Milwaukee Art Museum Reviews

4.7

4 of 374 Best Attractions in Milwaukee


Reviews

Get Arty & Get Great Food

By Jeff L |

MAM is hands down so special to the city. It welcomes everyone with WINGS that spread up, giving everyone a HELLO as you enter this spectacular architectural wonder. * I truly advise that is you want to eat lunch here, you need/have to/can't miss Cafe Calatrava - the views in this hidden away gem of a restaurant are A+ of the Lake. The food is probably the best cafe food in the city, I don't know the team behind these creations, but they need a raise! : ) WOW - our lunch was awesome, great little wine list, wonderful dessert. Don't miss! All while looking out over the panoramic lake shore directly in front of you. The museum is a wonder to see and explore. This is a win win win to visit/eat and don't miss the MAM gift store, super creative items for everyone! Get arty! (and if you drive and can get a parking spot under the MAM, it is the cleanest, best heated, most organized, well lit public garage on the planet!!)

Beautiful site for a private reception

By Cathy P |

Attended a private cocktail reception at this facility. Beautiful structure, open and airy. Limited seating. Restrooms downstairs accessible via steep stairways or glass elevator at the very front of the building...and a LONG walk.

Outstanding exhibits, so-so cafe

By Athena P |

We went on a Saturday morning right when it opened and had the top floor almost to ourselves for 1/2 an hour. So many great pieces! Very inspiring and beautiful collection. Loved the glass displays especially. Highly recommend. It is a bit expensive but we felt a good value for visitors. If I lived there or were to go back I'd get a membership. Had a quick sandwich at the cafe because we were pressed for time. The menu was limited the items came up short in taste and value. Would not recommend spending the money here as there are so many other places to eat in the city.

Love this place!

By MychelleLovesTravel |

Beautiful place with rooms and rooms of art from all eras. Frequently has special exhibits! We make it a point to visit when we are in M-Town.

Beautiful Museum

By Spartanm |

Beautiful Museum, everyone should see it. The location is an easy one from any hotel in the downtown area.

A beautiful museum on the lakefront

By mjvs |

This is a gem. Especially since the Calatrava design was added. It's beautiful inside and out. The docent we had was phenomenal.

A revelation. Great museum in a spectacular setting.

By RonL40 |

We did a day trip on the train from Chicago to visit the museum. The building is spectacular, an architectural marvel. Loved the family day that was going on when we were there... clearly the administration of the museum wants this place to be for the people. Hundreds of kids doing art, enjoying crafts, having fun at the museum. In the museum itself, we didn't know what to expect and we were astounded by the depth of the collection, especially in German expressionism, the Ashcan School, and the op art galleries. Loved it! Thank you for your vision and your dedication to the arts, Milwaukee!!!

Gem on the shore of Lake Michigan

By Inga I |

Loved it from the outside and inside. Such interesting architecture. I found some really good pieces of art that I never saw in any books. Great museum not expensive To enter. And a little bit of everything for anyone inside. Lovely day spent there. Will be back for sure.

Museum

By Dina E |

The museum offered free entrance during COVID-19 while keeping visitors and employees safe. While the top floors were closed, they moved pieces down. Very nice exhibits and beautiful building.

Great collection of art in a dynamic building with great views of Lake Michigan

By George B |

Have taken many trips to this museum to wander the collection. They have recently re-organized the interior making wandering about more enjoyable with more wall space for more art. Have had really good visiting collections the last few years with a variety of mediums from photography to oils

Bouguereau & America exhibit now at museum

By Monica58860 |

What a treat since we haven’t been here in awhile. The newest exhibit was well done. Loved all the info given regarding the buyer history of each painting. Parking was conveniently located below the museum but come early to get a space. We went on the first Thursday free admission. Great way to see a great museum on a Great Lake

The building is worth the visit.

By AnnArborite46 |

This building is so interesting, even the parking structure is unusual. On top of that, they have some art, but the building really stole the show.

Great Place to Impress Out of Town Guests

By fritsche_philip |

We always take out of town guests and friends to MAM - the permanent and traveling/featured exhibits are always impressive. A huge attraction is the Calatrava designed wing.

Milwaukee Must Visit

By Wayne M |

You have to visit this remarkable place if you visit Milwaukee. The building is stunning enough for the visit alone. But the collection is great and well laid out. Plenty to see and enjoy, highlighted by a great modern art collection.

Beautiful building

By Pittsburgh_cyclist |

It’s definitely worth visiting the Art Museum to experience Calatrava’s amazing building but the art collection is unexceptional. The older paintings are by second-tier European artists and the modern works are variable in quality. The strongest part of the collection is the late 20th Century, with very good works by Lichtenstein, Warhol and Duane Hanson.

Great Museum, Amazing Architecture

By FloatingRock |

This museum fits right at home along the lakefront and walking trails. The architecture is amazing and the collection itself is also very varied, though not all of it is open right now due to COVID. The The staff inside were great and from what we could see of the areas closed off, there is lots to explore. If you can, make sure to check the times that the "Wings" are open so to see it in a whole new light. It is definitely one of the better museums I have visited.

Wow!

By Brigade1234 |

So, this art museum is fantastic! We happened to be on our trip during the Meijer free Thursday, so admission was free. That really sweetened the whole deal. They have some fabulous pieces of art, a wonderful group of video installations, and it couldn’t have a prettier view of the lake!

Great variety of things to see, beautiful building

By Laura L |

Much bigger than it appears, this museum offers plenty of content and admission price (a somewhat hefty $19) includes special exhibits. The museum seems to lean slightly towards more modern art, but there is a good mix of classical and modern inside. While I understood the mezzanine concept, the first and second floors were more sophisticated. The architecture and views are great, though - it’s worth stepping inside even if you don’t walk around the exhibits. I spent 2 hours here and could’ve spent at least one more just walking about.

Gorgeous museum

By Kim k |

Really beautiful museum with a lot of wonderful exhibits. Near the water and a convenient location in town for first time visitors.

Art Museum

By Nancy Z |

Living in Chicago, we have access to many world-renowned museums. The Milwaukee Art Museum may not house the breadth of pieces as Chicago, but the location, building, setting and installations are beautiful. My husband, who is not a big art museum fan, said he actually enjoyed it! :-)

World Class Museum with Beautiful "Wings"

By CarolS-T |

So many great aspects of this museum!
First of all it is easy to get to and there is a parking garage directly across the street. When you get there, take the stairs along the outside of the parking garage up to the landing. That is the perfect spot to watch the wings on the building open (yes the "wings" move) up at 10:00 AM, weather permitting, and at other times of the day. Music plays as well. Cross the pedestrian bridge from there to go directly to the building.
There are works by well known artists: Norman Rockwell, Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Gilbert Stuart, Roy Lichtenstein, Alexander Calder and more. I found their map of the museum helpful as it pointed out works not to be missed.
I would say I have a slightly above average knowledge of art and we were able to walk the museum in just over 2 hours. There was folk art, photography, and furniture galleries that we didn't visit.
We grabbed a quick lunch and were able to eat outdoors overlooking Lake Michigan.
Every single employee was so friendly and helpful. They were wonderful!
Definitely worth visiting!

Beautiful!

By goodlife72 |

The building itself is a work of art! Great views of Lake Michigan! Art is nicely displayed and a large variety. Parking across the street. We spent about 2 hours in the museum. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Good museum in a beautiful setting.

By BillyJeff |

Nice rounded collection. Light on antiquities, if I recall. Good on modern and contemporary art, plus early American and the usual European artists.

Milwaukee Art Museum

By Norene W |

Spent several hours with my mom and sisters here. Went with the guided tour and it was worth it! Extremely interesting and knowledgeable person gave the tour and after that we stayed another 2 hours. Nice size museum, has great variety while not being overwhelming like the Met in NYC.

Phenomenal

By Claude F |

This iconic structure is itself, a brilliant art work. Inside there is a great collection of art, contemporary and classical, but the building is the star. Located in a park setting on the shore of Lake Michigan, it is a perfect place to spend some time and immerse yourself in art. Happy trails.

I have n been here several times.always a great visit

By sana5000 |

This is a beautiful art museum, inside and out.Very dramatic looking and a wonderful and diverse collection.I will always visit it when I am in beautiful Milwaukee

impressive

By Francesca |

such an impressive museum! the architecture of the building is beautiful too. i'll definitely be back next time i'm in town

Beautiful art museum with great collection of art

By Meander32003447244 |

This beautiful museum has a very interesting collection of art. We enjoyed the amazing architectural design. It's definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful setting

By Kenoshashopper42 |

Gorgeous building on Milwaukee’s lakefront that is an iconic work of art in itself. Intriguing exhibits of ancient to modern art with traditional pieces to some rather bizarre displays. Always worth the price of admission for our family.

Irish Fest 2019

By Brian Ó Conchubhair |

Excellent collection and incredible building design. Great staff. This is a hidden gem and a must-see for anyone visiting the city.

Americans in Spain and The Quilts of Pauline Parker

By illinois travelere |

Very much enjoyed two of the featured, limited-time exhibits -- Americans in
Spain and the Quilts of Pauline Parker.

Wind censors prevented the Burke Brise Soleil (wings) from operating while we were there. We had some interesting conversations with other out-of-towners whilst we waiting hopefully on the bridge for the wings to open and close.

Kohls is sponsoring lakeside summer art activities. Easels, watercolours, brushes, and water were set up at stations for visitors' use. I came home with a watercolour which I promptly cut into four sections and embellished to make souvenir postcards. Kudos to Kohls for also underwriting kids' admissions for the under 12s.

Parking was a tad expensive.

Lunch was also a bit pricey, but in the range of other museums I've eaten at lately.

All in all, I suggest you try to visit before October 3 if you want to see Americans in Spain: Painting and Travel, 1820 - 1920; and before December 5 if you want to see the Pauline Parker exhibit.

Impressive

By Terry S |

Located on the city lakefront, this museum provides a modern and comfortable setting. The exhibits are laid out in a spacious manner where it’s visitors can view them with no impediments.

Beautiful

By Adrienne B |

Beautiful museum and an amazing location. Seeing Lake Michigan from the inside was awesome. I could spend days looking around here. A must visit when in Milwaukee

Wings of Heaven

By Teresa K |

Whether the wings of the elegant Calatrava designed wing of the MMA are open or closed, the view of the lake is unsurpassed. While the collection is not extensive, there are some highlights worth the trip, plus one of the nicest gift shops of many museum visited (although book selection is tiny). Have fun seeing the wings open and shut at various times of the day.

Great museum for a day visit

By Betty K |

Spent the day here with grandkids. They have an art studio for children with various projects they can do. Very nice staff to help the kids.
The museum has a good selection of art including a nice range from contemporary to European and American. The museum is well laid out and easy to navigate the various collections.
The building itself is stunning and beautifully designed.
A day trip is worth it. Will visit again.

Milwaukee Art Museum -- Wonderful!

By Sean Fuerstenberg |

The Milwaukee Art Museum is very well taken care of and beautiful!. It is great for all ages! Sean Fuerstenberg Milwaukee Wisconsin

Stunning building. Sewage water for hot chocolatew

By A9768HRgregorys |

The building is the big draw. 3 Profiles of cross dressing favorites of Henry III was fascinating to find in Wisconsin of all places. Do NOT order the hot chocolate in the East End cafe unless you like drinking muddy water or the like. Unconscionable that such a museum could serve such garbage. What a disconnect

Well worth the money!

By KittyChick |

We visited today not knowing exactly what to expect based on only the first floor being open for viewing. We wondered if there would be enough to see, but I am happy to report that after 2.5 hours we still had more to see! Also, we arrived ready with our mobile phones charged for the free audio commentary on certain pieces. This really made our trip more meaningful, and we highly recommend taking advantage of this FREE enhancement. Please visit this museum, it was worth every penny of the $19/pp entry fee (and it’s important to support the arts during this challenging time!)

Amazing architecture

By Joanne M |

Amazing architecture enjoyed from the outside before even entering to see the artworks.
Loved the contemporary floor. Each area was well defined and you found something interesting around every little corner right through the gallery. It also has an amazing carpark - very architectural as well.

Great collection, Great Venue

By Activetravelerdc |

Really loved this museum. It has a very diverse collection ranging from modern to impressionists, including German work, folk art, furniture, European classics, and modern glass. Great venue on the banks of Lake Michigan.

I loved the "wings"

By Barbara S |

The Milwaukee Art Museum must be seen. The building itself is spectacular with an unusual architectural animated feature. We watched the "wings" open and close. Just loved it, inside and out.

Wow!! This is a gorgeous building!!

By Tracey R |

Just the entry is enough to amaze me! The art work was an added bonus. I took so many photos of the building, I can’t count. So much to see. If I lived here, I’d be here constantly!

Great Displays!

By Betty |

We enjoy the many art displays here. There are paintings, sculptures, furnitures, and historical pieces on display. We stayed until closing time and went outside to view the building's mechanical wing closing.

Awesome building!

By Donna S |

Cool art museum located right on the lake. Engaging exhibits with a nice mix of old world and contemporary art pieces. The views of the lake from the building itself are also pretty impressive. My husband and I spent several hours here and didn’t see everything.

Milwaukee architectural symbol

By BrakiWorldTraveler |

While Harley Davidson and many terrific craft beers are Milwaukee's trademarks, this museum is for sure its architectural landmark.
Beautiful and easy recognizable Calatrava's design I admired all over Spain and South America now adorns Milwaukee lakeside - terrific building and great art inside.

Beautiful building

By Firefanne |

We were in Milwaukee for the long weekend, and walked from our hotel downtown to the Betty Brinn children's museum and then to Discovery World (we stopped for lunch in the cafe in the Milwaukee Art Museum in between, which was a lovely spot for lunch and the only place to get real food on the winter Saturday we were in this area). It was a full but easy, fun, and good day.

The building is absolutely beautiful. The bridge to walk across the road towards the museum is cool. We took the elevator down to the sidewalk and saw the button cafe floor, so we went to the cafe. The cafe is very cool looking, big rounded windows facing the lakefront path and the lake.

The seating is cozy and intimate in a comfortable way that was acceptable with a little kid.

Food was good. Real ingredients. We're vegetarians leaning vegan, so unplanned meals out aren't always so great.

The atrium of the building is very cool.

It's worth stopping in here for a coffee/snack and a look in the atrium even if you don't visit the art museum itself!

Don't miss the beautiful white building that looks like a fluttering swan on the lakeside

By karapon |

This museum stands on the banks of Lake Michigan.
The first thing to see at this museum is a captivatingly beautiful building designed by a famous Spanish architect, said to have swans or to have imitated an elegant ship.
The wide variety of works on display made it a little different from a town museum in a provincial city, but it was a museum worth seeing.
A 30-minute walk from Amtrak’s Intermodal Station, the city’s beautiful streets are a great place to take a leisurely look.
I visited it while I was in Chicago, and it was well worth visiting.

Great museum, nice inside and out.

By travelingenigma |

This is a very nice space, we enjoyed our time. Took about 2.5 hours to peruse all of it. The lobby is simply breathtaking. We we're lucky and happened to go for free due to First Thursday sponsored by Meijer.

Great Museum, Beautiful Location / Building

By lexiivancamp |

My boyfriend and I visited the museum on a rainy day and loved it as the art is beautiful and very diverse. Additionally, the building is truly beautiful and is located right off Lake Michigan. Another benefits are there are little cafes facing the lake - it was great to take a break and sit and relax with the views!

Little Getaway with Dad

By Linda B |

My dad enjoys Art Museum so we stopped here. Parking & directions to get in were a bit tricky, but we figured it out. It was different than we thought, they have a lot of non traditional art. The classic art section was good, they have a lot of neat pieces and the laminated cards on various pieces contain a lot of great information on the pieces. It is a very large building, so allow plenty of time

Visit this Calatrava masterpiece during the annual Lakefront Art Festival in June

By aogk |

One of Milwaukee's architectural claims to fame is the world renowned Calatrava. A site not to be missed from the outside, the inside exhibits are wonderful as well. And don't miss the view of Lake Michigan from inside that was the choice of the American Idol producers/hosts during their Milwaukee auditions.

Do not miss the opening of the spectacular "wings" when the museum opens at 10:00a.m. and watch them flap at noon. (which is a good time to allow for your tour of the changing exhibits and permanent collection)

Other unique times for are during happy hour Thursdays and last Friday of the month MAM After Dark, featuring themes, music, dancing, special cocktails, and a lot of fun in a unique cultural environment.

Wide variety of art

By familytraveler812 |

Very wide variety of art. Something for everyone. Building itself is fascinating as well as the fancy underground parking.

ok to take a look

By ELKW |

the appearance of the Art museum is special, there is admission fee which is quite expensive, but if you can get some free ticket or you go to on a free day, it's good, there is flower show every spring, but due to COVID, the one at this year's spring is canceled. And there are some family Sundays, which has some extra art activities for people to do, there is also a kohl's center for people to do art, however, due to COVID, all are closed and canceled. The last time we came there was in early March just a few days before the shut down of the city.

Inspiring! Beauty on the waterfront!

By jllohrky |

First Thursday of the month is Free Admission!
I was in town for Summerfest so made this part of the trip. You can't help admire the beauty of this building as you drive into Milwaukee, stroll the waterfront, walk down Wisconsin Ave. This museum is spectacular both outside and inside.

Walk across the bridge from the plaza to the entrance. Enjoy the grand expanse of space as you enter. The view straight ahead to the water is amazing!! But I delayed my run to the glass prow when I saw the Chihuly art glass sculpture on my right!! I LOVE CHIHULY and could have spent the day right there admiring this beauty. However, the art galleries did not disappoint and I found several pieces in each gallery that were amazing. I do not know art so I will not provide any insightful descriptions - but there is something for everyone in the museum.

Side note - I have passed by this building for years and this is my first time in - I had no idea what the inside was like, the entry (the prow) is stunning, and then down the hall to the left are all these galleries which are almost invisible from the downtown/west entrance.

Be sure to sit out on the water and enjoy the day and walk the waterfront behind the museum for a different view of the building. Cafe and restaurant in the museum are waterside for a nice break.

Diverse and extensive collection

By Paul G |

We enjoyed our visit to this art museum. The building itself is a work of art, and the large chiluli piece in the entrance is a great way to welcome visitors.
The temporary exhibit was well laid out and interesting. The permanent exhibit very broad and with surprising depth. The link to the German heritage of the area was thoughtful and nicely done.
All up a worthwhile visit, and no surprise it is one of the top things to do in Milwaukee.

World Class Art

By Lori S |

This Museum is fantastic, tons of beautiful art and a MOST impressive and unique design. Well worth a visit!!

Time your visit to see the building "wings" flap open and close -- what a sight!

By MichaelTheWanderer |

The museum itself is a piece of art. It has an eclectic collection. We also enjoyed the special exhibition for Idris Kahn, Repeat After Me. That is included in the cost of the museum ticket.

HINT #1: The exterior wings of the museum actually operate. Yes, they open and close. You have three opportunities to see the wings operate:
1. Opening time, when the wings open
2. Noon, when the wings flap (close and reopen)
3. Closing time, when the wings close

Read about it on the museum website, searching for Burke Brise Soleil. There are also videos showing this online, but it is best to see in person. You can view from inside or outside. We think it is more impressive to view from the outside.

HINT #2: While you are in the area, also walk next door to see the Milwaukee War Memorial. There is no charge, it is also a piece of architecture history (like the Art Museum), and it is worth a brief visit.

not our favorite art museum by a long shot

By Lorna B. |

This museum is housed in a stunning-looking building (we did not see the wings open); there is a convenient underground parking garage with an elevator up to the museum. When we decided to visit this museum, I was mostly interested in seeing their decorative arts collection; this was nice but not that extensive. We enjoyed the special exhibit called “Contained” featuring beautifully crafted furniture by Charles Radtze that incorporates multiple woods in each piece. We also liked the glassware that was exhibited along the windows of the long hall leading to the main galleries. In all, we spent about 1.5 to 2 hours walking through all the galleries; most of the artwork here was not very impressive to us. I am so glad that we had free admission through our NARM and ROAM memberships, considering how underwhelming our visit was. (We recently visited the art museums in Toledo and Ann Arbor, which were much better, and they both had free admission.) I am very surprised at this museum’s high ranking at TripAdvisor.

Wonderful art museum on the shores of Lake Michigan

By David P |

Wonderful museum on the shores of Lake Michigan. Large collection of art from old works to new works. The Bradley Collection of Modern Art is a fine collection of Modern Art owned by the Bradley Family. Museum is organized in a good way, easy to walk from exhibit to exhibit. Something for all art lovers to enjoy. Plus it is nice that you can go outside and enjoy Lake Michigan

Architecture is unique

By lesliebauman |

Great museum. Lots of different sections and it's quite large so pick your favorites. Didn't get through the entire museum but really enjoyed the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit, Picasso, Grant wood, Klee and Kandinsky as well as lesser known local artists. Amazing architecture.

Surprisingly nice

By Catherine B |

I was pleasantly surprised by the scope of this museum. They have a little bit of everything from Warhol to the Dutch masters.

Art in Bloom

By Tootsie T |

Gorgeous! Beautiful building and setting. Absolutely loved the art and flowers. Highly recommended adding this in to your visit to Milwaukee.

Such a fun and classy museum

By TravelPrincess69 |

So much to see! Pro tip: start on the top floor and work your way down.

There are Georgia O’keefes, Richters, Buttons, Chihulys, Warhol’s, and oh so much more. You won’t be disappointed.

All about the architecture

By alexisrachelletx |

One of our first stops in Milwaukee this past weekend was the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's definitely not large, but it has an interesting collection. I particularly enjoyed their Contemporary Art and Folk and Self-Taught Art collections! But the highlight of the museum is definitely the building itself. One of the buildings (the War Memorial Center) was designed by Eero Saarinen, and the famous part of the building - the Quadracci Pavilion - was designed by Santiago Calatrava. Both buildings are beautiful. It's worth visiting, but the $19 admission is pricey given the museum's size and collection!

Wonderful gem!

By Lara S |

Highly recommended for good reason. Exceptional staff and experience. Beautiful and fantastic collections.

Mesmerizing!

By JuliannaMarie |

Such a great museum filled with beautiful works of art. Could've easily spent the whole day here admiring the many different pieces on display. The building itself is stunning, and the artwork inside is breathtaking.

Best museum experience for learning and outstanding setting.

By Dr. Gemutlich |

What an unexpected surprise! Outstanding experience. The surrounding area is pristine and walkable - beautiful place to have lunch on the water (Delicious fresh brie and ham sandwich with salad and cup of homemade tomato soup for $12.00).

Museum spacious, attractive and organized - four floors of varied art. The best part was the specific selection with educational features. Each section of art included the history of the era and how it influenced the artist(s). Each object of art/painting had explanatory analysis (on line audio available via app)

All employees were refreshing, articulate, knowledgable and seriously interested in making my visit memorable.

Retractable roof not functioning the day of my visit - did not detract from my experience. I visited from Chicago - this was a better experience than Chicago for the individual or family.

Bravo to Milwaukee.

New exhibit

By Lura G |

Fantastic museum with interesting special exhibits. Always enjoy seeing the modern art, too. The restaurant downstairs is excellent, BTW.

Spectacular

By Ian G |

What a spectacular building. Just seeing from the outside was worth the trip. The exhibits inside are well curated and a joy to walk around. I had expected a little more from the Georgia O’Keefe section.

Come see the Bouguereau & America special exhibit

By Ride2fast4u |

Great art museum right on Lake Michigan. Outstanding permanent collection. The special exhibition, Bouguereau & America, runs through May 12, 2019.

It’s well worth a visit! Outstanding!

Stunning Calatrava Addition

By Bill L |

I am sure the collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum is wonderful, but I came to see the Calatrava addition. Having seen other works by this architect and pictures of this one, I had an idea what I was going to see. But this design was much better than expected, perhaps because it is smaller in scale than his other designs in Spain and elsewhere. The symmetry of the wings both from the outside and inside are and not overpowering or too dramatic and the repetition of patterns are elegant. Definite must see for those interested in architecture.

Incredible

By Kay M |

We are museum fans, and this is one of the best we have ever been in, and we have been in A LOT. We only put enough $ in the meter for an hour and a half which we thought would more than cover it. Wrong. We saw enough, but we were unable to read as much as we wanted. It was very well organized and had something for everyone. The top floor was South American, Native American (Native to the area) and African exhibits that were very thorough. We also saw the history of Milwaukee set up like an old town with its European roots well recognized, the typical dinosaur and wild animal displays but also birds, bugs, flora/fauna and a wonderful Rain Forest exhibit, including facts about climate change, etc, that lets YOU decide. It was definitely thought-provoking. There was so much more, but we just saw the highlights.

Milwaukee Art Museum

By Linda B |

Unique architecture. I would recommend talking to the guide at the entrance to the actual museum about what you like. There is so much to see that I picked out specific rooms and exhibitions rather than attempt to see the whole museum. Make sure to be at the museum when the "wings' move! It is fascinating! It took about five minutes or so to close, then another five or so to open - not much time out of your day but a unique experience.

Good first visit

By tmazionsmith |

This was my #1 reason to visit Milwaukee. I knew they had a piece by Dale Chihuly, and I wanted to find that. I also knew I’d explore some other areas, depending on how much time I had. It was hard to get to the museum at the time, as due to recent snow and ice, many paths were closed that are in the park leading to the bridge that goes across to the museum. The inside of the building is super modern, which was a surprise to me, as I’m used to older museums. It was well-designed, so I found my way pretty easily. Overall, a good visit.

Fabulous Museum with a Wide Range of Art

By Fred K |

This beautiful Santiago Calatrava designed art museum is an architectural work of art and a famous Milwaukee landmark. The art ranges from classical to contemporary with some beautiful collections from various donors as well as traveling exhibits. Their annual art festival is always a highlight. They also have very enjoyable activity rooms to engage children and encourage their creativity. If you plan to visit there multiple time, I encourage you to buy a reasonably priced membership..

Such a great museum!

By drallen2014 |

This is always a required stop when we are in Milwaukee! They have a great Georgia O’Keefe collection for a Midwest museum. Love the location & the architecture of the building.

Saturday Wedding

By Jeff |

Had my sister in laws wedding here on a Saturday. It was nicely yet simply decorated. It's too white overall for my tastes but it is bright and well lit. The staff was very friendly. Bathrooms were large and clean. It's more than big enough. Very good food and prompt staff. Overall a nice wedding venue.

Great time.

By Pedro |

Was a great time, saw a lot of different art and pieces of art work. Very interesting and very unique to this area of the world.

Fabulous architecture

By Claredumontier |

You must visit this beautiful building. the "wings" of the museum go up and down at specified hours. The lobby is gorgeous. We didn't have time to tour but I have previously and it is great.

A must visit!!

By Genevieve K |

The Art Museum is almost back to full force and it is as extraordinary as ever. The first weekend in April was the Art in Bloom which was all sold out for 2022 but DEFINITELY worth putting on your calendar for 2023. It is just SO delightful at that time of year and the creativity of ALL the florists is worth the price of the ticket. Cafe Calatrava is a little scaled back with only sandwiches, salad or soup but it's still the best view in the city and our lunch was excellent - the specialty coffees and teas really enhanced our meal choices. I keep coming back and I'm never disappointed.

Great Museum

By Sara R |

This museum is beautiful inside and out. The architecture of the building is stunning. The museum has a great mix of contemporary and classical works. It is well worth the visit.

One Of The Best In The Country

By Jason L |

Amazing museum with a wide array of artists works from around the world. Clean facilities, friendly staff, and amazing architecture make this museum one of the best in the country.

Wonderful.

By Bonnie L |

Had a great time taking in all the sites and art. Right on the lake and beautiful view, would highly recommend.

Milwaukee should be proud!

By Cathy P |

I was on a visit to Milwaukee from New England. To begin with, the architecture of this museum is amazing and has to be seen. The location on Lake Michigan makes the setting beautiful. I thought at the most I would spend a couple hours. At 4 hours I had not seen everything. This is a world class museum and if you have any interest in art, should not be missed.

Wonderful museum

By StudFromLittleRock |

Took grown children and our grand kids. There was something for ALL to see. Right on Lake Michigan, great views and many fine exhibits

Very disapointed

By Babak V |

Beautiful building, empty museum. Not worth visiting at all. We could not believe they charged so much to see very few "works of art". What a waist of a beautiful area/building!

Gorgeous Building

By J M |

I visited the building after a suggestion from my Uber driver. I didn’t have much time as I was visiting on my airport layover. So I can only review the outside and grounds of the building, which were spectacular. The building itself is beautiful both inside and out. You can enter the building without a ticket and just look around at the architecture and out of Lake Michigan. There is a walking path behind the building where people run and just walk along the lake which is really nice.
.

Wonderful Way To Spend a few Hours

By mpharveyco |

We stopped by on 5/28 about 11 for a few hours. I just roamed around each of the three floors. There is a breath taking view of the Lake on every floor. The entrance was amazing and we got some photos along with the colored glass sculpture. The various period pieces are woven together as is the paintings and other types of art from many countries and time periods. For 3 adults it was 57 which is about right. We were there with a couple hundred school kids which was too funny. Look for the suitcase.....it is worth finding.

Wonderful art museum

By Carolyn M |

I took my teenage grandson during a brief visit to Milwaukee from Chicago. This was a real treat. It is supercool outside and inside and I thought the exhibits at the time were excellent and absorbing. It was easy to access and see the art which we did. I would totally recommend!

Great!

By NorthStar791565 |

Very interesting! Really enjoyed the Chihuly glass sculpture. It was beautiful! We have seen several and really liked this particular piece.

Wow!

By Peggy H |

This was my first visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum. I went to see the Art in Bloom display, which was fun and interesting but only a 3-day special. However, since I was there I decided to walk around. Wow! Paintings, photos, furniture, clothing, and more. So many things to see, and so beautifully displayed. Worth the trip just to see the building inside and out... but take in as much as possible. The whole thing is amazing, and I will definitely go again.

Must see

By LizMorton60 |

Stop by even if you are in a hurry, as it is worth your time. The building is gorgeous, and a stop in the lobby is amazing.

Great art works!

By Betty |

They have tons of amazing artworks on displays. The collections are world class. We easily spent 5 hours there. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. The building itself is gorgeous inside and outside.

Tickets are purchased on-line and they are timed admission. We easily received our tickets for the next hour.

Our only disappointment was in the Windhover Hall. It was empty and we had a great opportunity to take a nice picture and then the security guard decided to walk in and purposely stand right in the middle by the windows. He knew what he was doing and kept dancing around (best place should have been to the side and watch people).

Wow

By WellTraveledCurmudgeon |

A destination by itself, the Museum does not disappoint. As for the collection, I enjoyed the mezzanine and upper (2nd) floor far more than the first, as the first is taken up chiefly with modern art that just wasn't my thing. Loved the American crafts, the American and European collections on the 2nd floor, and in particular the range of O'Keefes.

Very lovely tour!

By Bonnie0501 |

The building and grounds are spectacular from a design point. Loved the art work. This is a place for young and old.

Dream

By Dioniz |

Spetial architecture, beautiful position, nice for diferent activities. Realy something what You must ti see

A masterpiece of architecture showing masterpieces of art!

By Jim O |

One of my favorite places to visit to absorb wonderfully varied art collections and traveling exhibits beneath a true iconic masterpiece of architecture by famed international architect Santiago Calatrava...along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. A MUST visit while in Milwaukee! In addition to the art and nice cafe, MAM has a fantastic gift shop with unique pieces...a sélection and inventory that is always changing and updating. A great place for that special gift! And the museum is a great place to immerse yourself into local and world art history. Visit often!

Day trip out of Chicago

By Superspur123 |

World class art on display in the most amazing setting on the lake and housed in one of the most amazing buildings I’ve ever seen!

A Productive Day Enjoying Fine Old Master Paintings And The Bougereau Exhibit In Milwaukee

By margatemensch2016 |

A few days ago,I returned to the Milwaukee Art Museum and I spent a delightful day assiduously studying its fine,but not comprehensive collection of Old Master European paintings from the Late Gothic Period to the 19th Century.Personal favorites were Nardo di Cione;s"Madonna and Christ Child"(Late Gothic Italian),Sophonisba Anguissola's"Portrait of Sister"(Renaissance),Francesco de Zurbaran's"Saint Francis of Assisi",Gerrit Honthorst's"Mars"(Dutch Mannerism),Hendrick Van Vliet's"Old Church in Delft"(Dutch Master),Phillippe de Champaigne's"Moses and the Ten Commandments(French Mannerism),Giovanni Castiglione's"Noah and the Animals",Amadeo Van Loo's"Satyrs",and Francesco Solimena's"Madonna and Child With Saints Sebastian and Januaris".I also enjoyed fine temporary exhibit"Bougereau and America" featuring outstanding Photorealistic paintings by William Adolphe Bougereau including "Homer With His Guide","Rest",and"Nymphs and Satyr".I also like the way,this art museum arranges its works of Art and the excellent curatorial work of its staff.

Fine Architecture at its best

By Alex |

Most people visit an art museum for its collection. For me, the visit to Milwaukee Art Museum was mostly about architecture! The Quadracci Pavilion, designed by Santiago Calatrava is a true gem, and not to be missed on any trip to Milwaukee.

Beautiful architecture!!

By PuzzleSolver855 |

We were delighted when we planned to arrive at 10 to see the "wings" open in against the gorgeous spring sky. The surprise was the background music and the length of time the wings are opening for our pleasure. Once inside, we were further impressed by free tickets for military veterans...thank you! The architecture inside is amazing and the collection is pretty darn good and diverse in style. We planned to spend at least 4 hours with a lunch break. The on-site cafe was the best place I ate in all of Milwaukee. We dined outside enjoying the view and the noon action of the "wings" and not only loved our more upscale food but the wonderful server. I can't recommend this experience enough and then walk along the front side of the lake. Enjoy!

Inspiration on the Lake

By Todd M |

What a fantastic Museum....from exterior to interior, the Santiago Calatrave design captures the imagination before you even get to the museums varied collection of permanent and traveling exhibits. Easily accessible Lake front location boasts views of the city and lake front that are refreshing from any location. Try it...you'll like it!

Just the architecture of the building makes attending worthwhile

By merc122548 |

This is an art museum unto itself. Even the underground parking garage has been labeled "the sexiest garage around!" So saith one of the employees there. :)

Inside are wonderful displays of art from ancient times to the present day. Some of the things on view take you back to when you were a kid (at least in my case) ... things that I had long forgotten about. Really nice. Definitely make it appoint to attend if you are in Milwaukee.

Amazing building

By LC73 |

Great spaces for art. The Santiago Calatrava designed wing is breathtaking. The original building is also a concrete masterpiece of early modernism.

Art for All

By Marlene |

The Milwaukee Art Museum presents a variety of interesting art in an architectural setting that encourages visitors to remain a little longer for the views inside as well outside of the museum structure.

Following me

By Paul john |

Staff made me very uncomfortable. I was followed everywhere from entry to exit I will never recommend this place to anyone

A must see

By haidee826 |

I personally love art museums. If that's the case if you too don't miss out on this one! They have a great selection of contemporary and modern art. The exhibits at the museum are always interesting. It is not extraordinarily big, but it is worth the entrance fee. You can easily spend 2 hours here.

It made me forget it was Winter

By In50by50 |

We approached from the orange asterisk (meant lovingly, really) and took the round elevator down. All these years and I had no idea they had this really odd round elevator.

The current Phillips collection exhibition was very good and very well documented. The main collection is always worth seeing and there are always a few small special exhibits. This time my favorite was the rainbow glass display.

Worth the Visit

By CRAIG C |

This is an unbelievable art museum both inside and out. The wings of the building go out in the morning and come back in when it closes. As for the gallery, it has a great collection of Georgia O’Keefe as well as Sacred Art in Baroque Europe.

The gift shop is very small and doesn’t carry any books worth buying. Plus the lowest level was closed, other than that it was very impressive

Fabulous

By Nancy S |

Well worth the visit. As soon as you walk in the building it takes your breath away. What a magnificent piece of architecture. I enjoyed a leisurely visit through the galleries. So much to see and enjoy.

Disappointed and not happy

By Wendylr |

Our family drove up to Milwaukee for a vacation! Everyone in the family picked what they wanted to see! I wanted to see the wings open and close! After going there at 10:00 and 5:00…I never saw them budge!
My son went in to ask and he got rolled eyes and shrugs!
How can they just change the schedule? I can understand weather but it is a perfect day!
Not a good move to just change a published schedule!
More than disappointed!!!!!!

Fahd hfsksafk

By joe biden |

It was amazing and all the art was awesome. I wish i could go there again.haiflsfda afubcasucvscbgicgukksbdc. Pd cshdisddsfjhdsbfilldsfdlahdflhfisfsgudcuusfhsifsdufkdsjfshdhdfiluhfilshfisdahnsfhd

Milwaukee Art Museum is Beautiful Insdie and Outside

By Jane Z |

The Milwaukee Art Museum has wonderful permanent art exhibits and they do a great job with traveling exhibits and special feature exhibits. They also have a wonderful gift shop and Dining Area. Whether you are visiting or live in the area it is definitely a destination not to miss.

Beautiful building

By livingforthelake |

We've been to some amazing museums however I can't say this was a favorite. Pretty expensive. The building was amazing however my husband and I were not impressed with the exhibits or art on display. We went thru it pretty quickly.

Wonderful collection!

By Paul K |

Honestly one of the best museums in the nation. The structure itself if a beauty. Go visit this treasure.

Such a beautiful building

By Kalvin H |

Milwaukee art museum

Such a beautiful building! Great art inside and outside. Everything is amazing. I would come more often if I lived closer.

Highly recommended

Great Museum, But Needs Audio Tours and Docents

By Jack T |

The museum is architecturally beautiful and easy to reach. The art collections are varied and interesting. A major drawback, however, is that the museum does not offer audio tours. Most museums today provide headphones for visitors to enjoy guided audio commentary. Some paintings had QR codes that allowed you to listen to explanations on your phone, but most did not. It feels outdated to simply look at a painting without understanding its background or meaning.

There were also no docent-led tours available unless you were part of a pre-arranged large group. Once again, most major art museums offer docent-led tours that highlight key works and encourage interaction through questions and discussion.

Save your money and go to Chicago.

By finediner |

Whoever is now curating this museum has done all possible damage short of burning it to the ground. The European collection, once the pride of the institution has been shuttled into fewer than 10 spaces and many, many major works are no longer on display. Paintings are displayed over furniture so they are too far back to see any of the surface qualities in addition to being so poorly lit that there is no where to stand where some part of the picture is not rejecting glare. Pieces that were shown together for context are either dispersed or now in storage?
Why one might ask? In order that a really fourth rate collection of contemporary work, much of it monstrously over-sized can take up more than three quarters of the display space availability.
It's a travesty.

Beautiful Museum inside and out!

By Leenor B |

This place is absolutely beautiful. Especially the building with the wings. Worth the price. this place has art that represents all kinds of artists & times. We were on a time crunch which kind of was a bummer as there is so much to see. We were there about 1.5-2 hours and it still wasn't enough time. We really had to focus on what we wanted to see since there is so much. Friendly staff, nice cafe with outdoor seating overlooking the lake. Well worth it if you have the time to spend, not a quick stop!

Disappointed in Cafe but art was gorgeous

By rxgeorgia |

My husband and I spent a nice afternoon at the beautiful Milwaukee Art Museum. Very impressed with collection overall. If you are interested in modern American art I think you would enjoy. However, we were not as impressed with the gift shop and the cafe. Both are quite small with limited choices and were very crowded. We left to get food and drink elsewhere.

Don't miss it!

By Kathy D |

The architecture, setting and collection are without equal. Wonderful place to enjoy the many treasures within. Be sure to see the lovely things in the gift shop and treats in the restaurant.

Come for the architecture, stay for the works of art

By TampaDocFoodie |

Great museum with a very interesting collection. No better way to spend a rainy weekend day in Milwaukee.

Beautiful location, open spaces, unique combination of art

By David N |

This was a great location and interesting museum. We had sandwiches and at along Lake Michigan with cool breeze. Industrial design and printing exhibits were favorites.

Stunning Beauty Inside and Out

By Lisa S |

The building is a wonder to see against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. Wide variety of art on four flloors but my favorite is the glass work of Dale Chihuly as you enter.Stunning! Great place to visit alone, with children, or adults.

2nd time here-RUDE staff-WHY?

By Diana O |

In terms of building design, this is thus far, our favorite museum. Love the art too.
Here 5 years ago and about half of the exhibits are new, the rest must be more permanent installations. My beef is the the snidely attitude of the staff. During covid, you would think that they would be nice to the limited number of visitors? Really guys, consider smoothing out the attitude. You are open to the public, try to be NICE to them, not treat them like they are a monumental disturbance to your day. Not talking about one altercation, but the over-all negative attitude that was prevalent in many of the employees here-wondering, maybe they are all volunteers, and not paid? Is that a possibility?

afternoon at the musuem

By M.w. C |

the MKE Art Museum buildng is very unique and intersting. the setting on the lake is beautiful. the displays are interesting but the layout made it hard to follow the guide they provided. We specifically wanted to see the Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. We found them with the aid of one of the museum staff. You can easily spend a half a day just walking around enjying the art displays.

Safe and Satisfying - Go now!!

By Genevieve K |

This first class art museum has made every accommodation to keep visitors safe during the pandemic and still have a great experience. While only the first floor is open, they've added some great pieces from the second floor AND I think you'll find that you see the works with a more focused eye because of the limited works. At least, that is what I discovered. Check out their website to get a timed ticket and read about the changes because of COVID19 and I think you'll feel satisfied that they are taking every precaution. This is too wonderful a place to miss. And they've made a audio tour just for this changed experience which I'll definitely download on my next visit.

Stunning

By P4551RNwilliamm |

World class collection. Very strong collection of modern art. The building itself is a wonder. Uses natural light to great effect.

Fantastic venue...LOVE the Folk Art Exhibit...

By WIScarnivore |

Amazing museum, lots to see. Try to attend early on the County free day for the best value. The folk art exhibit was a amazing but even all the Masters and the Modern/Contemporary exhibits were noteworthy. The Folsom Prison exhibit was great as well!

So pretty inside and out

By mymexicaneyes |

This is such a sight to see! Take your time in walking around the spacious area and don't forget to buy a chocolate chip cookie at the museum snack bar! one of the best I've ever had! The museum had some spectacular places to take images of architecture

Pleasant Surprise

By M C |

We visited the Milwaukee Art Museum in May with the family, and we were very pleasantly surprised by not only collections but also extremely nice people who guided us through multiple floors. The first impression of the building outside on the shores of Lake Michigan took our breaths away a bit, and everything that followed was equally great. Due to an interesting mix of collections, it is a great place to visit with children as they will most likely not get bored. Highly recommend it and also strongly suggest venturing outside to walk around beautiful grounds.

Outstanding building.

By Malcolm |

The building is an outstanding architecturely speaking. The museum show itself is not something special and with no logic and order.

I went to art in bloom , my fourth time at this amazing show ,i go every year

By Rebecca B |

I went with my garden club , we had a lovely time and then had a great meal in the lower level.The shopping area for local crafts was a nice bonus.

Wonderful art museum

By Martina O |

The outside of the building is almost out of this world, there are "wings" which deploy making the outside look like a ship in sail, well that's my guess as they didn't because it was too windy!
The museum is right on the lakeshore, quite a beautiful sight.
The entrance takes your breath away and could be seen as an exhibit on it's own!
There is a great mix of modern and ancient art, something to everyone's taste, large rooms for displays of sculptural art and glass cabinets for the more delicate.
We did not manage to see everything during our 3 hour visit.
We did find the art room which is set up for children to make a piece of art, a weather vane was the subject on the day we visited.
We were three adults and loved the museum, not sure if smaller children would enjoy it so much except for the art room.

Beautiful setting

By doug2110 |

Parking was easy. Some of the art was inspired. Some of the contemporary art was questionable if it really was art. Campbell’s soup posters with different tints uninspiring

Good regional museum

By Michael A |

The architecture is everything of course - both the original Saarinen building and the new wing. It's a shame the space in the new wing is a bit wasted, consisting largely of a foyer, two long hallways, and one special exhibition space. I really enjoyed the collection though (but I'm a sucker for modern art and design).

Phillip's Collections

By Eric B |

Very enlightening and wonderfull.

Loved the variety of artists on display. Just seeing our grandson expressions was worth the trip.

Great surprising museum

By Carlos_Gonzalez2013 |

I found this place almost by chance on my visit to Milwaukee and i was not disappointed at all. Impressive building and impressive collection of art!

A stunning architectural vision

By Leigh W |

The MAM was the first place I ever visited in Milwaukee. Its soaring wings against a blue sky are one of my favorite visions of Milwaukee. The permanent collections are impressive and the rotating exhibits always fascinating.

Great Museum; Wonderful Building

By Jim Asher |

WOW! What a setting! Go just to see the building itself — it, too, is a work of art! Loved the glass works, the contemporary art, the American painting, and much more! Lots of O’Keeffe’s for O’Keefe fans — and many other great works by American artists! Alas — no Edward Hoppers, though! ;-)

Gem of a museum

By Louise P |

Great contemporary art collection and all the rooms of all the collection were very well curated. Very nice staff.

Very Nice Art Museum

By DJC7827 |

The architecture and green spaces on the lake are alone worth the visit. The museum has a diverse set of good exhibits with a few standout pieces. Photography gallery was excellent. A highly recommended way to spend half a day in Milwaukee.

A must!!!

By Springtraveler06 |

Superb collections, amazing architecture, worth the admission and time. Highly recommend, even if for an hour.

Free and Unique Experience

By Tricia B |

First Thursday of every month the museum is free for all and stays open longer. Plan ahead and enjoy this unique museum. It sits right on the lake and affords a beautiful view to Lake Michigan. The architecture alone is worth a visit. Nice gift store as well. Great way to spend a few hours.

A lot to See

By Kimberly N |

Visited the museum for the first time with my daughter. Lots to look at and many neat exhibits. I felt a bit overwhelmed after being there for about 2 hours (could honestly spend hours there if you were really motivated), but we enjoyed our visit. Views of waterfront are beautiful.

Do not miss this museum

By Donna D |

This was a great experience. The parking is super easy, the building is amazing and the galleries are diverse and interesting. We saw European classic Christian paintings, secular artwork, modern art, sculptures... you name it! There was also a live DJ and drinks in the atrium, Thursday night is "pay what you want" night and that allows students and large families to take in the art in an affordable manner. The store has so many fantastic gifts, we really enjoyed this stop on our vacation.

Stunning building

By GlobetrotterNL83 |

This building is a must see when in Milwaukee ! Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to explore the art inside the museum, but so glad we came here just to admire the building. What a great design from both the inside and the outside! You can enter the main hall for free , which I would thoroughly recommend as you get beautiful views over the lake and the mobile is cool. The museum shop is also worth a visit as has plenty of lovely gifts on offer.

Sail into the lake?

By Brian S |

I love this building---looking at it, being in it. It evokes the grandeur of sailing by incorporating features that, while not direct copies, nevertheless feel like parts of a ship.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a treasure.

By wfbsg |

The building, designed by Santiago Calatrava is spectacular. The permanent collection focuses mostly on 20th century and contemporary art but also has an excellent early American decorative art collection as well as a wonderful Haitian art collection.

Don’t miss this wonderful museum when you are in Milwaukee!

Excellent afternoon activity

By Jill7890 |

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a great way to spend a free afternoon or midday gap. It is located right on the lake next to downtown MKE. The view is beautiful any time of the year. The museum has an impressive collection, with a variety of genres and time periods. There is always a featured rotating exhibit by the entrance.
Admission is affordable and parking can be found nearby.
It is enough to keep a visitor busy, but the whole museum can be seen in an afternoon if desired.

Wings undergoing maintenance

By Florida |

Wonderful visit to see the newer building (which is amazing and free to tour), permanent art collection, and lakefront views. Unfortunately the wings undergoing maintenance (see video on YouTube).

The special exhibit in the Calatrava building was a bust for us - 5 minute walk through to look at the building, not the art. But the older buildings hold (and display very well) a great selection of traditional art and more accessible modern art.

Must do while in Milwaukee

By Dre |

This museum is one of a kind. I've tried searching for a museum like this all over the world that offers so much variety of art in one museum and I really can't find anything like it. It's such an abstract building with even more beautiful art inside of it. Must see! But don't go on the first thursday of the month unless you want to go in for free and have a million people crowding over you. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an art museum ?

By markmillieramon |

What a unique and beautiful structure has been built on the shore of Lake Michigan. Our neighbors to the north have outdone themselves. It is poetry imagined as steel and glass. As if that wasn't enough the structure animates itself twice daily as it spreads it's wings like a great bird about to take flight. Inside is no less impressive with gleaming white arched hallways and a soaring ribbed ceiling over the dining hall. The galleries are filled with great art, from Renoir to Rodin to a modern sculpture of a man that fooled my wife into thinking it was a custodian resting along a wall. Three floors are curated and walking shoes are a must. Entry is timed for the obvious reason so the huge rooms feel deserted. Picture taking is allowed so bring your camera. When you've seen enough art to make your head explode go outside and enjoy the expansive park setting on the beautiful lake. That by itself is worth the visit.

Milwaukee Art Museum hits & misses

By dsulli |

The Milwaukee Art Museum's Quadracci Pavilion is particularly striking on a blue-skyed, late-August day with Lake Michigan behind it. The parking garage beneath the museum is also very convenient. But upstairs Windhover Hall - the main reception area, reminded me more of a multi-national bank's corporate HQ. Granted, plenty of sunlight came in through the windows, but any warmth we felt in that sterile environment came from the staff - particularly Ryan, who were helpful and welcoming. The museum is justifiably proud of its 25,000 works and we excitedly anticipated seeing Georgia O'Keefe's stuff and agreed we'd also check out Andy Warhol, although we're not fans of much work after 1970 The Warhol works were better. Since art is supposed to provoke a reaction, the museum's gray poured-concrete interior walls (reminiscent of Soviet architecture during Nikita Khrushchev's rule) must qualify. But I'd rather think of art in terms of Pauline Parker. I had never considered quilts anything but crafts. Happily, the Milwaukee Art Museum introduced us to the imaginative and very creative Parker.

Art shrine from the future.

By Masha |

This place looks like if Starfleet Academy happened to house a really spectacular contemporary art collection. So basically, it’s perfect.

I visited on a chilly Saturday and it wasn’t too crowded, which was perfect. It’s a digestible size that feels achievable in a 2-3 hour visit without being rushed or hitting museum burnout. The collection spans many eras and regions, but the contemporary collection is just spectacularly curated and was a huge highlight. Even the museum attendants seemed excited about the collection and eager to engage with visitors about it, which was awesome.

The building itself is a work of art and the views of the lake are superb. Fabulous place to get my art fix on a cold afternoon.

HUGE!

By Bob M |

My wife and I visited the museum a few days ago. The spotlight exhibit was a traveling collection from the Phillips Museum in Washington, DC. It was stunning. I briefly visited the museum a few years back while in Milwaukee for conference. I had no idea of the size of the collection. We spent a full day in the facility and it was wonderful.

Big Surprise in Milwaukee: Great (medium-sized) Museum

By 493Ron |

I was headed to Milwaukee for business and I expected their art museum to be pretty average - wow - was I wrong in my assumption. I am a big architecture fan, so when I drove up to the museum my jaw dropped: this building HAD to be designed by Super-Star Spanish archiect Santiago Calatrava. The building itself is spectacular. The art collection is varied and excellent - I also like that the mseum is not gigantic - one can have a nice, comprehensive visit in 2 or 3 or 4 hours, depending on how fast - or slow - one wants to move. The admission fee is a bit on the high side.

I remember

By Pat G |

Had some time to kill in Milwaukee so I headed to the Art Museum I loved so much on the last trip, but it was closed on a Monday. Still an awesome building to view from the outside.

Unique and beautiful building

By Shaun S |

The building itself is the real star here. It’s absolutely beautiful. Additionally they have some very interesting pieces - actually a very eclectic collection.

When we were there it was only the first floor. As such, only one Georgia O’Keefe piece was on display. That was really disappointing. Keep in mind if you want to see more, they need to have the other floors open.

Disappointed...

By caseymorgan |

It is a unique building right on the water with great architecture, but overall we had a disappointing visit. The actual art was poorly curated and most of the modern art was laughable. We went last Saturday at 11am during beautiful fall weather and the place was almost disserted. Face diapers were required even though everyone is vaccinated and there was tons of social distancing. No one seemed to know why the "wings" didn't flap at noon. Someone in the gift shop said "they use any breeze as an excuse not to work them." It's worth an hour to see the atrium and walk through, but don't expect significant art pieces.

Wonderful Experience

By Sandra F |

Before we entered the museum we were happy to park in the heated parking garage. No need to worry about storing our coats. The museum was beautiful from the time we stepped thru the doors. Enoyed the exhibits and layout.

Wonderful Building

By Lloyd Matthews |

The building reminds me the Sydney Opera House and is nearly as beautiful. Great art works inside but too much modern art for me.

Beautiful building and great art selection

By Andrea D |

The natural light that cascades into this building is gorgeous. Loved the size of the building and the art selection that they have procured. It was the perfect visit.

I've visited teh museum 3 times, every time I've been to MKE. Exhibits are always interesting and enjoyable

By Kathleen B |

Exhibits are always enjoyable, unique, informative, and of good quality. The museum is a jewel in the crown of this city.

Wonderful visit

By Trudy S |

MAM is a beautiful museum, there's so much to see. The Phillips Impressionist Exhibit was fascinating.

Simply Amazing!

By Julie S |

I could of spent at least a day and a half here...just amazing! From the outside architecture to the inside...wonderful! The displays, so interesting and just perfect! Thank you!

Great collection in a wonderful building

By WStatesTraveler |

I have seen many art museums over the years. The Milwaukee Art Museum is special because of its location, its design and its great and varied collection (17th century through contemporary). I found it very relaxing to stroll through the various galleries. A day well spent.

Impressive building with well done art collection

By Travln-Dawg |

For me the most impressive part of the visit to the Art Museum is the building itself. On a day with winds under 23 mph, one must get to a window or site to see the 'wings' close and reopen. The image is awesome. The variety of art is impressive with very accessible displays. The spectrum is from modern art to classical. There is adequate space to see the pieces even when the museum is busy. The walk from downtown is also an art walk with sidewalk artwork and classic and new architecture. This was a unique and special museum.

World class self taught art

By jfadds |

They have Picasso and Chagall and all those guys.
What sets it aside is its great collection of self taught art- beautifully displayed and permanently on exhibition.
Both American and foreign artists are included.
Don’t miss the fabulous Albert Zahn wall.

Love it!

By Qiong C |

I absolutely love my visit for the third time! It’s great to see art work that I like, enjoy conversations with friendly staff, and see the pictures showing my children’s growth.

Hard mattress, scary elevator, great breakfast and excellent customer service.

By Curious01266957286 |

The hotel was okay. It definitely needed some updates with the elevator and mattresses. The elevator was pretty scary, we took it a couple times then accessed the stairs in fear that the elevator would break, and the mattress we had was hard as a rock. Definitely not good for people with arthritis. We also only had a 3 sets of towels for a 7 person room and no bedding for the pullout sofa. So we had to make a couple trips down to the front desk. Not ideal. The breakfast was great though. Customer service was friendly.

Incredible Architecture Steals the Show

By MomRocco |

The art really has a hard time competing with the architecture. The architecture just takes your breath away. We visited on a beautiful sunny day and as you enter the main building, the views and sunlight just stop you in your tracks. Even the parking garage is amazing. The quality of the artwork on display is not uniformly great, but is well-curated. We visited on a Friday afternoon and were surprised how empty the museum was. The Robert Longo and LaToya Hobbs exhibits were pretty amazing. The time, effort, and focus of those artists was palpable. Staff in the museum are very friendly and approachable. I definitely recommend this museum.

Nothing special

By Manuel G |

For all the hype about this place, I was mildly disappointed. The modern art isn't my cup of tea, but enjoyed the rest of it.

Wow

By Robert H |

I have been to the museum many times and always impressed. Magnificent collection of art. This time we were here for a reception in the Calatrava lobby area. Stunning, beautiful and the marble floors! We certainly impressed our guests. We had cocktail service with hot hors d’Oeuvres that were fabulous and all went extremely well. Just lovely!

Valentines Weekend Trip

By Josh |

Great place to spend the afternoon. The Calatrava design was incredible. Definitely try to see the winged sails which open and close at 10am, 12pm and 5pm depending on weather.

Worth a Visit to View the Architectture

By William B |

Wow, is the only way to describe this architectural wonder. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, it was completed in 2001 and I can guarantee you have never seen anything like it. The building features two movable wings with a span of 217 feet which close over the museum at night. The interior is gorgeous. The exhibits are noteworthy but you are there to see this incredible building.

Worth a visit

By Gene K |

The building itself is part of the art. Try to be there when the "sails" open or close. Many periods of art featured as well as special exhibits. If there in the summer, check out the adjacent beer garden.

Beautiful museum!

By Melissa F |

Beautiful museum inside and out. We spent about two and a half hours enjoying the museum. We had other plans for the day so we had to leave, but we could have spent another 2 hours exploring this beautiful property. We highly recommend this to families with older children.

WOW!

By Barbara K |

Even if this museum contained no artworks, it was worth the visit to be part of the unique architecture. Now add in the collections within and you have a truly marvelous experience.

Wa Wa WOW!!!!

By Thomas H |

This masterpiece of Santiago Calatrava needs to be entered to be appreciated. It is impressive from the street; but once the visitor enters into the structure his/her breath is taken away. Calatrava also designed the transportation center at the ruins of Ground Zero in NYC. His work reminds us that great architecture is, at its root, a spiritual exercise.

Awesome museum with fantastic architecture and view of the lake

By Bruce |

MUST SEE this unique museum on the beautiful lake front. Plenty of great paintings and art work. Make sure to get the audio cassette so you can have art experts explain the work while you keep your eyes on the painting or sculpture. Have some lunch at one of the two cafes overlooking the gorgeous Lake Michigan. My favorite location in Milwaukee.

Very good!

By Brian D |

If you have some extra time while visiting the Milwaukee area a visit to the art museum is well worth it. For a smaller museum it has lots to see and learn about. We enjoyed it very much.

Open Thur-Sunday

By Sharon O |

Very disappointed to find that the museum was not open during the time that we were there.Beautiful structure.

Superb modern art museum

By Colin,Julie and Annie Davidson |

Milwaukee Art Museum is a surprise find for the unexpecting traveller. The magnificent architecture by Santiago Calatrava, augmented by viewing the opening and closing of the 'wings' at midday is a treat in itself. The collection is surprisingly good, with some choice European and American works, but the outstanding feature is the way the works are displayed - beautifully spaced, excellent juxtapositions and regular views across to Lake Michigan with yachts on the water and the light producing wonderful and varied effects

Outstanding

By WallaceRoger |

This is an outstanding art museum that stands with the best of the nation. The modern building itself is so cool. It's large and varied, but not so huge you'll get bored before your day is over.

Great museum! You will need several days here!

By Jaime J |

Great museum. Gorgeous views of the lake. I loved the exhibits. Fantastic art collections. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The kids loved creating art in the Kohl's kids area.

Great piece of architecture

By Eilene S |

This is a truly iconic building and has become a visual symbol for Milwaukee. The permanent collection is just okay but some of the traveling installations are amazing.

Beautiful setting eclectic collection

By Jerry B |

Enjoyed beautiful early June day. Sky very blue. Amazing sculpture including one at museum. Very clean and modern. Contemporary collection strong with lots of furniture and collectibles. Georgia O’keefe collection nice.

Magical

By Jessica B |

We spent 3 hours and could probably have spent another 3 looking at everything. Add more time if you want to read everything too. We got through the whole main floor and saw most of the 3rd. There is good representation of art styles and of varying ages throughout the years. We were lucky and came right at the opening and saw the wings go up while on the pedestrian bridge out front. They play music meanwhile and it just made the whole experience almost magical. Beautiful building, all the way down to the parking lot underneath. No details were missed in it's creation.

Widely varied collection, only ding is expense + parking too

By scott r |

Fairly expansive collection and includes quite an assemblage of decorative arts (particularly furniture), remarkable building design. Easily navigated, and larger than it looks. Attractive setting and grounds. The negative is price - it isn't all that far off Art Institute of Chicago - which boasts a grand and impressive collection of Impressionists and 'name' artists in American, other European art, etc. This collection isn't quite at that level (though it isn't weak), and frankly the price should reflect that. But certainly worth seeing while in the city.

A visit brings joy to my heart

By Sharon L |

First of all, I love visiting Art Museums around the world. The Milwaukee Art Museum is very unique in its architecture...its "wings" lower and raise and is a site to behold! Inside, there are beautiful works from Chihuly, Rockwell, O'Keefe, and Lichenstein to name a few. The museum sits alongside Lake Michigan, so one could have a coffee and pastry at the East entrance next to the water. (There are actually 2 cafes.) The setting is gorgeous!

MUST SEE

By Michael |

From the heated underground parking to the plethora of art - from the Abstract to the Classics. Truly something for everyone's taste. Plan a solid 3 or 4 hours if you want to see it all!
Great Great Visit - So much I bought a membership!

Fantastic Museum

By Richard K |

This is a Fantastic Museum, and a showplace!! The art is fantastic, and the architecture is amazing. Great fun!

Amazing Art Work

By Henry |

The variety of art is really exceptional and you can view works from modern artists as well as those dating back several hundreds of years. The outside of the museum is a must for taking amazing pictures.

Wide variety of exhibits in beautiful building/location

By Rhonda S |

I'm not a huge art fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. There's such a wide variety of art that everyone should be able to find something they enjoy. i.e. furniture with artistic carvings, handmade toys, woodwork, metal clocks, as well as all the paintings. I enjoy Georgia O'Keefe paintings, and they had several there. The building is beautiful as well and is located right on Lake Michigan. Admission is fairly steep for adults, but they are a North American Reciprocal Museum, so I was able to get in free since I have a membership at another museum. I went during the week and was able to get free 3-hour street parking on Lincoln Memorial Drive. There is also parking at the War Memorial Center, which is just north of the Art Museum. Their rates seem to compare with the parking garages, but proceeds go toward the War Memorial Center.

Art on the Lake

By 333Ann999 |

This museum is art both inside and out. Calatrava did a wonderful job with his design - rivals some of the work he did in his hometown of Valencia, Spain. Museum is on Lake Michigan so walking around outside is beautiful. the museum itself has things for all taste modern to traditional.

A truly exciting fun museum with a wide variety of art, and great lake views and walks.

By Kirstin D. |

I love this museum and its variety. Mostly collections given by leading citizens of Milwaukee. The shops are excellent. The levels of art range from beautiful old masters to solid modern works, and a very special collection of folk art and naive art. The views out over Lake Michigan are beautiful, and there are greats walks just steps away. I have always had good luck with street patking, tho there is an underground parking ramp as well. The Calatrava wings and addition are exhuberant and delightful. Even just getting into the lobby and sitting in that Calatrava Lobby is a joy. Plus there is a small coffee shop full of light and lake views. But the art is the real deal. A really special inspiring collection.

Beautiful building and good art collection

By sgk52 |

The art collection is very good, with a nice variety of especially twentieth century art. They get major exhibits of top quality. The building by Santiago Calatrava is stunning and well worth seeing. The older building by Eero Saarinen is also an icon of mid-century design, with beautiful mosaics and is a war memorial. The setting on Lake Michigan is spectacular. The Cafe Calatrava has delicious food and a gorgeous view of the lake. Even the store is excellent. Easy, heated parking! Well worth a half-day outing.

Bouguereau & America

By Sunbird9696 |

What a fabulous exhibit! I fell in love with this artist after seeing Rest in Cleveland years ago. My family and I traveled from Ohio specifically for this exhibit. I was finally able to see a painting on loan from the Toledo Art Museum in this exhibit as well! After exploring and appreciating this exhibit, we toured the rest of the museum. Such an amazing structure with beautiful pieces of art! Would gladly recommend everyone visit!

Beautiful Architecture and Lot To See!

By TACLYO |

Ask about the "movement" of the "whale tail" structure above the entrance. I was pleasantly surprised when at 5pm I was walking across the footbridge over the road to get a good photo when music began to play and the "fins" began to move slowly close like the sails on a ship. It was really cool to see. As about times!

The cafe’s look and food are fantastic

By akz1950 |

We like to eat at the cafe when we visit the museum. The menu is vegan friendly. I even had vegan tiramisu. The ambiance was warm with candles at each table.

A Milwaukee must-see!

By VPollicino |

I went to the Milwaukee Art Museum when I was in town on business. I had a spare afternoon, so I had decided to check the museum out. It was wonderful! The weather was perfect so the Quadracci Pavillion, by architect Santiago Calatrava was absolutely stunning! The museum was larger than I had expected so there were plenty to see. The front desk staff member I interacted with was lovely, and well informed about all the museum had to offer. In addition, there is a lovely cafeteria/cafe which has some lovely seating overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, so if you need to take a little break from walking around, I highly recommend you taking a moment, getting a San Pellegrino and sitting by the windows and enjoying the beautiful view!

One of the largest museums in the United States

By Taylor B |

In sharp contrast to the traditional architecture of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum is an engineering marvel, an artistic masterpiece all to itself, a work of art. Located on the newly developed waterfront at 700 North Art Museum Drive, it contains nearly 25,000 works of art on four floors in three buildings--the Kahler Building (1975), the Quadracci Pavilion (2001) and the Shields Building (2015), a $34 million expansion that added 30,000 square feet of space. Created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Quadracci Pavilion contains a movable, wing-like brise soleil that opens up for a wingspan of 217 feet during the day, then folding over the tall, arched structure at night or during inclement weather. Often referred to as "the Calatrava," the pavilion received the 2004 Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering. The museum houses works from antiquity to the present, including 15th to 20th century European and 17th to 20th century American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts, photographs and folk and self-taught art. It holds one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O'Keeffe. Other artists represented include Winslow Homer, Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Frank Lloyd Wright, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Andy Warhol.

Too much to see!

By Antoinette G |

We spent a lovely sunny autumn Sunday on the lakefront and going to this gallery. There is a lot to see. If I lived here I would visit often and just take it in smaller sections. I loved the glass and furniture in particular.

Bradley Collection was a highlight

By John D |

The highlight of my visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum was the Bradley Collection. I enjoyed seeing an impressive group of Modern Masters. Unfortunately the Calatrava pavilion was closed for a wedding but the Bradley Collection made up for this disappointment.

Splendid Milwaukee Art Museum

By LeGrace B |

The stunning building itself is worth a visit and we especially went to see the handsomely displayed new installation of Haitian art. It is an outstanding display of Haitian creativity. If the museum is part of a visit to Milwaukee, allow as much time for it as you can, as there are many permanent and temporary exhibits, all of them worth seeing. There are good audio guides as well as other information related to each exhibit. We spent the day there, enjoying the good food and gorgeous view of Lake Michigan in the restaurant for our lunch break.

Amazing place

By pitapatti |

The building itself is awe inspiring let alone all the art work on display. We happened to have a string orchestra there when we were visiting. The Cafe is outstanding! We have eaten there twice and it is fabulous food and service

great space - great time

By david J |

the entry hall may be the big splash, but the exhibits in the original building are great too. We spent several hours exploring the entire building including the approach bridge and the perimeter grounds. Our favorite spaces were the smaller galleries that had views out to the lake.

If you like art, go!

By Amber D |

Beautiful building on the outside and so much art on the inside. This place is huge. We moved at a good pace and still spent 2 hours in there.

Come at noon to see the giant wings flap.

By BARBARA F |

This architectural masterpiece will fascinate you. It was designed to not belittle the existing museum when they expanded. But it would be easy to miss the original. The lobby is ALL WHITE with a view over the lake. A nice little gift shop.
Variety in art, maybe something for everyone. I liked the textiles and the Picasso and the Gilbert Stuart and the Trumbull (who also painted Thomas Jefferson.) Hint: you can watch the wings flap from the textile exhibit. Our knowledgeable guide told us how to do that.

Fun engineering and architectural wonder

By ehR9249GN |

The building itself is lovely and has an amazing view of the water and sailboats. The art itself is great and worthy of several hours.

First Thursdays are free

By johntpt |

The permanent collection has a Monet, a Renoir, a Sisley, several interesting German and Flemish paintings, and of course the Andy Warhol soup cans. We visited on a free Thursday and enjoyed the beautiful views of the lake from the foyer.

Amazing architecture, galleries and works — right on the lake!

By Jan E |

This museum experience never fails to wow you, from being on the lake, experiencing the architecture of the museum, and viewing the collections and works. Just amazing. Enough said.

Very Zen

By Max D |

Thought I review this attraction and was surprised to see some one star ratings. How can anyone give this one star?

I’ll admit that I didn’t like the Harley-Davidson Museum. Motorcycles are not my thing but I didn’t give it one star. I don’t know but abstract art is not the only exhibit here so kinda uncalled for saying the art is hard to understand here. Lots of old traditional oil paintings here, too. I guess the complainer never made it to the second floor. Also, another bad review about kids not welcomed here. I mean really? Do you really want to take them to a place filled with priceless irreplaceable art? Brains needed. Yet another person complaining about parking and parking fees. I seriously can’t think of any place I want to drive to unless they provide ample of free parking. Keywords being “ample” and “free”. There really is no excuse to drive when there are Lyft and other ride sharing.

Admission fee is not too bad. Was it $20? Don’t remember. It was an awesome time here. I came on a Friday and it was quite empty. No crowds or ppl taking up the benches. I wasn’t expecting much so was a surprise to see a Picasso, Warhols, and O’Keefes. Even has my favorite artist, Lichtenstein.

Abstract may be an acquired taste. I didn’t get it in the beginning either but it’s like watching an art house film. You will hate it when you are used to being spoon fed. Live a little and use your imagination.

I took a break at their cafe and there was no one there. It’s just me enjoying coffee over a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. Most likely can’t do this on a weekend as all the window seats are taken. It was such a zen moment for me.

The building itself is art and quite an operational structure. Go out at 5pm to watch the spires go down or if you’re an early bird, watch it go up at opening time.

Great!

By MC ROD |


Beautiful Structure! A must see and visit when in Milwaukee.
Very relaxing! Right by the waters of Lake Michigan. There is sitting by the lake to sit for a moment, have a conversation, etc.

Nice and more diverse than most art museums

By gunillast |

Wonderful building, so pretty from the in and outside. The best surprise is the large selection of design furniture. Amazing and very funny selection of chairs!

Amazing musuem

By David R |

This is an amazing museum with many styles and periods of art within. The building itself is an amazing structure.

My wife and I spent 3 hours here and did not get to see it all, but we had pretty much exhausted ourselves walking around. My wife has a bad back which she was ignoring as much as possible as she was enjoying herself so much.

If we lived in Milwaukee I would visit this place once or twice a year. It would certainly be one of my go to places for out of town guests.

Wonderful museum, well worth your time. I don't remember the price of admission which tells me that it was reasonable.

Milwaukee Art Museum

By Fred137Ost |

There is a great deal interesting artwork at this museum. The most unique thing, though, is Santiago Calatrava's Brise Soleil, an outdoor moveable scuplture. Around noon every day (or maybe just several days a week) the "wings" of the sculpture open and close. The entire "show" lasts around 15 minutes. It is well worth seeing. It was a clear and sunny day when I was there.

Spectacular building

By RobBoston80 |

We came for the spectacular Santiago Calatrava building. The architecture of the building really emphasizes the art. It’s a beautiful building for the Midwest

A truly beautiful structure

By Ron22212 |

This is worth visiting. The gallery has a very wide range of exhibits including wood furniture and books from the 14th and 15th centuries. We even found a Monet on the top floor. You will need some time to visit the location and wear good walking shoes as the distances are long. However, the views from the new structure are amazing and the collections worth visiting. Strongly recommend.

Impressive Museum

By Charles S |

Located on the lakefront of Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Art Museum is a huge museum with a collection of over 34,000 works of art. Included in the collection are paintings by American artists, European arts and German expressionist art. The museum also holds one of the largest collections of works by artist Georgia O'Keeffe.
Aside from its impressive galleries, the museum has the Cafe Calatrava for refreshments and a gift shop. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Make this museum a “must see”!

By Trina D |

Architecture and art meet up seamlessly in this excellent museum. It’s a feast for the senses! While they showcase a wide array of periods their modern art collection is most impressive. Very happy to see a diverse range of artists featured. If you are in town, make sure to pay a visit!

Beautiful architectural structure.

By Roderick W |

It is a beautiful museum with an excellent staff. We are not into modern art and it seemed a little heavy in that area. Overall, a wonderful visit.

One of the most beautiful art museums

By Susan T |

One of the most beautifully designed art museums right here along Milwaukee's scenic lakefront. We remembered that the sunburst colors of the Chihuly wasn't in the main lobby. We asked someone who works in the gift store and she told us where to find it (it's near the east entrance). The gift store has some fascinating artsy stuff.

Very cool; worth a visit.

By Miller M |

Spent about 2 1/2 hours there, barely scratched the surface. Much to see and the views of the lake are stunning.

Milwaukee TREASURE--don't miss it!

By mbinbbg |

This is WOW place! Aside from the fact that it a most unique and fascinating architectural design, and that the "wings" or "sails" of the roof open and close daily, the actual purpose--to display of many works of art is completely fulfilled! It is most enjoyable to be positioned to see the opening of the "wings" and just awesome to enter and take in the beautiful futuristic design, but the beautifully designed galleries hold treasures that are so varied and whimsical. This is not a stuffy, sophisticated art museum and we thoroughly enjoyed it and would go back tomorrow!

Fabulous architecture and beautiful art

By Helen H |

This museum offers a real wow experience. The wings create great light patterns and it is fun to watch them open and close. They “flap” the wings at noon so you don’t have to be there early to see them open. I was particularly interested in the modern and contemporary art.

Interesting

By jodie_KSA |

The building is a work of art in itself. The wings are closed until Fall for maintenance, but still impressive. There was an odd collection that was highlighted....but interesting. I’m a traditionalist, so the European collection was my favorite.

Gotta see it!

By GlennaCB |

Beautiful pictures and sculptures displayed in a Work of Art, on its own. The building, on its own, is either a soaring bird, or a cavern of a whale, but either way, you will soar, as you enjoy a coffee, lunch at the cafe, or take your children to the Family Sundays. Pure joy.

Awesome Miwaukee Art Museum

By Joyce J |

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a wonderful place to go. Since I have been to many art museums in my lifetime, I had originally not planned to go in since my time in Milwaukee was limited. However, I'm so glad I went. I loved the huge variety of artwork on display which included many furniture items as well. I spent 2 hours there and still didn't see everything. I just wish there was a less expensive parking option.

Beautiful

By NormLWat |

Beautiful building located on the recently developed waterfront. The building itself is art work. The front hall has an interesting window space - great for pictures and fabulous views. Exhibits are well laid out, good space to wander through and admire the works. Fairly large gift shop.

Amazing, beautiful and mind blowing

By Justo Leonardo - IG: Justinthetable |

Milwaukee is a great city, I love their food (loving WI cheese curds, and beer tasting tour).

The curious thing is: you’ll never expect to have an amazing variety of museums (Harley Davidson, yesterdays ) including the AMAZING ART MUSEUM OF MILEWAUKEE.

More than 25 thousand pieces of art, are ready and waiting for you, including collections from 15th century.

Price is really cheap for this kind of museums, but the experience is priceless.

On the other hand the outside area of the museum is perfect for a walk, while the increíble breeze of the Lake Michigan makes the moment magical.

My unplanned MAM visit

By Robin R |

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a beautiful structure inside and out.

I was at the Milwaukee Symphony the night before, I am from Chicago. I ended up talking to a couple next to me and they told me about the Robert Longo exhibit at the MAM, so I went the next day before I drove home. So many great exhibits at this eclectic museum.

Architectural wonder

By Mladen J |

If you're in Milwaukee, you have to go to the shore of the Lake Michigan and visit one of the most fascinating buildings overlooking the lake. Museum itself is piece of art, and exhibitions are nicely spent time for art lovers.

World Class Museum!

By jenez |

what a fabulous museum! well laid out, stunning architecture, and incredible docents and staff. loved the audio tour too.

Interesting collection

By Bubbie |

Interesting collection of art work of all styles and ages. We particularly enjoyed the more modern pieces and the antique furniture displays. This museum was just the right size to see it all in less than a day. Staff was polite, friendly and ready to answer questions and give directions.

Interesting

By burns41 |

The Santiago Calatrava designed museum is something to see. It looks like a miniature, sleek ocean liner, but not like a boat that would have sailed the Great Lakes. The huge sails/wings that open and close are an amazing feature.

Alas, though, Calatrava might excel at designing ships and interesting architecture, museums aren't his forte. Museums are for telling stories. Storytelling is lacking here.

The great entrance hall is stark, sterile, and white -sooooo white. The lakeside has lots of windows and a beautiful view, but, otherwise, the only thing that distinguishes the interior galleries is that they are indistinguishable from a million other halls. That, and the fact that it may be the most disorienting and hardest to maneuver museum I've ever visited. Also, there were multiple employees whose jobs were to check tickets, something I've never experienced before.

The collections were good, but nothing blew us away.

Architecturally stunning

By Jasmine |

From the outside and inside, the entrance of this museum is stunning. It looks like a futuristic yacht that might take off into the lake at any minute. Inside the sight lines frame Lake Michigan beautifully, and they make for a marvelous sculpture hall leading to the somewhat basic structure that houses most of the art.
During Covid, all but the main floor was closed. But the main floor still offered a great variety, ranging from renaissance era religious portraits, Egyptian artifacts, etc. Their modern art collections were the largest (at least on the open first floor) and offered a nice variety of well-known and lesser known artists. I love seeing artists I don't know and learning about them. They were well prepared for COVID, controlling the direction and flow of attendees. And we had a great chat with one of the very friendly docents.

Come for the art, stay for the views.

By In50by50 |

Great mix of paintings, sculpture and carvings. Obviously a spectacular building. They've moved and downsized the gift shop.

Fantastic Art and views

By makeitso4u |

This is an amazing location right on the lake and if you come in the winter it's beautiful. It was quiet, uncrowded and affordable

Mixed impression

By SLeo |

We visited the MAM because of a good collection indicated on their website. Below are pros and cons:
Pros:
- European paintings (which are available to see) are very impressive;
- Really perfect illumination of presented figures;
- Staff takes a significant attention to safety.
Cons (unfortunately, more than pros...);
- Only the first floor is open (COVID!);
- A LITTLE collection is presented (we spent 37 min to observe hoping to see something else but failed);
- About half of available space exposes some stuff which has no any relation to the art. This old (1960th) furniture may be interesting for some people but not the art yet;
- The wings do not operational (we were advised it is because of a windy day, not sure);
- The ticket price is regular, pre-COVID era, (as high as $19) despite of a really little collection to see.
We believe the problems are temporal and we will visit MAM again in nearest future to see a full collection.
Good luck with your visit!

Good Art Museum

By tarit1979 |

First of all the building architecture itself is great with the shape of a ship in harbor. Inside there are art pieces dedicated to all kinds of paintings, sculptures and even modern industrial design. It is a very good learning experience and also informative. There is an art studio inside where kids can engage in art and craft and it is quite engaging for them for at least an hour.

Beautiful building

By Taylor N |

We went to Milwaukee for a weekend trip. The art museum was our first stop. The building is gorgeous. They are using timed ticketing reservations to help keep down crowds and promote social distancing. An extra benefit of this is you don’t feel rushed or crowded going through the exhibits and can take time to enjoy it all. We are by no means art experts but really enjoyed our morning there. I would recommend planning to spend 1-2 hours to see everything.

Check out the latest exhibits

By Basileit |

What a great Museum for Milwaukee. Check it out. Worth an hour or an afternoon. Great place to relax, stroll and look.

Gorgeous inside and out!

By Brenda A |

This Calatrava-designed museum is stunning. The artwork is displayed beautifully and the restaurant was delicious. Highly recommend!

Must Go Museum for Art and Architecture. Stunning!

By Bernard W |

My oh my, if you have one art museum to visit, make this the one. The architecture is other-worldly spectacular. The art is arranged well and with ample space. There are two parking garages. The one underneath has high clearance and is a piece of art in and of itself.

What a STUNNING piece architecture!

By Brian T |

Even if you don’t want to (or have the time to) see the museum’s sizeable collection, at least walk down E Wisconsin Avenue to the lake shore, and check out the phenomenal piece architecture which houses the bulk of the collection. The gleaming white Quadracci Pavilion, with its ‘Burke Brise Soleil - those spectacular moveable wings, or sunscreens, which have a 217-foot span and which unfold, and fold, and flap, at various times of the day - is an architectural triumph. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and a sublimely graceful addition to the lake shore. And indeed it’s a fitting home for what is an important collection of works of art. It’s connected to the city by the equally graceful Reiman Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge.
Once inside, a glass-vaulted, cathedral-like space (called the ‘Windhover’) soars some 90 feet above you, leading your eyes to the lake beyond. It’s a grand and spectacular entrance to the museum, vast and uncluttered. Entrance to the museum is $19.00 - expensive by UK standards, as in the UK (where I live), major art galleries and museums are free, and you only pay to see additional specialised visiting exhibitions.
The Milwaukee Art Museum hoses quite a large collection of art, some 25,000 pieces I’m told. We only saw a small part of it, in particular the collection of American Art to 1900, and a number of photography collections. We live in Europe, so our exposure to the great European masters is high, but if you do not have this kind of opportunity, then the European collections here should figure in your museum tour. My favourite piece in the gallery was actually the the stunningly colourful Chihuly glass sculpture to the side of the entrance pavilion. You can see this for free.
If you want to see the sails move, you’ll need to be at set times during the day. I believe they open at 10.00, and ‘flap’ at other times; the museum’s website will advise of the times. The museum is wheelchair friendly, and has the usual cafe, gift shop and bathrooms.
I recommend it highly!

Incredible building

By Ruth B |

The building interior is totally worth the trip. The inside hallways look like they were designed by m c escher. Not the largest collection I’ve seen (only one Picasso and one Renoir) but a nice representation of art throughout the ages. We were lucky enough to have a docent who did a great job explaining the history of art. If you aren’t lucky enough to travel to Australia to see the Sydney Opera House, go see this building as it was designed by the same architect.

So good it is hard to believe it is in Milwaukee.

By Rob U |

As a native Cheesehead I reserved the right to be sketical, but they really are punching way over their weight class. They have a fantastic modern art collection and pattern of quality periodic exhibitions. The building alone is a work of art that is worth the trip.

Art lover or not

By Dani B. |

Museum lover or not, art lover or not, this is a place you are going to want to visit.
For museum and art lovers, there's the entire museum. For the people going with them, there is the museum's café!

Café Calatrava has a breathtaking view that you will enjoy when taking a break in between exhibits or waiting and/or hanging out.

I visited the museum right before the contingency started and it was a delight to learn more about the history of Milwaukee through a special exhibit like "Portraits of Milwaukee". I'm certainly looking forward to coming back one life goes back to normal.

Very Fine Art Museum

By LiketoeatCincinnati |

This is a wonderful art museum featuring art of various types including Dutch Old Masters, Renaissance and modern art. There is a nice Georgia O’Keefe collection too. The views of the lake are amazing.

Soaring Building

By TheLeongOhana |

I visited mainly to see the building itself that housed this museum. This was our last stop in Milwaukee so we were a little tired from all the walking and sightseeing earlier in the day.

From the outside it was a beauty to see. It reminded me of soaring with wings similar to the Oculus in NYC.

Inside it was full of light with a great view of Lake Michigan from the lobby. The ceiling arched above with an interesting pattern. No hard corners inside except for the stairs.

One word: wonderful!

By agus |

The museum, design by Santiago Calatrava (well-known Spanish architect) is a real gem; the collection is perfectly curated and the exhibition halls are wonderful; The museum holds one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O'Keeffe. Other artists represented include Gustave Caillebotte, Nardo di Cione, Francisco de Zurbarán, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Winslow Homer, Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Gabriele Munter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Frank Lloyd Wright, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko, Robert Gober, and Andy Warhol, however in my (humble) opinion the American Folk art collection is the most valuable thing they have. Spending a couple of hours at this museum is totally worth it. Do not miss it!

Great location and collection

By KatieNM |

I'm not super into art museums (prefer the history ones), but the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) is pretty cool and worth the $20 admission price. It's in great downtown location and has great views of Lake Michigan, which I saw for the first time here. The building's architecture is interesting and there's a long, pointed hallway that looks at the lake. I didn't really like the contemporary art pieces (too weird, odd, etc.) for me, but I really enjoyed the paintings in the style of the old Dutch masters (flowers, especially) and the Haitian art (traveling exhibit?). There are also cool displays of mid-century modern things, such as furniture, that show how art can intersect daily life more closely. My favorite pieces are the very realistic large flower arrangement (complete with a realistic fly!) and the gothic monk holding a skull. There's an interesting wooden room, like 1880s style, that has a holographic girl telling about the items in her trunk. Probably geared to kids, but it's pretty cool. There's so much to see, this will easily take a couple of hours or more. There are three eating areas inside, including a cafe. Parking is normally underground, but we had to park in the parking garage across the street for some reason. We left the car there and were able to walk to other things Downtown. There is a stop for The Hop, the new street car, about five blocks away.

weekender visit

By sweetswinging |

enjoyed a cloudy afternoon by visiting the museum. would rank this right up with the Art Institute of Chicago. Three floors of exhibits , need 3-4 to enjoy

Must go to

By ScreenName911 |

The museum is really nicely laid out and quite the work of art in itself. When we were there it was too windy for the flaps to move. They go at noon on the dot.

Poster exhibit was extensive and informative

By Janice R |

Was delighted at the extent of the French 19th century poster exhibit. We really learned a lot about the purpose of the posters, and the contributions made by the artist, Jules Cheret, to this form of advertising.

Milwaukee Art Museum

By Andrey N |

This museum is amazing! It has so many exhibits and a wide variety of art on display. The building itself is very cool. Gorgeous views of the lake. On a good day there are places to sit out by the lake and a lake shore walk. If you are museum lover or not, art lover or not, this is a place you are going to want to visit.

Art in Bloom

By Lena |

Today is the last day but keep in mind for next year. Florists do an outstanding job of interpreting a painting in their floral arrangement. One also gets to tour a major portion of the museum looking for the floral displays. Museum is always an excellent place to spend some free hours....a real treasure in Milwaukee.

Impressive

By Tigger1971 |

I’m a member of the Chicago Art Institute and love seeing art, so I looked forwarded to coming and was not disappointed. The architectural design of the place is spectacular and the collection is wonderful. I went to an “after dark” event with Halloween themed tours and entertainment which was fun, but not particularly the draw. I would go back again.

Amazing building by Calatrava

By leafpeeperbristol |

The museum has a newish extension by Santiago Calatrava which is worth a visit without looking at the art. The museum has interesting exhibits, I especially liked the room with modern furniture and artefacts in it. On a good day there are places to sit out by the lake and a lakeshore walk.

A Decent Collection of Art- Beautiful Building

By Win C |

My first trip to MAM. It is situated on a beautiful location. Even the walkway from the parking garage to the museum was awesome and a great spot to take pictures. Located on the water proves to be nice and calming and the views from the inside entrance is awesome. Coming from Chicago and being an Art Institute member it’s hard not to compare. MAM has some great pieces from all the expected artists: Picasso, Renoir, Warhol, Lichtenstein, etc... Be sure to stop by the studio and see what the free art project is- we had a ton of fun there.

A marvelous building

By Floyd G |

Visited the art museum after seeing it featured in a coffee table book of impressive architecture around the world. We were in the area over the weekend, and made the trip to Milwaukee to see the museum. The collection was very interesting, with a great deal of modern art and a few pieces everyone would recognize. The building is magnificent, modern with wings that open and close periodically. The structure is reason enough to visit.

Better than I thought

By Jet129480 |

I feel jealous that Milwaukee has a much nicer collection of art than my hometown of Seattle. The museum is also a beautiful building at a great location on the lake.

one of the attraction in Milwaukee

By ELKW |

they have permanent exhibit and special exhibits that will change over time, child age under 12 is free, you can get a craft package for kids, also do art in a room, the art is different from month to month, there was some Family Sunday in the past, not sure if they still have it now. They always give out family pass to libraries for summer reading program

Beautiful museum!

By Bethany M |

My husband and I went here on a Saturday afternoon in July. It was during the air and water show so the museum itself wasn't very busy. It cost $38 for the two of us to get in. We spent about 2 hours here and really enjoyed it. It's a perfect sized art museum in my opinion, not too big, but plenty to look at. Lots of works by recognizable artists and a variety of art. There are lots of windows overlooking Lake Michigan so we were able to catch parts of the air show from inside as well. The museum shop is small but has a great selection. We parked across the street for $10 and took the walking bridge over. It's really a beautiful area!

Walk Around Outside at Least

By JessaOlson |

We walked around outside, and it was so pretty. We didn't go inside because we didn't have the time. I think also a graduation was there.

Splendide architecture on the lake, and great collections

By MMFoucher |

A very good art museum. Very wide span of styles and eras, great unique choices. Good exhibits too. What I liked the most was the Bagley collection (top floor), the decorative arts and the glass collection.

A definite must!

By Donna P |

Art museums are always on my to do list in a new town. Was fantastic!! Great array of artwork and the Kohl’s classroom was a hit with the kids.

Amazing place!

By Mary G |

Amazing architecture, both inside and out. Large art collection with many time periods and styles represented. Museum is on the lake shore.

Tthe architecture of the building makes attending worthwhile

By J T |

Such a serene experience. The museum's COVID protocols were exemplary. We could not see the upper floors which is understandable. The space and art pieces were profound.

It's a museum

By cinamona |

I definitely think there could be more pieces that make it worthy to be considered a museum. I want motivated to see the entire place which is not normal for me. I love art!

Very very nice discovery

By zxreg |

BEAUTIFUL architecture, very varied works on display
This museum is a must not to be missed
A reasonable rate for the visit

Excellent special quilt exhibit

By NewPlaceFan |

Really nice quilt special exhibit that we really enjoyed. Also a good amount of Georgia O'Keefe pieces. It's not a huge museum, so you can actually see every area in a single visit. Worth a visit.

MAM at Night

By Shaina S |

Went for a MAM at night event. The venue was very cool but it was difficult to get drinks and the dance floor had all the lights on. They also ran out of food.

Amazing Museum

By HRCHITOWN |

I have been here many times. I love the yoga classes and they always have great special exhibits. The view of the lake from the center hall is amaizing. Parking is very easy.

There are over 23,000 items to view at the museum

By rebamart |

The museum is much bigger than the outside lends you to believe. The mystery part of the trip was a disappointment as it was too difficult to get started, would have been better to have been given a start on the "Clues" and the "Emoji" ones. Renaissance area is fabulous to walk through.

Beautiful, unique building

By pamelahein |

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a must-see when in Milwaukee! If you do not have time to view the art collections, you are able to enter and view the beautiful atrium area and Calatrava sails free of charge. I do recommend taking some time to view the varied collections, which are well-organized and labeled. My 14-year-old niece particularly enjoyed the cards posted near several pieces which gave interesting details about the artist and art in an easy-to-read format.

Love art!!!

By Betty N |

This museum is a piece of artwork inside and outside. It was an awesome experience to explore the various types of art.

Superior 20th Century Collection

By khsampon |

The building itself is a piece of art. The work inside is highly recommended, especially its collection of 20th century art. The space is easy to navigate and perfect for viewing the artwork. It’s location on the shore of Lake Michigan creates stunning views. It’s a wonderful atmosphere in which to view the permanent collection and stimulating special exhibits.

Must go destination!

By Keith F |

If you’re visiting Milwaukee or if you live here this is a must stop destination. The exhibits are fantastic and the the views are breath taking!

You don't see architecture like this in Phoenix.

By Studio69 |

Another venue I wished our hometown Phoenix could duplicate or at least try to use some architectural style. Inside and out this museum is breathtaking. Missed the show when it opens and the wings fling about to music. Large museum with many styles to appeal to wide variety of tastes. Not crowded. On lake so great lake views. Highly recommend when you are in Milwaukee.

First Rate Museum

By Renee S |

Stunning museum in a beautiful waterfront location with a great collection. Favorites included: the folk art collection, St. Francis of Assisi in his Tom by Francisco de Zurbaran and the most spectacular ivory crucifix I have ever seen.

By Mago25 |

The MOC is a must see if you are visiting Milwaukee. The location is nice and the view over the lake is beautiful.
The architecture of the buildings is magnificent.

Wow! Not to be missed!

By love2travel49022 |

The architecture alone is a reason to visit. Then you go on to see exhibits that are on par with the finest museums anywhere! Allow 3-4 hours. Cafe lunch wonderful.

Loved this museum

By Simon |

I’m a member of several museums, and when told I should visit this one during my stay in Milwaukee, I was a bit skeptical. Milwaukee is known for many things, but museums and art are not necessarily high on that list. Well, it should be. This place is amazing. A work of art itself. But also filled with amazing exhibits and works of art. I loved spending time here and will go back each time I am in Milwaukee. Don’t miss it.

Stunning building and good collection

By Carl G |

This is a stunning building with a great view on the lakefront. The collection is first rate and the restaurant in the building is excellent and features local Wisconsin items.

Cool Architecture

By patlv23 |

One of the reasons I considered visiting Milwaukee. I'm not much of an art fan so I only wanted to see the building (sorry). Visiting the building also led us to explore the excellent waterfront. The museum itself has its own parking lot but we went with street parking across the bridge on Wisconsin/Prospect Ave since we weren't staying too long. It was also late in the afternoon so parking would become free at 6pm. We didn't have trouble finding a spot on a Monday.

The building alone is worth the visit

By beegal |

The Art Museum is one of those where it's quite easy to get turned around in, but worth the time. Underground parking was easy, but cafe is closed during COVID.

Stunning

By sfc1h4cpka |

Traveled from Chicago area with friends specifically to view this museum. Not disappointed. It is stunning and the lakefront views are lovely.

An Architectural Wonder

By Beatriz121 |

We specifically went to the Art Museum on New Year's Day to watch the roof open up at noon. (There are regularly scheduled times for opening/closing the roof.) The whole process takes only about 5 minutes but it was well worth watching. The bright white of the building up against the blue sky was an impressive sight. Glad we stopped while in the area.

Wonderfully artistic afternoon

By DaveZablotney |

We thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon touring the traveling exhibit of Monet along with other renowned artists. One of Milwaukee’s gems!

A wonderful art museum

By Elle23Kaye |

This museum is amazing! It has so many exhibits and a wide variety of art on display. The building itself is very cool and you should definitely try to see it when the wings are open. We will definitely be going again.

nice museum

By anita059 |

The museum is beautiful, it is open they requested us to wear a mask and we did. It takes about 2 hours to walk though the museum. We had fun inside there is lots of different areas with different type things to see. there is a small gift shop inside and there is a place to get coffee or a snack and a lovely view to see and enjoy outside of the museum.

Great Museum

By Jason B. |

Spent some time here while it was snowing outside. Great space. The afternoon before we just happened to be walking by about noon and saw some people standing on the bridge heading to the museum. We wandered over and music started playing then the fin did its wave. Very neat to see. Great experience.

Didn't expect this magnificent museum!

By CarrieJoeNC |

The architecture inside and out are stunning .. the art is amazing, the views of the lake and everything about this museum makes it in my top museums. And if you are a member at an Art Museum that includes the reciprocal program, your entry is free. Don't forget your card! Well worth a visit!!

A place nt to miss when visiting Milwaukee

By Bill and Jinhee Blanton |

Easy parking, fair entry price and lots to see, The setting overlooking Lake Michigan adds to the allure. Great meals offered in the cafe, too.

Nice art museum, with a heated parking garage.

By WhitePawn |

A nice selection, and the view of the lake is a good one if you simply want to sit a bit and look at the water. There is probably at least one thing here that would interest everyone.

If nothing else, the modern mid-century room has a fun display of 50s and 60s....well, artifacts. I wanted to roll my eyes, because these are things I'd seen in person in my grandparents home, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Folk art. Old school. Kitsch. Wide range of modern and post-modern. Portraits. Art for art's sake. Sculpture. Light display. They even had a couple pieces from Chuck Close which are always amazing in person.

A fun afternoon.

MIlwaukee Art Museum

By Curious471288 |

The Milwaukee Art Museum has an absolutely fabulous collection of art representing all periods and styles. The experience will be uplifting for your spirit.

The building itself is worth the visit

By Michael N |

An amazing building. This building is better than the Sydney Opera House and yes I have been to both. It is very creative, beautiful and well kept. The art collection is not the best, but the do what they can with what they have.