A local institution since the 1990s, the Museum of Bad Art is dedicated to showing off the worst works of art around. Though it took a hit during the pandemic and had to temporarily close its doors, it reopend at Dorchester Brewing Company in 2022. This once-hidden wonder now adorns the walls of the taproom, gameroom, stairwell and even the exterior of a walk-in refrigerator at the in-house kitchen, M&M BBQ, with fantastic art fails for folks to appreciate. With a permanent collection of more than 900 pieces, the non-profit stewards of the Museum of Bad Art display about 60 works at DBCo. at any given moment. Open whenever the taproom is pouring pints, this museum gives everyone the opportunity to cherish its selection of subpar oeuvres.
It’s not surprising that the Boston area has so many museums: it offers so much history simply because it was among the earliest Colonial settlements. From there, due to a wealthy merchant class, it became a hotspot during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s and, in turn, wealth created work for many craftspeople. Also, because of its learned status as the Athens of America, it also produced great thinkers and artists. So, there is much to preserve for posterity and, thankfully, wonderful niche museums present art and artifacts, mostly with a hyper-local focus. Once you’ve visited the best museums in Boston, check these places out. If viewing art is more your thing, check out the best art galleries and other places to see art in Boston.
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