Harvard Art Museums brings three collections together at 32 Quincy St in Cambridge, just outside Boston. The Fogg Museum covers Western art from the Middle Ages to today; the Busch-Reisinger focuses on northern and central Europe, especially German-speaking countries; and the Arthur M. Sackler holds Asian, Islamic and other collections. Look for works by Picasso, Renoir and Van Gogh, alongside Greek sculpture, painted pottery and art from across Asia. Admission is free, and a café, lockers and accessible facilities make it easy to plan a longer visit.
Three collections under one roof
Harvard Art Museums brings together the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Their collections cover different regions and periods, so a visit can move from Western paintings to works from Asia and northern Europe without leaving the building.
The Fogg focuses on Western art from the Middle Ages to the present. Its holdings include paintings, sculpture, photography, prints and drawings, with collections of European and American art. Italian Renaissance painting, British Pre-Raphaelite art, 19th-century French works, and Impressionist and post-Impressionist pieces are among the areas represented.
The Busch-Reisinger is devoted to art from northern and central Europe, with a particular emphasis on German-speaking countries. Its collection includes German Expressionist works, material connected to the Bauhaus and postwar contemporary art from German-speaking Europe.
The Arthur M. Sackler Museum focuses on Asian, Islamic and other collections, including ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern art. Greek sculpture and painted pottery are among the works visitors can encounter. Together, the three museums span many centuries and cultures.
The building and its collections
The museums were brought together in a building redesigned by architect Renzo Piano. The expanded museum opened in 2014, placing the three collections around a historic atrium beneath a glass roof. The building combines a brick exterior with a bright central space, giving visitors a point of orientation as they move among the galleries.
The collections contain more than 250,000 works, ranging from ancient objects to modern and contemporary art. Highlights named in the collections include paintings by Picasso, Renoir and Van Gogh, alongside works by Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock. The museum also displays sculpture, decorative arts and objects from ancient cultures. Exhibitions change, so the works on view can differ from one visit to another.
The three museums have distinct histories. The Fogg opened in the 1890s, followed by the Busch-Reisinger in the early 20th century. The Arthur M. Sackler Museum was established later. Their collections were integrated into one institution in 1983 and brought together in the renovated building decades later.
Planning your visit
The museum is at 32 Quincy St in Cambridge. Admission is free, and the galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday. Set aside at least 1.5 to 2 hours if you want time for a broad look through the collections. With so much art across different periods and regions, it helps to choose a few areas that interest you rather than trying to give every gallery the same amount of time.
Free bag lockers are available by the entrance. The building also has water bottle refill stations, restrooms, a café and a gift shop. Wheelchair-accessible entrances, elevators and restrooms are listed among its facilities. Check the museum website before your visit for current exhibition and access information.
Perguntas frequentes
Is admission to Harvard Art Museums free?
Yes. Admission is free for all visitors.
How long should I plan for a visit?
Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough look through the museum.
What are the three museums inside?
The Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum.
Where are Harvard Art Museums?
They are at 32 Quincy St in Cambridge, just outside Boston.
