We Love Museums! Discover the Best Spots Local to Our Staff and Contributors

National Museum of Art in Mexico City

Jimena Escoto | Author

The National Museum of Art in Mexico City is commonly known as MUNAL. It is one of the first art museums that I visited and it continues to amaze me every time I go back. The building is a work of art itself and holds masterpieces from Mexico’s greatest artists since colonial times. Therefore, if you like more traditional art, like me, this is the place to go. However, it also holds international collections on the first floor, many of which include modern and contemporary art.

Saint-Gaudens National Historic Park, Cornish, New Hampshire, US

Kathie Manthorne | Author

One of my favorite museum-going experiences is visiting American artists’ historic homes and studios. Those of Frederic Church, Winslow Homer, and Georgia O’Keeffe have fortunately been preserved and offer insights into their paintings in relation to the scenery they gazed upon every day. My first artist house excursion was to the Augustus Saint-Gaudens site in beautiful Cornish, New Hampshire, where he created some of his most famous statues and lived a charmed life befitting the most sought-after sculptor of the Gilded Age. After touring the impressive mansion and hay-barn-turned-studio, I remember strolling the grounds and coming upon full-size bronze casts of some of his most famous works including his Abraham Lincoln and the Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first African American unit to fight for the Union during the Civil War. Alongside these impressive public monuments is the Adams Memorial, commissioned by historian Henry Adams to commemorate his wife, the photographer Marion (Clover) Hooper Adams. The hooded figure Saint-Gaudens created is so mysterious and moving, I was compelled to pause in silent contemplation.

Design Museum Holon, Israel

Kate Wojtczak | Editor-in-Chief

If you are in Israel and looking for a museum off the beaten track, visit the Design Museum in Holon near Tel Aviv. The building itself is very interesting. The museum’s collection is quite young but dynamic and evolving, focused on historical and contemporary Israeli design. Currently in the museum, there’s a fascinating temporary exhibit on food. The broad subject was taken both as an artistic inspiration and a technological problem. Thus the exhibition includes artworks, design objects, as well as exciting inventions which may soon become a part of everyday life. Among others, there’s an installation by one of the most successful Israeli artists, Sigalit Landau. The Food exhibition is on until 21 October 2023, check out their website for current events and exhibitions.

Château de Versailles

James W Singer | Author

I never tire of visiting the Château de Versailles. Every time I explore its interiors and gardens, I always discover something new, interesting, and beautiful. It represents 150 years of the finest French artistic creativity from the 1630s to the 1780s. It fuses spectacular architecture, dramatic landscaping, majestic sculptures, opulent paintings, and luxurious decorative arts into a showpiece of stately sophistication. I love reading about its famous former residents, like Marie Antoinette, and then view their portraits, admire their furniture, and walk in their footsteps. Sometimes, when I’m in a room alone with my thoughts and the surrounding beauty, I can feel the distance of time shrink and I am transported to another era. The Château de Versailles is my meditative time machine. It allows me to connect with the past, reflect upon the present, and desire for the future. The Château de Versailles is inspirational art, inspirational art is feeling alive, and feeling alive is achieving happiness.

The Huntington

Maya M Tola | Author

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is an enthralling cultural haven contained within a sprawling estate of over 200 acres in Southern California. The former residence of Henry E. Huntington features several galleries and collections from around the world as well as several temporary exhibitions of international acclaim. It also features 16 themed gardens that would take weeks or longer to truly appreciate. My favorite part about visiting Huntington is the harmonious symbiosis of art and nature. Although I probably visit the estate at least once a month if not more, I find myself enthralled by something different each time.

Detroit Institute of Arts

Natalia Iacobelli | Author

Detroit is known as the automotive capital of the world, but did you know that the city’s art museum is among the top six in the United States? The Detroit Institute of Arts is home to thousands of works of art, among them Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes, Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s The Wedding Dance, and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait, the first of his paintings to enter a U.S. museum collection. It’s also home to the famous Rivera Courtyard. (Fun fact—Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo lived across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts for a year while the Mexican muralist was at work.) Suffice it to say, there’s always something new to be discovered at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Museum of Art and Municipal Art Gallery in Łódź, Poland

Martyna Topolska | Intern

It was a challenge to choose only one place in the region that I adore, so I would like to recommend an entire city that is filled with artistic spirit – industrial Łodź. In particular, I have to mention the Museum of Art in Łódź with its Neoplastic Room in MS1 and MS2 which preserves the pearls of 20 and 21st-century art. Additionally, only a few minutes’ walk away is the Municipal Art Gallery, located in a beautiful Art Nouveau villa, with outstanding events and exhibitions.

Berardo Museum in Lisbon

Tommy Thiange | Author

My fascination with art, particularly painting, began about ten years ago. I visited Lisbon frequently at the time and that’s how I came across the Berardo collection. This museum is located in the Belem neighborhood, beside the Tagus River. There, I shared my thoughts with artists who are still on my mind today: Henri Michaux, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Max Ernst, and Francis Bacon… 

Most of the time, I was lucky enough to visit this place in the middle of the week, outside of the tourist season; the rooms were frequently empty, and the paintings were there just for me. The setting was ideal for contemplation. After that, my dreamy mood and I went for a walk along the river, guided by the smell of grilled fish waiting for me on a terrace. 

Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland

Louisa Mahoney | Author

Maine, America’s easternmost state, has long been a home for artists. Its wild, rocky coast, dense pine forests, and hardworking people have provided inspiration for Rockwell Kent, Dahlov Ipcar, Alex Katz, Marsden Hartley, Louise Nevelson, and Winslow Homer, among many others. I am proud to be from such a beautiful place and to see its beauty reflected in art. My favorite museum in Maine, the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, demonstrates the artistic importance the state has had over the years. Rockland is a small city known as the “lobster capital of the world”. After having a lobster roll in the harbor, stop by the Farnsworth Museum to see its incredible collection of American art, including many works by Maine artists or artists visiting Maine. I especially love the paintings by the Wyeth family: N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth. Their work is a celebration of a creative life lived in harmony with nature.

National Museum of Bargello in Florence

Carlotta Mazzoli | Author

Being a medievalist, my favorite museum in Florence has to be the Bargello Museum. One of the most underrated museums in the city, Bargello is not specifically dedicated to Medieval art, but its severe architecture and Gothic elements are somehow refreshing and unexpected for the birthplace of the Renaissance. 

The museum is in the oldest public building in Florence and is built around a courtyard decorated with coats of arms and a central well. The collection is nothing short of amazing. It is primarily dedicated to sculptures from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, with rooms dedicated to masters such as Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, and Della Robbia. There are also collections of ivories, ceramics, medallions, and textiles pieces from the same period. The Bargello Museum is a true chest of treasures and an incredible portal to another time.

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest, Romania

Ruxi Rusu | Author

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest stands out as a unique art museum in Romania. Referred to as MARe, it houses not only the only permanent contemporary art collection in Romania but is also an interesting architectural gem.

I derive great pleasure from visiting this museum due to its warm and inviting atmosphere. Its collections are varied, showcasing many renowned and maybe lesser-known (but equally as fascinating!) Romanian and international artists, such as Ștefan Bertalan and Thomas Ruff. The museum also offers access to a unique library full of art history books that are not easily accessible elsewhere and, periodically, organizes art workshops. 

Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK

Catriona Miller | Author

Kettle’s Yard is more than a gallery: it’s an experience. For Jim Ede, an art lover, collector, and curator, it was home for 25 years, and that’s what it still feels like today. There are flowers in vases, fruit in bowls, and potted plants on window ledges. It’s cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. I first went on a school trip, at about age nine, and was amazed that you could sit in the chairs, captivated by spirals of pebbles and weird collections of objects. Later I went for the art, mainly British abstraction but the gallery is full of surprises and augmented by eclectic temporary exhibitions. Now I keep going back for the mood. It really feels like a home away from home.

MOMA Machynlleth, Wales

Candy Bedworth | Author

The Museum Of Modern Art in Machynlleth, Mid-Wales has seven beautiful art galleries and a concert hall in a converted chapel. They promote Welsh and international arts and host cultural events. A large proportion of exhibitions are dedicated to 20th and 21st artists living in Wales, and some work is for sale. Even if you can’t get to our wonderful part of Wales, the full collection is available to view online.

York Art Gallery, York, UK

Ania Kaczyńska | Senior Editor 

York Art Gallery is a cultural gem nestled in the heart of the historic city of York. As a recent graduate from the University of York, I developed a close relationship with this museum during my studies. The gallery’s diverse collection of art spanning various periods and genres offers a captivating journey through artistic expression. From its impressive displays of classical and contemporary artworks to thought-provoking exhibitions, York Art Gallery fosters a vibrant and inclusive space for art appreciation and cultural engagement. The gallery also houses one of my most beloved paintings of all time—Male Nude, with Arms Up-Stretched by William Etty.

Museum of Modern Art, Warsaw, Poland

Szymon Jocek | Social Media Manager & Assistant Editor

When thinking about the most interesting museums in my country, the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej, MSN) always comes to mind. It is a very dynamic institution. Since its creation, MSN has put a strong mark on Warsaw’s cultural map, displaying thought-provoking exhibitions, often uncompromisingly dealing with heated social issues, and presenting some of the best up-and-coming (or well-established) Polish contemporary artists. After years of turbulent efforts, the construction of the museum’s main building (at the very center of Warsaw, near the Palace of Culture and Science) is currently close to completion. It will finally allow the presentation of the permanent collection. Until then, visitors can explore temporary exhibitions in a pavilion located on the picturesque Vistula bank (Museum over Vistula), which is also a perfect leisure spot during the summer!