The Pendleton House, part of the museum complex, was modeled after a late 18th-century Providence mansion to display the Charles L. Pendleton collection of colonial furniture.
The museum's costume and textile collection contains approximately 30,000 items, spanning over 3,000 years of global textile history.
It holds one of the largest collections of Japanese prints in the United States.
The museum was founded in 1877 as a component of the Rhode Island School of Design's original charter.
The collection features an authentic 12th-century Buddha, one of the most prominent pieces of Asian art in the museum.
The museum incorporates a series of interconnected buildings, including the complex Radeke Building, designed by William T. Aldrich.
The RISD Museum, affiliated with the Rhode Island School of Design, houses a collection of over 100,000 objects ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary art. The facility connects several buildings, including the historic Pendleton House, which was the first wing in the United States built specifically to display decorative arts in a domestic setting. Notable holdings include an extensive costume and textile collection, significant 19th-century French paintings, and a wide array of Asian art. The museum serves as both a public institution and an active pedagogical resource for design students. Visitors navigate multiple levels featuring diverse media, including photography, prints, and sculpture. The museum complex utilizes a blend of modern exhibition spaces and preserved 19th-century architecture.
The central light-filled atrium that connects the various wings of the museum.
Check the museum's online calendar for rotating exhibitions, as only a fraction of the 100,000-piece collection is on display at once.
Explore the Pendleton House area specifically to see how historical decorative arts are contextualized in domestic-style galleries.
Visit the dedicated design and print study rooms if you are interested in deep-diving into specific archives.
Trying to see the entire 100,000-piece collection in one visit, which is physically impossible as most items are held in storage.
Closed on Mondays and major holidays.
Large bags and backpacks must be checked; photography for personal use is permitted without flash.
