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The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston has been presenting exhibitions of cutting edge art for more than 75 years. Located by the water in Boston's Seaport District, the ICA is close to Boston's cruise terminal as well as many hotels and tourist attractions.
The ICA began life as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936. It regarded itself as the “renegade offspring of the Museum of Modern Art” in New York City. The two museums cooperated for a time but in 1948, the ICA severed all official ties to MOMA and was renamed the “Boston Institute of Modern Art.” Seven years later, it changed its name to the Institute of Contemporary Art because the term “modern” had come to refer to a specific style of art. The museum preferred the word “contemporary” because it encompassed all art being produced at the time. Since its founding, the ICA has held many cutting edge exhibitions of contemporary art. This has included exhibitions of artists such as Gauguin, Braque, Picasso, Munch and Warhol who were innovative contemporary artists at the time of the exhibitions but who have gone on to become established legends of the art world. At the same time, the ICA has hosted events by performing artists. Over the years, the ICA has had many homes. Its first exhibitions were held in space provided by Harvard University's Fogg Museum and Busch-Reisinger Museum. In 1937, the ICA obtained its own galleries on Newbury Street. However, it moved more than a dozen times after that. The ICA moved to its current location on Fan Pier in the South Boston Seaport District in 2006. Designed by the architectural firm Diller Scofigio + Renfro, this 65,000 sq. ft. building was purpose-built as an art museum. A controversial structure, the building has received critical praise and negative criticism. The glass walls on one side provide panoramic views of the harbor. However, its opposite side essentially turns its back on the city. In addition to column-free galleries with movable walls, the new building features a theater, a digital media center and a bookstore. It has allowed ICA to increase the size and scope of its exhibitions and programs. Also in 2006, the museum began to assemble a permanent collection. For more information about visiting, see the ICA Boston website. For more about visiting Boston
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Places to see art - - Boston - United States - - Institute of Contemporary Art