I assumed this museum was going to be pretty limited, but I was impressed with the variety of artworks on display. It's more than just the Wyeths; they have classic European artists and early American art. I loved getting to learn more about the local indigenous tribes and see the work of local artists whom I wouldn't otherwise get to see. Some of the art was even a bit risque, which was great to see at a small art museum. Highly recommend taking an hour or so to get lost in the Farnsworth. read more

Farnsworth Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Rockland, Maine

We visited the both the gift shop and the outdoor sculpture garden this year. The gift shop's offerings, like the museum itself, center on the works of the Wyeths. The sculpture garden is worth a visit though less far less interesting. read more

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You can find the Farnsworth Art Museum at 16 Museum St, Rockland, ME 04841 - this is right off Main St toward the southern side of town-center. There's some limited parking out front, plus a lot across from the entry. We ended up parking at a lot behind the building. Most of the lots are free for 2 hours. We really looked forward to the Farnsworth, mostly for their Wyeth collection and it did not disappoint. On the day we visited there was also a top-floor exhibit of works by Louise Nevelson called Louise Nevelson: Dawn to Dusk. When you add in their main collection and the converted church that houses Wyeth, it provides a balanced general exhibition that's sure to delight most art fans. The museum started as a much smaller structure and includes an impressive library - it's been expanded at least twice and then further through the acquisition of nearby buildings - there are a handful of sculptures separating the building including a whimsical Bernard Langlais camel (he also is exhibited in the general exhibition). As mentioned the top floor features items mostly donated to the Farnsworth by Louise Nevelson with examples covering most of her life - my only complaint is that I wished there was more of her work. The primary exhibit space exhibited "Farnsworth at 75" and features many of my favorite artists - amongst the Wyeths (NC, Andrew and Jamie), there are examples by Rockwell Kent, Richard Estes, Lois Dodd, Keith Jackson, Philip Pearlstein and many others. The star of the show though is the current Andrew Wyeth exhibit in the converted Church across the street "Alvero's World" featuring works that Wyeth sold to a Japanese investor while still alive - they're on loan and usually not available in the US. These are intimate paintings of the Olson House environs and Alvero (who was Christina Olson's brother) with many studies, loose and finished watercolors. In all we had a great visit and relished everything we experienced. The staff was very nice and answered all of our questions with a high degree of detail. We're looking forward to returning on our next Maine visit. read more

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This is a gorgeous museum featuring many of the great artists of Maine. Each gallery was beautifully curated with pieces from the museum's collection plus those on loan from elsewhere. Of course seeing Andrew Wyeth's egg tempera paintings was a highlight, but also getting to see his watercolors was a beautiful exercise of contrast. We also enjoyed going to see Jamie Wyeth's collection in the church gallery space across the street. Totally unexpected find in Rockland ME! read more

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Great day trip and the Wyeth collection is remarkable. The town is very supportive to artists with several galleries.

When I visited the Farnsworth recently, I asked the women at the desk whether the Museum had any John Marin on display. After all, he was one of the great watercolorists of the 20th century -- depicting the Maine coastline. The woman said, "Huh, I never heard of him." She was totally clueless. And she wouldn't even take a moment to see whether any of his watercolors were on exhibit. (She could have a cheat sheet with all the artists listed). But just couldn't be bothered; and if that's the case she shouldn't be working there. Contrast that to the folks at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art just down the street. They are very knowledgeable and have a keen interest in art. read more

This was an hour away from our base today. Well worth the trip. They have a senior discount but no veteran discount. Active military only. I Don't imagine many 20 year old Sailors coming Here. This was all Wyeth and Tice art. And oriented to New England. I liked it a lot, but I would like to have seen other artists too. read more

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One of the finest American museums. Extraordinary collection of Wyeth, (NC., Andrew and Jamie) Louise Nevelson and many others.

Decent but small collection of American art. The Farnsworth Art museum has some lovely pieces, but the space is too small to do justice to the full collection. For the price, you expect a larger collection on display than what the Farnsworth has to offer. read more

Very elegant, well designed building so you can choose various points of view within the galleries to experience the art. The grounds of the museum are relaxing and comfortable for a short stroll. The gift shop is well curated and the associates there are so very helpful. There is a wide range of media and quite a few displays that get a high wow factor. Well located in an area of several great restaurants and a fun brewery on the corner a few blocks away. read more

This museum features a good collection of artwork from 19-20th-C modern and contemporary artists inspired by the energy of New England and Maine. It would be a nice 1-hour stroll for most, maybe 2-hours for art connoisseurs. The galleries around Rockland also offer inspiration for travelers. read more

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Visit this museum if you are visiting the Rockland area. Very nice facilities and interesting artwork on exhibit.

To anyone cruising to Rockland: Yes, it is worth waiting for the tender. Not only is the town's food delicious, but this museum is such a gem. Much of the art is from Maine artists, which is a fitting tribute. The room of Chinese Zodiac is breathtaking when the light reflects off the gold. If you are coming with backpack, they do ask you wear it on one shoulder which on one hand makes sense... On the other hand seems like there's potential for danger. read more

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There is more Penobscot and other indigenous art every time we visit . Thanks Farnsworth!

For my money, the best choice in Maine. Beautifully located in a vibrant downtown on the edge of a beautiful harbor. Free to city residents, and low admission for all. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. A rich and diverse collection of fine art focused on Maine. The Wyeth family has lived offshore for a long time, and there is a beautifully restored old church which features their work. The buildings and grounds are beautiful and accessible, the gift shop is loaded with treasures. read more

First, admission is expensive and you will agree once you press through. It is $15 per person. They DO NOT have a veterans discount. They only cater to active duty military only. Doesn't matter if you are a disabled vet either. You must be active duty only they told me. You can get lost in here very quick. The flow of the exhibits isn't very good. In one room, there could be three doors leading to other rooms and you can easily miss a room. The exhibits are beautiful. The church paintings are nice. Otherwise, that's pretty much it to report. It is all about the paintings. read more

We went to the Farnsworth through the Bank of America museums on us program. It was a nice experience, but I wouldn't have wanted to pay full admission for it. There didn't seem to be a lot of curating outside of the special exhibit section. Also the bathrooms are sort of tough to get to. They do have a nice collection of art by artists somehow connected to Maine. read more

What a wonderful art museum! I had never seen any of Andrew Wyeth's works and now I am a fan. The other exhibits are varied and so interesting. I was thrilled that they had three John Marin's. Was a little disappointed that the Wyeth collection across the street was not open. But now I have a reason to go back! Highly recommend! read more

While vacationing at my in-laws house in Maine they purchased tickets for us to attend the Andrew Wyeth Experience tour. It included full day access to all the Farnsworth exhibits but the best part was the guided tour out to the Olson house owned by Christina Olson from Wyeth's most famous painting, "Christina's World". He did many of his most famous works in that house and of the house and surrounding area. The Farnsworth has copies of those works set up next to where they were painted or from the same perspective lioking at what he saw! Our guide took us through the museum and then by van out to he property. She has been with the Farnsworth for over 25 years and knew the Wyeth family personally. She gave us great insight into not only the paintings but the life of the artist and his subjects. Not cheap at $100 each but I would highly recommend this tour. read more

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When planning our trip to Maine, my wife had the Farnsworth Art Museum as one of her "must see" attractions and was really looking forward to visiting the Farnsworth. The museum DID NOT disappoint us. The museum is actually spread over a couple of buildings but its easy to navigate and is a pleasure to visit. The museum has an extensive collection of works by the Wyeths - especially the work of Jamie Wyeth. My wife is the real art fan and I'm only marginally interested in art but I really enjoyed visiting the Farnsworth Art Museum. If you're interested in the art of New England -- and especially the work of the Wyeths - then you need to have this on your "must see" list of attractions. It's definitely worth the time to visit. read more

My pet peeve with local museum is that most of them lack focus. They try to be a little of this and a little of that and a whole lot of nothing. You leave feeling a bit confused. This is NOT the case with the Farnsworth. It has a laser sharp focus. It tells the story of this scenic coast and the artists who have called it home and visited Maine. You will leave the Farnsworth with an appreciation and respect of the area artists and the land. The museum was opened in 1948 with money left by William Farnsworth. The museum is in the center of town and has been a catalyst for Rockland to change from an industrial hub to the cultural hub of this area of Maine. The museum has wonderful collections of all three Wyeths, Alex Katz and sculptures by Robert Indiana. During the summer of 2012 they had a wonderful exhibit of Frank W. Benson and his impressionist paintings made during his time in Maine. He used his daughters and wife as models and the exhibit had some amazing pieces in it. I also enjoyed seeing the original frames on some of the pieces! In the Wyeth building they had a great exhibit comparing the works of Jamie Wyeth and Rockwell Kent who both lived in Monhegan and painted there. It was interesting to see two artists who painted at different times on the same island and how they interrupted the place. The museum is made up of three buildings with a nice sculpture garden in between. I find the main building to be just a little confusing with the levels. It does not flow as easy as I would hope it would. However it's a great area museum with an important collection of some great works. The cost to get in is $12.00 with a combo pass of $17.00 that includes the Olsen House. I love that local residents are free. I think it's important for museum to share what they are with the people who live there and I applaud them for allowing in residents for free. The museum has a large gift shop with a lot of information on the artists and a great collection of cards. They also seem to have an active education wing that does a lot of art projects with children and teens. The museum seems to be alive and doing all the right things. This is one stop that should not be missed on your visit to Maine. You may not want to give up an outdoor day to see a museum, but Maine does get a lot of rain and if nothing else, make this your rain day activity! Rain or Shine the Farnsworth is a wonderful museum. read more

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I'd been meaning to visit this museum for a long time and was not in the least bit disappointed. It has a good collection of the various Wyeths and other artists who have lived (and some still living) or worked in Maine. I saw a lovely little Maurice Prendergast and a John Marin both of which I wanted to photo but alas they don't allow you to foto these even though they are part of the permanent collection. Also, saw the N.C. Wyeth exhibition which was truly extraordinary and a must-see. The contemporary artists' exhibition upstairs was wonderful and the basement gallery showing a 19th century artist (sorry I can't remember his name!) was just a delight. A very satisfying visit. read more

Farnsworth Art Museum - Farnsworth Art Museum from the corner outside - Art Museums Near Me - Rockland, Maine

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Enjoyable afternoon, especially appreciated the Wyeth family art displayed in lovely cluster of buildings. Just-right museum shop, nice for children's gifts. read more

A very good local art museum. A great Andrew Wyeth collection, which was the main draw for us! Many other regional artists represented and this time a special showing of Chinese golden zodiacs. The museum while not large has three levels and supporting buildings. It is worth the trip to see their collection especially when in this part of the country as many of the paints were done locally. read more

Great place to see Andrew Wyeth's amazing watercolor paintings as well as some artwork from his family and his photographer colleague. The paintings are spread out in different buildings, but the trek is definitely worth it. There are some outside sculptures to check out as well. When we were there, the featured outdoor sculpture was the LOVE sculpture multiplied and letters stacked in various ways. There are free days. Check the museum's schedule for more details. Some of the staff are grumpy but Richard is a nice staff member. read more

a marginally interesting regional museum. Strong on Wyeths, but otherwise the collection is weak. When I visited in September, 2021, there were four galleries focussed on women, and an impressive but vacant library. Social bias aside, the spaces could have been better used to display more of their collection. read more

4.5 STARS I'm really surprised by how much I enjoyed the Farnsworth Art Museum. I came in with lukewarm expectations and was pleasantly surprised! The sculpture garden is definitely worth a visit (the camel is pretty cool), as well as the ELEVATOR in the Wyeth building. Although, the art in the Wyeth building seemed like most of the good stuff was on loan, it was interesting to see the various styles of the different generations of the Wyeth family. The "Maine Collects" exhibit was interesting because the descriptions of each work were really detailed and gave a background about the owner/collector and why/how they acquired a piece. In general throughout the museum, the descriptions of each work go into more depth and were well written. They give you an extra bit of information that make the piece more memorable. I usually am disappointed by these smaller museums, but the Farnsworth Art Museum is definitely worth a visit and is one of the more memorable and fun museums I've visited. read more

It's a small, but nice museum with a good selection of Andrew Wyeth paintings. There was also an N.C. Wyeth exhibit the day we went. The Farnsworth Homestead on the property is worth touring. The affiliated Olson House in Cushing is very interesting. It's where Andrew Wyeth did much of his painting and was part of his inspiration for "Christina's World." It's a National Historic Landmark and worth a visit. read more

Fantastic collection of American Art particular from Andrew Wyeth and on exhibit featuring Ai Wei Wei. Little bit expensive to get in for such a small museum at $15 per person but a great gift shop. Definitely worth the stop when in Maine. read more

Coming originally from the Mainline in the Philadelphia suburbs, we had done a few trips down to Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Museum to see the Wyeth family works there. We were always big fans - I can recall getting used old books with NC Wyeth's drawings that amazed me as a child. Well, now that we are living in New England and spend some time in the summer up on the coast, we try to do a trip to Rockland and visit the Farnsworth for some of what the Wyeth's themselves experienced in the differences between Philly and Maine. The museum is just the right size - enough to see in a couple of hours without feeling like one has to dedicate the entire day. The location is just perfect - plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops along the harbor to round out the rest of one's visit. This year there is an exhibit showing works not only from Andrew Wyeth, but also his friend and photographer, Kosti Ruohomma, called Andy & Kosti. Kosti's photos have that same vivid feel as Andrew's paintings - a big plus is seeing a rather young Andrew (from the 1950s) in the photos. Also, because Kosti was from the Maine coast, his family had a blueberry farm near Cushing (if I got this right), so there are plenty of photos of berry picking and the annual Catch Day on Mohegan Island. Andrew's watercolors that go with the photos continue to capture the imagination. So don't miss this exhibit. One other thing to note for this year (2015), they have an exhibit done by children from Maine schools grades 2-7, called Stories of the Land and It's People. The exhibit has works from the children of six local public schools; Appleton, Hope, Lincolnville, Islesboro, Rockland South School, and Rockland District Middle School. What a heart touching and artistic display - our youngest especially liked the fairy houses. Also, the museum store is quite nicely done - well worth a stop on your way out. So a stop here is a must, if you are passing through the Wyeths' Maine backyard. read more

We lucked out to be in the city on the night of their free admission. The museum has many galleries specializing in American Art, especially the Wyeth family from Maine. They have 4 galleries of contemporary art. Sculptors are strategically placed. Live music was playing the evening we were there. We were surprised to discover they were from a local high school. The So Weiwei exhibit was on display. read more

I traveled here specifically to view the museum's renowned Wyeth collection, and was suitably awed. (I've generally been impressed when encountering other works by the Wyeths at other museums, but the "taking in" of the Wyeth paintings which one does at the Farnsworth is an experience which should not be missed by anyone who appreciates American art.) And then to come upon two works by Grandma Moses while exploring other parts of the museum? Wow. It was one those "unexpected find" moments that made a day trip even more fun. read more

This lovely museum showcases the Wyeths, Andrew, his father J.C. and his son Jamie. J.C. was an illustrator and I was astonished to see books I'd read as a child, "The Yearling", "Treasure Island" were illustrated w/ his very distinctive work. My introduction to Andrew Wyeth was in college. "Christina's World". I didn't particularly like it. But I found I fell in love w/ Norman Rockwell's work when we visited his studio in Stockbridge MA, so I was curious what would happen when I saw Andrew Wyeth's original works and I liked them. I was surprised to discover I liked the watercolors better than I did the tempera, but I liked the detail possible in the tempera. The 6th floor held needlework samplers, quilts and woodcarvings. On the 4th floor Andrew Wyeth's paintings took up a large gallery and an adjacent gallery held a collection of "folk art", paintings (two by Grandma Moses), ship models and other related pieces. There was also a spacious and comfortable library w/ a large stone fireplace. Down some stairs were galleries of contemporary Maine-related American art, one devoted to Louise Nevelson's sculptures, others to different artists. The museum is of a manageable scale and is easily navigated. J.C. and Jamie's works are shown in a separate building, the Wyeth Center, across the street. J.C. is on the first floor and Jamie is on the second. Jamie had several paintings accompanied by interesting stories, particularly one of JFK. An elevator that goes between the two is HUGE and contains two, maybe 10 foot, benches, one along the back wall and one along one side. I've never seen that, so of course I had to sit on one. read more

Free admission during the summer till September on Weds. from 5-8 pm. Also free on First Friday evenings till 8 pm. The library is a lovely place to relax and read. read more

The Farnsworth offers a great selection of paintings from NC, Andrew and James Wyeth along with a variety of contemporary artists. Docents, not so friendly. read more

Very nice collection of Wyeths and other local artists. very informative exhibit on Andrew Wyeth. Great campus, friendly local docents.

This gem is one of the most impressive small museums anywhere. For starters, it is one of the two museums housing an impressive collection of the work of Andrew Wyeth, his father, N.C. Wyeth and his son, Jamie Wyeth. (The other is the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA, also a gem.) Across the street from the main building, there is a separate building in which most of the Wyeths are displayed. This building also holds a few paintings from lesser known family members and other artists. There is another gallery in the main building dedicated to additional work of Andrew Wyeth. N.C., Andrew and Jamie are all known for realism, but I think that there is an emotional component to Andrew's work that is less evident in the paintings of either his father or his son and that resonates more with me. We also saw a fascinating exhibit on the Shakers. There used to be numerous Shaker colonies in New England and New York, and a small one remains today in Sabbathday Lake, Maine. The Shakers pursued a spiritual life apart from the rest of the world. They were incredibly resourceful both in achieving self-sufficiency and creating products for sale to outsiders. Their tools and furniture reflect their ingenuity, with their sturdy and simple, yet elegant designs. This is not a permanent exhibit, but it is not to be missed if you visit the museum before it is taken down. The remaining galleries were perhaps a little less compelling. There was a temporary exhibit of student photography and a small, but interesting, permanent collection of contemporary art on the top floor. If you go, plan on spending two to three hours to see the entire collection. This will be a morning or afternoon well spent, rain or shine. read more

An amazing museum with helpful staff. Definitely worth the visit if you're in Rockland!

Amazing collection of Wyeth paintings, including some from N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. Very nice facilities. We didn't expect so many paintings from so many different (and famous) painters in this museum. Also very much enjoyed the exhibit on engravings, lithographs and etchings. Certainly worth your time if you are anywhere in the area. read more

The collections were not impressive. There were a few gems from Warhol to Rockwell and Wyeth, other than that the building itself is the only thing worth really looking closely at. Not worth the admission price. read more