Valkyrie Mumbet is Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos’ first U.S. solo installation.
Boston has always been able to brag about its art institutions—from the halls of the renowned Museum of Fine Arts to the iconic rooms of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Now, Bostonians have another jewel to add to their cultural crown with the opening of the MassArt Art Museum, or MAAM. The art and design college recently renovated and rebranded its Bakalar and Paine Galleries into a free contemporary museum. “MassArt’s mission has always been about accessibility and education, and MAAM has the same goal,” says Executive Director Lisa Tung. “We want to open eyes, expand minds and create opportunity through the lens of contemporary art.” To this end, MAAM has a dedicated gallery education studio and programming that features workshops and the chance to see makers in action. The 15,000-square-foot space also boasts a prominent entranceway, an outdoor plaza for public installations, exposed original vaulted ceilings to hang larger pieces, and a viewing platform to see works from different perspectives. Visitors can expect a wide range of exhibits such as the United States premiere of internationally renowned Portuguese mixed-media artist Joana Vasconcelos, a large-scale collage by collaborative duo Ghost of a Dream and a group exhibition on video game culture called Game Changers. In MAAM’s world, everyone who walks through the door will begin to imagine how to rewrite the rules.
Photography by: courtesy of the artist
