Museum of Bad Art

Posted July 30, 2014 by Gemma Doyle

Boston, it has been pointed out by myself and others, has a lot of really excellent art museums.  One of my favorites that doesn’t get mentioned a whole lot in the usual lists is the Museum of Bad Art, which specializes in pretty much what you’d expect.

The Museum displays most of its collection online, but also, fittingly enough, exhibits in the basements of two theaters (right outside the bathrooms).  One of the theaters is the Dedham Community Theater, but the other is the Somerville Theater in Davis Square.  The only problem is that you have to buy a movie ticket to get inside, but the Somerville Theater is usually playing something decent, and matinee tickets are only $6.

The museum only takes works that were done with the intention of being good; it’s not for deliberately terrible works, which is what makes it all the more interesting.  It also doesn’t collect anything that is done on black velvet or anything paint-by-numbers, which I think is kind of a shame because that would really be excellent.  Donations are accepted, if you have something you think might meet the standards of awfulness.

The exhibitions work around themes; the current theme in the Somerville Theater is religious works.  The Museum does also put up temporary shows of works at various institutions across New England, so there’s always a chance that you’ll run into one somewhere else.