Farnsworth Art Museum — Attraction in Rockland

Children are unwelcome here.

Other than the wonderfully kind woman who sold us tickets at the door, this was the least child-friendly museum I have ever visited.

There was no effort made to engage children either in the signage or in hand-outs.

The security guards hovered around my family and I believe they were communicating to "warn" each other because we were stared down every time we entered a new gallery. We are not inexperienced museum visitors and I have never felt so unwelcome.

Honestly, I wish the staff would have just asked us to leave and given us a refund; it would have been less stressful for all involved.

The collection itself is fine (all the most famous Wyeth pieces are elsewhere, of course). There was an attempt to include indigenous perspectives and modern artists, but ultimately it relies entirely on its Wyeth collection, which relies entirely the viewer already being fan (which some would say I am) because it is displayed without clear thematic or narrative principle.

As an alternative, allow me to suggest visitors enjoy the galleries on Main Street for free and read "A Piece of the World" by Cristina Baker Kline for a pleasant day of art in Maine connections.

Upon leaving my 8 yo, who happens to keep a collection of brochures from the MET, Scottish National Galleries, etc for her own inspiration, literally commented, "huh, you would think if they want more artists in Maine they would try to encourage kids to find art."

Agreed,...

It is always a pleasure to (re)visit this museum, located in the heart of downtown Rockland. The museum staff were very accommodating of my party, which included children less than practiced in attending art museums. A note: Guests in wheelchairs who want to access the "back" galleries--closer to Main Street--need to ask staff to access a second elevator--there were some tense moments as I brought my family up and down the main elevator (there were six choices, none of them the right one); I think the only other option, to bypass the service elevator, may be to physically leave the museum and go around the sidewalk to the Main Street entrance (keeping on one's museum sticker, of course, to regain entry).

In regards to the collection: I had visited a year ago and was surprised to see, today, so many different paintings on display, so it seems that they rotate the works fairly frequently--so don't count on necessarily finding old favorites, but you may find new ones. I was pleasantly surprised by Lynne Drexler's works, having read about her recent secondary-market success. Her vivid works seem like a stew of Pollock with Van Gogh, Monet, and Klimt liberally mixed in, but all so harmoniously--the colors vibrate on the walls quite pleasingly.

I do wish the Marsden Hartley exhibition were larger, but all the works were deserving and I did...

The Farnsworth Art Museum is a true treasure in the heart of Rockland, Maine. It offers a rich and intimate look at American art, with a special focus on artists connected to Maine. The Wyeth: Every Leaf & Twig exhibit was beautifully curated—quiet, reflective, and deeply moving. I was also impressed by the Louise Nevelson gallery on the sixth floor, a powerful space that showcases her work with striking elegance.

The museum may not be large, but it more than makes up for it with the quality and depth of its collections. It’s well worth the visit, whether you’re a dedicated art lover or simply exploring the coast of Maine. A world-class experience without the crowds of the big city—highly...