The Baltimore Museum of Art, called the BMA by locals, is one of my favorite art museums in the world. It's not a huge museum, but what it lacks in size it makes up in collections. The BMA consists of several permanent galleries, including the famous Matisse-packed Cone Collection, an impressive furniture and decorative arts wing, and jewelry and miniature collection, in addition to one large traveling exhibits gallery. The changing exhibits are almost always blockbuster, with recent shows being the Ballet Russe, Impressionists, and Turner's Watercolors and Guash. There's also a huge section of modern and abstract art; while it's not my favorite, it's quite impressive in scale and scope. There's also an outdoor sculpture garden, indoor courtyard, theater, exceptional café, and a fantastic gift shop. Hopkins students used to be able to get in free if they showed their student ID. Programming is plentiful here, so be alert for fantastic evening performances, family art workshops, and gallery talks.
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