The Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is an art museum and exhibition space located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The Museum of Modern Art in Boston was established in 1936. It has gone under numerous name changes and relocated its galleries and support spaces 13 times since then. Its present site was completed in 2006 in the South Boston Seaport District, where it was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro architects.

History

The ICA was founded as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936 by a group of Boston citizens eager to bring the latest in European and American art to New England. Initially housed in rented space in the John Hancock Tower, the museum moved several times over the next two decades before settling into its first permanent home, a converted factory building on Newbury Street in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. In its early years, the museum organized groundbreaking exhibitions of work by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, as well as major shows devoted to Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and other contemporary movements.

Today, the ICA is considered one of the most forward-thinking museums in America. The museum’s commitment to showcasing the work of emerging artists has resulted in a number of first-ever solo exhibitions for artists such as Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, and Matthew Barney. The ICA has also been instrumental in launching the careers of many Boston-based artists, including Mark Rothko, who had his first solo museum show at the ICA in 1953.

Collection and Exhibits

The ICA’s collection includes more than 5,000 works of art, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs, prints, and installations. Highlights from the collection include works by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Cindy Sherman. The ICA also has a strong commitment to exhibiting the work of emerging artists, and has mounted solo shows for such artists as Kara Walker, Matthew Ritchie, and Sarah Sze.

The ICA’s exhibitions are housed in two buildings: the historic 17th-century Euston House on Newbury Street, and the new ICA Watershed facility in the Seaport District. The ICA Watershed is a 43,000-square-foot exhibition space that was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro architects. The ICA Watershed is also home to the ICA’s education and public programs, which include hands-on art-making workshops, performances, films, and discussions.

How To Visit

The ICA is located at 25 Harbor Shore Drive in the Seaport District of Boston. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, and admission is free for all visitors. The ICA also offers a variety of public programs, including tours, workshops, performances, and films.

Information provided by United Property Restoration Services.