The Cone Collection, the core of the museum's modern art holdings, was donated by sisters Etta and Claribel Cone, who were close friends of Matisse.
The museum's sculpture garden features a large-scale piece by Alexander Calder titled 'The Baltimore Album'.
The collection includes works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent van Gogh.
The BMA's African art collection is one of the most comprehensive in the United States, featuring over 2,000 objects from across the continent.
The museum building underwent a major expansion in the 1980s designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Bower Lewis Thrower.
The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is a premier fine arts institution housing over 95,000 objects. It is globally recognized for holding the world's largest public collection of works by Henri Matisse. The museum's holdings span from the 19th century to the contemporary era, with significant focus on American, European, African, and Asian art. The building is centered around a Neoclassical structure designed by architect John Russell Pope. The BMA features the expansive Sculpture Garden, which contains dozens of works situated across nearly three acres of woodland. Its permanent collections include extensive holdings of Old Master paintings and prints. The museum serves as a cultural hub for the mid-Atlantic region, emphasizing diversity and modern narrative through rotating exhibitions.
The Gertrude's Chesapeake Kitchen terrace overlooking the outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Download the museum's digital guide before arriving to access deeper context on permanent galleries.
Prioritize the Cone Collection galleries, as they are the museum's most distinct feature.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the combination of gallery space and the outdoor sculpture garden covers significant ground.
Attempting to see the entire collection in a single visit; focus on two or three specific wings to avoid fatigue.
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Maintain a respectful volume; photography is permitted for personal use without flash or tripods; do not touch the artwork.