Baltimore Museum of Art — Attraction in Baltimore

The contemplative figure in the modernist painting—draped in coral and blue, positioned before a mirror—embodies the audacious spirit that built the Baltimore Museum of Art into an unlikely powerhouse of 20th-century art.

Founded in 1914 with a single painting, the BMA now houses 95,000 works, anchored by the internationally renowned Cone Collection. This treasure trove exists because two unmarried Victorian sisters made one of art history's boldest bets.

Claribel and Etta Cone began collecting in 1898 to decorate their Baltimore parlor, but by 1906 they were visiting Henri Matisse's Paris studio. Matisse fondly called them "my two Baltimore ladies," and their relationship was so close he once sketched Etta.

The sisters' courage was extraordinary. When Matisse's "Blue Nude" was burned in effigy by shocked Chicago art students in 1913, Claribel calmly purchased it. Their apartments became legendary—"art just floor to ceiling, wall to wall"—with Claribel eventually renting a second apartment devoted entirely to "her museum."

Perhaps most dramatically, Claribel's will threatened to send the collection elsewhere unless "the spirit of appreciation for modern art in Baltimore became improved." Baltimore passed the test. When Etta died in 1949, she bequeathed over 3,000 pieces to the museum.

Today the BMA holds more than 1,000 Matisse works—the world's largest public collection. The neoclassical building, designed by John Russell Pope in 1929, was his first museum commission and launched his career designing the National Gallery and Jefferson Memorial.

What distinguishes this institution is its democratic spirit. Admission has been free since 2006, honoring the founding belief that art access is integral to civic life. The museum's contemporary edge shows in unexpected places: filmmaker John Waters has bequeathed his provocative collection here, requesting his name appear not on a gallery but on the gender-neutral restrooms because "nobody's done that."

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 9 p.m. Thursdays), the museum allows photography and sketching. Visitors consistently praise the thoughtful curation and spacious galleries, though $12 parking can sting.

The Cone sisters transformed Baltimore into an epicenter of modern art through sheer audacity and impeccable taste. Their legacy—revolutionary vision democratically shared—continues in every gallery, making this Maryland's most vital cultural...

I visited the BMA for the first time for the Joan Mitchell retrospective last week. This was an experience I did not know would be possible in my lifetime. There were many people in attendance of this beautiful retrospective and I felt truly immersed. Until one gallery.

Two sections of the exhibit contained paintings that had never been displayed and were not permitted to be photographed. There were no obvious signs indicating this restriction. I took out my camera to take a picture and heard someone yelling "Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am," and heavy footsteps walking towards me. I was not aware I was the "ma'am," in question until a gallery host was directly behind me. They informed me I was not allowed to take pictures of the painting. I was not offended by the request, but I was offended and in shock at the approach.

I am not a woman. I am not a man. I am a nonbinary person who uses they/them pronouns. When the gallery host was yelling "Ma'am," naturally all the other patrons in the gallery turned their heads to watch. It was humiliating.

I can't really describe how painful it is to be misgendered. But I think the BMA has an inkling of the effects it has on a person because of their bathroom sign on the first floor that encourages patrons to use whatever bathroom makes them feel most comfortable. This gender-inclusive sign set the bar high for me. However, this experience with the gallery host shattered those expectations.

The gendered language used, as well as the yelling and physical approach is inappropriate. It completely removed me from something that was meant to be intimate, beautiful, and welcoming. It was so upsetting I had to leave the show sooner than planned.

My spouse is a gallery host at a museum local to us. When I told them of my experience, they were just as shocked. They were surprised to hear a museum at the scale of the BMA enables gendered language and yelling in galleries - especially when people have paid and traveled to be there.

I don't know what else to say other than I have never wanted to leave a museum...

The Pros: The Baltimore Museum of Art is so lovely, awesome and amazing in every way. It's free to enter and has vast art collections. I appreciated the fact that everyone must wear a mask in the museum. This helped me to feel safe. I really appreciated seeing Joan Mitchell's works of art/exhibition today. I learned so much about her life and her work.

The Cons: I've frequented an inordinate amount of museums across the country, and the world, but I noticed that this museum had "a lot" of museum security guards - like several to a room. I understand the need to be sure that the work of art is protected, but it would be really nice that the guards not be seen walking back and forth so much. When I visit other art museums, it feels like the guards remain in one place and do not obstruct the view of the visitors or seem intrusive. They should simply exist to monitor the work of art, or help a visitor when requested.

My only other disappointment is that I felt light-headed at one point during my visit and wanted to get a small snack or bite to eat. I was not able to find a snack anywhere. I went to Gertrude's and as previously referenced in a prior review, it felt like the employees were racist/arrogant. I was literally, looked down at by the staff as well as ignored instead of greeted when approaching the host stand. I understand that Gertrude's is a separate entity of the museum, but, if other reviewers/visitors are commenting on this topic, why isn't something done to ensure a more equitable restaurant is in the museum, one that respects all races and backgrounds. It appears this issue is the result of not just one employee, but the "culture" of this restaurant - two employees looked at me and partner and went on to ignore our presence.

In light of this, I think at the least, it would be really nice if BMA sold even a small simple snack in the gift shop for times...