From it's beginnings in 1876 with 5,600 works of art, the MFA now holds a comprehensive collection encompassing 500,000 works of art, spanning the history of artistic endeavor from ancient Egyptian to contemporary.
Major collections include Art of the Americas, Art of Europe from the Middle Ages through the mid-20th century, Asian Art since 4000 BC, African and Pacific Art, an encyclopedic collection of Antiquities, and Contemporary Art.
Exhibitions & Dates
Otherworldly Realms of Wu Junyong
Jan 13 2023 -
In these lively works on paper dark truths hide beneath playful imagery and riotous color
Painted Tintypes: Photography for the People
Apr 1 2023 - Oct 15 2023
Approx. 40 19th-century American hand-painted tintypes
The Provincetown Printmakers
Apr 1 2023 - Oct 15 2023
Nearly 50 prints by 13 artists from Provincetown in the first half of the 20th century
Something Old, Something New - Wedding Fashions and Traditions
May 27 2023 - Oct 1 2023
20+ objects & 20 photographs explore the origins & evolution of American wedding customs
Tiny Treasures: The Magic of Miniatures
Jul 1 2023 - Feb 18 2024
Small works in an array of media from the 7th century BCE to the present day
Ellsworth Kelly: The Plant Lithographs
Jun 28 2023 - Dec 18 2023
Ten highlights from the Suite of Plant Lithographs
Michaelina Wautier and ‘The Five Senses’ - Innovation in 17th-Century Flemish Painting
Nov 12 2022 - Nov 5 2023
Works by a female painter working in 17th-century Brussels
Fashioned by Sargent
Oct 8 2023 - Jan 15 2024
50 paintings by Sargent and more than a dozen period garments and accessories
Tender Loving Care - Contemporary Art from the Collection
Jul 22 2023 - Jul 28 2025
More than 100 works from the MFA’s collection
Strong Women in Renaissance Italy
Sep 9 2023 - Jan 7 2024
More than 100 works from the 14th to the early 17th century explore the lives of women
Matthew Wong: The Realm of Appearances
Jul 1 2023 - Feb 18 2024
60 paintings explore how he synthesized many inspirations during his six year career