American Visionary Art Museum — Attraction in Baltimore

Explore Baltimore - American Visionary Art Museum 800 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21230 Open ⋅ Closes 5 PM (410) 244-1900

JOHN CULVER Untitled Low Res.jpg What is Visionary Art?

Like love, you know it when you see it. But here's the longer definition, straight out of our Mission Statement

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“Visionary art as defined for the purposes of the American Visionary Art Museum refers to art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself.”

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In short, visionary art begins by listening to the inner voices of the soul, and often may not even be thought of as 'art' by its creator.

​ What is Art?

The ancients—the Greeks, Egyptians, Hopis, and the New Guinea tribesmen— were among earth’s most prolific art-making peoples. Yet, none had any word for “art” in their respective languages. Rather, they each had a word that meant “well made” or “beautifully performed.” Our American Visionary Art Museum believes that this view of what art really means is as perfect an understanding of art as ever was. It speaks to an art incumbent upon all its citizens, pervasive throughout all the arts of our daily life. Its emphasis is on process and consciousness, not mere artifact.

Martin Luther King, Jr. expressed his profound respect for the true artistry each member of a society can uniquely evidence to bless our communities, “If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the Hosts of Heaven and earth would pause to say: ‘Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his...

A Captivating Gem in Our Glittering Neighborhood!

We are thrilled to have the Visionary Arts Museum as our neighbor. Situated across from our entrance, we have the pleasure to admire this remarkable museum and indescribable charm within our beautiful neighborhood each time we look outside.

The Visionary Arts Museum truly lives up to its name by showcasing some of the most unique and thought-provoking art pieces I have ever encountered. From the moment you step inside, you are transported into a world of imagination, creativity, and wonder. The museum's commitment to supporting innovative and visionary artists is evident in every corner.

One of the most striking aspects of this museum is its glittering building, which not only catches the eye but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for everyone passing by. It's stunning to witness the interplay of colors and shapes that it reflects. The way the museum complements the surroundings is truly marvelous, creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of our neighborhood.

We truly appreciate the positive influence that the museum has on Baltimore's tourism and events. Its stunning architecture coupled with the awe-inspiring modern art collection creates an enchanting atmosphere that you won't...

For starters you can go to their gift shop called the “side show” for free and support those artists. Normally gift shops are steep, but this one is not that way. Everything is priced really fairly and has been curated over many decades.

I spent about 2hrs at the museum. The museum two buildings, the round mosaic building has 4 floors of art. When I was there it was mixed media. The second building (which you get to by walking through the outdoor sculpture garden) has kinetic art, which means it moves! It has three floors, the third one lets you go into this cool birds nest balcony. There is a lot of attention to detail and cohesion, jam packing art even into the bathrooms or elevators. The stair railings incorporate the cast metal look tree branches and organically bent metal tubing that cohesively can be found if you look closely in the benches, outdoor sculptures, and door handles across the multiple buildings. This is not just celebrating art but showing by example how it can be incorporated into mundane furnishings. Next to highlight the platform and investment this museum put into the children of the community from displaying art to having the mosaics projects that adorn the building involve them. Highly recommend...