The David E Shaw And Family Sculpture Park
A great resting place between galleries featuring reclining lawn chairs on a spacious green area. The larger-than-life sculptures ensure an artistic approach to relaxation. Learn more
The Portland Museum of Art is one of nine museums that are part of the Maine Art Museum Trail.
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What Are The Main Exhibits At The Portland Museum Of Art
The museum features a varying range of artwork from different parts of the world and from different genres of art, but works from local artists and those that depict life and culture in Portland are always highlighted.
Exhibits usually run a few months at a time so you have plenty of chances to see the work of your favorite artists on display. Following are the shows that are currently open.
Stories Of Maine An Incomplete History
A collection of stories and objects encapsulating Maines past and present in recognition of Maines 200th anniversary, featuring in-state individuals from a breadth of regions, from Governor Janet Mills to Muhidin Libah, director of the Somali Bantu Community Organization. The interactive exhibit allows you to record your own experience to continually capture the ever-growing history of Maine. Learn more
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Tips For Visiting The Portland Art Museum
How do I get to the Portland Art Museum?
Is there parking available?
On-street metered parking
Do I need to reserve tickets in advance?
How much does the Portland Art Museum cost?
- $22 for seniors 62+ and college students
- Free for children 17 and under
Details are subject to change please check the Portland Art Museum website for current information.
Does The Portland Museum Of Art Have A Shop
Many would agree that the best thing you can take home with you from the Portland Art Museum is the experience of witnessing all those beautiful works of art through your own eyes.
But if you want to bring home something tangible with you as a souvenir, you can choose from the wide selection offered at the PAM Store.
This is not like your typical souvenir shop that sells mostly magnets, pins, postcards, and the like, although you will see plenty of them here as well. In this shop, you can find more unconventional souvenirs like rare books on famous artists and their works.
The items you can purchase from the Museum Store are not only wonderful souvenirs of your visit but they can also make great gifts for your loved ones.
Most visitors delight in the vast collection of Native American art that you can buy from the museum. There is a wide selection of salad bowls, mugs, woven blankets, coasters, and other items that will add a touch of Portland pizzazz to your home.
There are also a vast selection of personal accessories like tote bags, coin purses, umbrellas, embroidered patches, bangles, hats and other wearable art that you can choose to buy for yourself or as a present to your loved ones.
For the young ones, there are playing cards, plush toys, and an assortment of kiddie books that feature Native American art.
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Portraiture From The Collection Of Northwest Art
Portraits are depicted using a wide variety of styles, and you can definitely see the diversity in this collection. The pieces all come from the museums Northwest collection and many of them were handpicked by renowned portrait artist Storm Tharp.
You will be mesmerized by the themes and styles of portraiture used in this collection, which includes a number of self-portraits by the artists as well.
Museums On Us: Free Museum Admission This Weekend
OMSI by Another Believer is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bank of Americas Museums On Us program lets customers visit Portland museums for free the first weekend of the month.
More than 220 museums and attractions participate in the Bank of America free museum days in cities across the United States. In Portland, were lucky enough to have three of the best museums in the city participate in this program.
Here are all the dates for 2022, participation details and a list of participating locations in and around Portland.
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About A Chat With Portland Museum Of Art
What services does your business offer and what makes your business stand out from the competition?With an extensive collection and nationally renowned exhibitions, the Portland Museum of Art is the cultural heart of Portland, Maine. The PMA boasts significant holdings of American, European, and contemporary art, as well as iconic works from Mainehighlighting the rich artistic tradition of the state and its artists. The museum brings it all to life with unparalleled programming. From special members-only events, Free School Tours, and a commitment to family activities to PMA Films, curator talks, and exclusive tours of the Winslow Homer Studioits all happening at the PMA.
Portland Art Museum Campus And History
First organized in 1892, the museums first exhibition was a set of magnificent plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculpture, now displayed in the upper hall of the citys library. In 1932, the museum moved into the primary building, designed by Pietro Belluschi: a gracious contemporary update of the Georgian style, sleek-lined and advanced in its ideas. The museums renovation of the Masonic Temple to its immediate north added more exhibition and office space to the campus in 2005.
Belluschis original design was ahead of its time. It was airy and admitted natural light into the museums galleries, especially the court beyond the entryway, and the visitor today experiences that grand space as a sort of surprise, given the museums relative scale. More wings were added, first to house the Pacific Northwest College of Art, then known as the Museum Art School , and then a warren of smaller galleries. The old Masonic Temple has become the Jubitz Center of Modern and Contemporary Art, though its old, ornate meeting rooms have been retained.
On the lower level sits the Whitsell Auditorium, a part of the Museums history for the past fifty years. Formally Northwest Film Center, now PAM CUT , the theater screens art films and has programming that supports local and international storytelling in all immersive formats.
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How To Reach Portland Art Museum
- Central Library Light Rail Station
- SW Salmon & 10th bus stop
Love this? Explore the entire list of places to visit in Portland before you plan your trip.
Fancy a good night’s sleep after a tiring day? Check out where to stay in Portland and book an accommodation of your choice.
- Portland Art Museum Address: 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205, United States
- Portland Art Museum Contact Number: +1-5032262811
- Portland Art Museum Timing: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Portland Art Museum Price: 20 USD
- Best time to visit Portland Art Museum: 11:00 am – 01:00 pm
- Time required to visit Portland Art Museum: 02:00 Hrs
- Try the best online travel planner to plan your travel itinerary!
Top Ways To Experience Portland Museum Of Art And Nearby Attractions
Outstanding museum for Maine with art interest for nearly everyone.Beautiful Museum and a wide-ranging collection.Lovely little art museumEnd the COVID closures!Go see the Remington – Homer exhibitPicassos in Maine Bigger than it looks, with unexpected treasuresThoughtful, special exhibitionsworth a visit
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Admission Is Free For Pma Members$18 Adults
With an extensive collection and nationally renowned exhibitions, the Portland Museum of Art , is the cultural heart of Portland, Maine. The PMA boasts significant holdings of American, European, and contemporary art, as well as iconic works from Mainehighlighting the rich artistic tradition of the state and its artists. The museum brings it all to life with unparalleled programming. From special members-only events, free school tours, and a commitment to family activities, to PMA Movies, curator talks, and exclusive tours of the Winslow Homer Studioits all happening at the PMA.
Portland Art Museum: Tickets & Tours
- Default Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
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Underground Hallway Between Buildings
The Portland Art Museums unusual configuration requires crossing below the ground level to go between the main building and the Jubitz Center. While it might be tempting to use this short stroll as a time to check your phone, the museum fills this corridor with rotating modern art thats worth setting aside some time to appreciate. The hallway is also home to the Portland Art Museums 300-seat theater, which PAM Cut uses to screen art films and other cinematic works.
How To Get To Portland Art Museum
Portland Art Museum is very accessible if you are already in the city. If you take the bus, it is just a 4 to 5-minute walk from several bus stations, including SW Salmon & Park East, SW Jefferson & Broadway West, SW 6th& Columbia, SW 6th& Main, and a few more. There are 20 different bus lines that can take you to these stations so getting there is no problem at all.
If you are traveling straight to the museum from the Portland Airport, the best way is to take the tram.
Travel time is about 46 minutes and the fare is $3. You can also take the bus if you dont mind transfers, as there is no direct route. The entire bus trip will take approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes.
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Does The Portland Museum Of Art Offer Tours
The museum usually offers guided tours that usually last about an hour, but these are temporarily on hold. You can go on a self-guided tour though, which can be much better because you have full control over which section you want to see and how long you will stay in each section.
It can take days for you to really enjoy an in-depth experience of the entirety of the Portland Art Museum. With thousands of works of art divided into several sections, you will definitely have to come back multiple times to really soak in the beauty of the artworks on display. But if you just have one day or a few hours to spend, it would be good to know which parts of the museum you should go to first.
Current Exhibition Ticket Types
General Admission Ticket: Includes access to the museum. These tickets are valid for the whole day. General Admission is separate from Symbiosis.
Symbiosis Ticket: Symbiosis experience requires an advanced ticket and takes place at PAMCUT 934 SW Salmon Street.
The Portland Art Museum recognizes and honors the Indigenous peoples of this region on whose ancestral lands the museum now stands.
Portland Art Museum
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Apex: Sharita Towne & A Black Art Ecology Of Portland
Sharita Towne is known as an extremely talented trans-disciplinary artist, and called by many as the true grandchild of the Great Migration. One of Portlands great prides, Towne is passionate about Black history, geography, and opportunities, and her work showcases this.
The APEX exhibit features collaborations among the finest artists in the community, such as the Nat Turner Project, the Northwest Black Comedy Festival, the Albina Vision Trust, and many more.
Gift Shop At The Portland Art Museum
The Museum Store is on the first floor of the main building, and doesnt require a ticket to visit. Its filled with books, scarves, plates, jewelry, and pretty much any other keepsake from the collection.On the fourth floor, Numz Bodega offers clothing and other items from BIPOC artists featured in the Aux/Mute gallery. Admission is required to access the bodega.
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Miller Family Free Day
Enjoy free admission all day in celebration of the Portland Art Museums 130th birthday! Visit special exhibitions Dakota Modern: The Art of Oscar Howe and Jeffrey Gibsons They Come From Fire and To Name An Other. Free admission tickets can be reserved online beginning Wednesday, December 7th. Tickets will be available for walk-in visitors on Sunday, December 11th.
Check out the Fantastical Fogtown Faire from 11am-4pm in the Stevens Room. Fogtown creators will be there for a screening of Fogtown and other Hapstance film projects as well as a virtual production demonstration, a photo booth, and more!
Annually, 1/3 of all visitors enjoy the Museum for free or receive admission at highly reduced prices.
Since 2008, the Museums quarterly Miller Family Free Days have welcomed the community to visit for free and enjoy special exhibitions and programming.
Other options available year-round include free admission for children 17 and under, plus more here: Admission Access Programs
Major Exhibitions Complement The Museums Strong Native American And Northwest Collections
Museum tickets can be purchased in advance online or in person.There are several current exhibits in addition to the museums permanent collection please check with the Portland Art Museum website for up-to-date information.
The Portland Art Museum is the largest art museum in Oregon and one of the oldest in the country. Located in two historic buildings on Portlands South Park Blocks, the museum is central to the citys cultural district and houses a large and wide-ranging art collection.
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We Want To Provide The Best Pma Experience Possible
Congress Square is under construction, but the PMA IS OPEN! We recommend parking on Spring Street and walking up the stairs behind the PMA, through the parking lot, and turning left to reach the entrance. Congress Square, and High, Free, and Congress streets are currently under a multi-year redevelopment and construction project run by the City of Portland.
This project is causing disruptions to traffic patterns and pedestrian accessibility. The PMA remains open during regular hours, but care and advance planning should be taken to navigate the changing landscape around the museum. Learn more about this project here.
If you need assistance accessing the museum, please call us at .
Making A Mark: Contemporary Drawings
This exhibit features the drawings of 23 artists that use very diverse styles and techniques in their work. Now belonging to the Portland Art Museum, the drawings used to be part of the collection of Werner H. and Sally Kramarsky, and includes works by Arnold Kemp, William Anastasi, Allyson Strafella, Marco Maggi, and Joan Waltemath.
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Amazing Opportunities For Local Artists
One of the truly wonderful things about the Portland Art Museum is its unwavering support for local talent.
Aside from regularly featuring the works of famous Portland artists, the museum also encourages new artists to develop and showcase their skills through the Rental Sales Gallery. All Portlanders who have a flair for the arts and want to pursue a career as an artist are invited to join as member artists of the gallery.
The Rental Sales Gallery currently represents over 200 local artists using all kinds of mediums. Each year, they host a Spring Show and a Fall Show, where the works of member artists are displayed and may be purchased by the public.
They also hold a Summer Show every two years, where the highlight is the work of new artists. If you happen to be in Portland in time for these fabulous shows, you can get to experience fresh art and even purchase one or two pieces to take home with you.
Hito Steyerl: This Is The Future
Stott Gallery
This is the Future, by the film and new media artist Hito Steyerl, explores a vibrant, imagined garden through an immersive environment of video projection, sculpture, and an augmented reality experience. Steyerl is one of the foremost artists offering critical reflections on the complexities of the digital world, global capitalism, and the implications of artificial intelligence for society, which is explored in this exhibition.
Hito Steyerl: This is the Future is curated by Sara Krajewski, The Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Supported in part by the Contemporary Art Council of the Portland Art Museum and Exhibition Series Sponsors.
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Color Line: Black Excellence On The World Stage
More than a century ago, civil rights activist and historian W.E.B. Du Bois presented an extraordinary representation of the life of African Americans in the form of a photo exhibit at the 1900 International Exposition.
The show displayed over 300 remarkable photographs of African-Americans in various aspects of life back in the time when racial segregation was very common.
Selected pieces from this original exhibit are now featured at the Portland Art Museum. Ironically, despite having been taken more than 100 years ago, these same pictures are still very much reflective of our society in the present day. Viewing this exhibit is quite eye-opening to history and to what is still going on in the world today.
Otis Quaicoe: Kin Deep
Since Otis Quaicoes move from Accra, Ghana, to Portland in 2017, his figural paintings have adjusted and shifted in congruence with a heightened cultural awareness of his relocated body. As he looked at Blackness and race in American society from the perspective of an African immigrant, Quaicoe became more interested in depicting the nuances of skin tone that emerge in velvety grayscale.
In common with artists like Robert Pruitt and Amy Sherald, Quaicoes models are real people with whom he finds connections. This small body of work reflects Quaicoes interest in these individuals through portraits, studying not only the skin but the colors and expressions of identity through clothing. Quaicoes paintings offer rich, impasto textures in backgrounds and skies that reflect the stucco walls of traditional Ghanaian homes.
Man in Red Beret and Invisible both reflect the ease of the subjects and the playful fashion expressions while the different contours of the skin provide a sculptural presence. In the untitled drawings of the two women, expression and individuality are illustrated through their dramatic hairstyles. For Quaicoe, Ouncie Mitchell is the artists representation of a real and imagined Black cowboy, set against the vast blue where the crown of the cowboy hat nearly fades into the bright sky.
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