcoming to art patrons.
Do yourself a favor and park on the third level in the parking ramp across the street, then you can walk across the bridge and take in the stunning Calatrava addition at eye level. The museum itself is not too expensive. Show your student I.D. for 1/2 price admission. Children are free! There are lots of kid-friendly programs, such as the Scavenger hunt book that my son received. The book talked about "Patterns" in the art, and gave a small portion of pieces of art he had to recognize and write or draw about. Then each page also talked about something relating to the piece such as movement, trick of the eye, drumming patterns that one might hear in a West Indie market painting. Very cool. Besides the special programs, the MAM is very kid-friendly, and it's not too crowded.
My son really liked the "Infinity Space", the light box you walk into that seemed to not have a floor and go on forever. The best art starts a dialogue in my opinion, and my son asked "what's 'infinity'?" Living in Chicago, and having the Art Institute and Museum of Contemporary Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum selection definitely is not yet at that caliber. But what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.
Their art signage and explanations are excellent. A fan of the Marino Marini horse sculptures I saw in D.C., MAM had one of his sculptures and an accompanying painting and description. It was awesome to learn that Marini's hesitant horses equated to People bucking against dictatorships, and government restraints in general. Way to stick it to the Man, Marino!
The MAM has an extensive Folk Art and Outsider Art collection. I was ecstatic that they had two pieces of James Hampton's Revelations-inspired "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly"! Much of the Outsider art is religious in tone (a big impetus for creating) and also much of it is painted wood carvings.
The Mrs. Bradley collection and Bradley wing was really impressive in its focus. The current showing focuses on paintings by Gabriele Münter with a concentration on German Expressionists and the Ashcan school, including her five summers spent in the Swiss Alps with Kandinsky. Many of the artists that influenced each other during this short period were included. And although their art may have differed greatly from each other, it showed what a shrewd and intelligent collector Mrs. Bradley was. There is also a Bradley lounge area, left just as Mrs. Bradley decorated it for her daily visits and frequent entertaining she did at the Museum.
Oh, and psst...they have a favorite piece of mine by Robert Irwin. This should definitely be on your tourist agenda in Milwaukee, and if you're a resident, frequent visits should be your agenda for the coming year! -
Review from Eric B.
11/29/2008
This stunning Santiago Calatrava "sailing ship" addition is definitely worth the trip and is a welcome sight on the waterfront. I love great architecture like this and am pleased to see that downtown Milwaukee is improving from previous years.
And it is easy to forget about the art when you're paying more attention to the moving metal sails. But do come inside and look around the exhibits and experience the calmness of the spacious interior hall and the white marble flooring. -
Review from Judy M.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2009
Come here for the architecture, stay for the inexpensive admission.
Not a bad art museum, one of the highlights of Milwaukee for sure. It is a lot bigger than it seems from the outside. A friend had her wedding here, and it was a fantastic space for a wedding and reception, the room had an amazing view and they got to watch the fireworks from one of the weekly festivals to top off the evening.Listed in: Oh the places we will go!
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Review from Allan M.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2008
Though I've only been to the museum twice since the Calatrava addition opened a few years back, and my 2nd time was just last weekend, I always have a great time each trip I take to MAM. The permanent collection of this museum appears to me for the most part, probably a little bit newer than at the Art Institute. Regardless, both museums have interesting artwork in their collections, so I don't think I have a collection preference either way.
However though, I think I prefer the temporary exhibits that MAM gets over Art Institute, since for whatever reason, the ones here are more interesting to me. If you come here before October 2009(which I know is more than plenty of time before this closes), definitely check out the Sensory Overload exhibit, which was definitely the highlight of my most recent visit. Especially check out Matrix XV(2007) and Walk-In Infinity Chamber(1968) within this exhibit, and the latter which is being shown for the first time in 15 years. Finally(an important tip), make sure to show your college ID to get $4 admission, otherwise you will have to pay double to get in!
Sensory Overload info:
http://www.mam.org/sen... -
Review from Rachel N.
1/14/2010
Drove up from Chicago to get a dose of culture in...Wisconsin? I wasn't expecting much, but was blown away by the breadth of their collection.
To start with, Calatrava's building makes superb use of the surroundings--perched on the shores of Lake Michigan, I think it looks like a bird in flight, or just some stunning modern architecture, depending on my mood. Get there at opening, noon time, or closing to watch the "wings" flap open and closed. Graceful use of line, transforms the space around it.
Once inside the museum, the light-filled design elevates even the lobby to a space in which you want to linger. We forged on to the permanent collection (special Warhol had just been taken down), and were astounded by how much there actually was. Started w/ the Egyptians and went all the way through to Rachel Whitehead, et al.
Museum has been gifted an incredible collection from Mrs. Harris A. Bradley, a woman who amassed a phenomenal range of work worth at least 100 mill and donated it to MAM. Excellent representations of multiple movements, starting w/ the Fauves, moving through all mediums to Joel Shapiro. Picasso, Giacometti, Georgia O'Keeffe, Morris Louis, Helen Frankenthaler, Kirchner. The works.
Most touching aspect of our visit was the exhibit about the Vogels, a NYC couple who on the combined salary of a postal worker and a library employee, created a collection of almost 5000 works, worth many many millions of dollars. Shows 50 of their works (from the 50 works 50 States project they are sponsoring) as well as a short documentary about how absolutely darling they are (10 min). Old people in artists' studios. Amazing.
I can't say enough positive things about the museum. We live on the North Shore of Chicago and it took about an hour from our house (driving the speed limit), but could probably be done in less. Definitely worth the trip, regardless of the exhibit. -
Review from Mark S.
Chicago, IL
4/4/2007
If you've never been, you've probably seen it on TV. I'm pretty sure they shot the cholesterol/heart drug ads with Dr. Jarvic in here- all white and high tech spaceship looking inside. Big Pharma has plastered the airwaves with those brainwashing ads for months now- I watch 'em for the architecture... But in real life they thankfully don't have the cheesy green "laboratory" sign hung over a doorway, or the clear model of the human ;-)
The museum has a pretty interesting collection- a day well spent exploring. But most people are most struck by the art of the museum building itself! It juts out beautifully up to the lake shore and makes for a great view. And it's worth it to catch the flapping of the Burke Brise Soleil wings over the building too- cool to see and all your fellow museum goers will be there with their jaws open looking up at the sky above too. It moves sloooooowly.
I especially like the little seating area downstairs with all the various chair styles to choose from- a great, hands-on (or butt-on) chance to consider the merge of art/design/human interface in the form of iconic chairs- I get the Eames chair! -
Review from Jay A.
Traverse City, MI
3/29/2007 2 photos
MAM is one of the best museums in nation. In fact, I really like this place and wanna say it's the best museum to me so far.
I can't never get enough taking photos here. I have no clue about history and how famous it is but it's just beautiful and it is a must see for milwaukee visitors. (I am from Chicago...hmm originally from Thailand)
Tips: Nice old guy who works in the museum told me to go to parking lot to see something awesome....and it was!
When you go down there, you go near the mirror..look up and you will see the reflect of entire Milwaukee downtown.....and let me know how you like it :) -
Review from Julie A.
Arlington, MA
3/23/2007
This is the best museum I have ever been to. The architecture is Art in it's self. It is modern, substantial, amazing and doesn't take away for the art collection.
As far as the collection goes....
This was curated perfectly. Where the art is positioned, hung, how it flows, everything is just perfect and enjoyable. The collection has many important pieces and one's i never thought i'd get to see in person.
I cam across this by an accidental trip to Milwaukee, but feel the need to go back just for this museum alone.
