New Bedford Art Museum

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Last Saturday — June 15, 2024 — I went on an adventure to New Bedford, MA. My first stop was New Bedford Art Museum. This miniature museum with three excellent galleries is a great place to spend an hour looking at contemporary art by local artists and big names from around the country. During my visit, the two exhibitions on display were Pathfinders: Paving the Glass Revolution in the U.S. and Transformations.

“Macchia: Pink and White with Yellow Lip Wrap” by Dale Chihuly; a glass bowl shaped like an open clam shell Portal #36 by Nick Leonoff; a spherical glass sculpture with a round hole in the center. The exterior is made of blue glass circles embedded into opaque white glass Dinosaur by Lino Tagliapietra; a blue, teardrop-shaped glass sculpture

The main gallery, which shared space with the front desk, featured glass artists from around the United States. Highlights of the space were three works by Dale Chihuly, known for his glass chandeliers and wall art. I last saw a Chihuly chandelier several years ago while visiting Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI. This exhibit also featured a Chihuly bowl called “Macchia: Pink and White with Yellow Lip Wrap”. Quick research revealed that macchia is a Mediterranean shrub, although I thought it looked like an open clam.

Polished Laminated Vertical Vase #25 by Sydney Hunter viewed from side; vase made of round, red plate glass at the bottom and both clear and yellow plate glass for the neck Polished Laminated Vertical Vase #25 by Sydney Hunter with colorful shadow Dale Chihuly Chandelier in the center of the gallery Close-up of Dale Chihuly Chandelier

A pair of plate glasses vases by Sidney Hutter created an optical illusion. Made from slabs of glass rather than blown glass, the vases could hold no water. On the opposite side of the gallery, a dainty blue sculpture by Lino Tagliapietra was confusingly called “Dinosaur”. My final favorite in this section was “Sweet Journey” by Concetta Mason, a glass bowl on a base that changed color depending on where the viewer stood relative to the piece.

“Sweet Journey” by Concetta Mason with its pink base “Sweet Journey” by Concetta Mason with its yellow and clear base “Sweet Journey” by Concetta Mason with its orange base

In the left gallery at the back of the main gallery were works by Kéké Cribbs who created glass mosaics. My two favorites were “Birdie”, a vaguely bird-like enamel, wood, and glass figure inspired by Mexican art, and “Persephone”, a boat-shaped mosaic with a scene on its sail depicting Persephone, goddess of spring, along with her mother Demeter in the shape of a bird.

“Persephone” by Kéké Cribbs; a boat-shaped mosaic with a scene on its sail depicting Persephone, goddess of spring, along with her mother Demeter in the shape of a bird “Birdie” by Kéké Cribbs; a vaguely bird-like enamel, wood, and glass figure inspired by Mexican art

In the right gallery at the back of the main gallery were pieces submitted by local artists as part of Transformation, a juried exhibit based on the ever-popular theme of metamorphosis. The most practical of these pieces was “Orchid” by Sarah Clough, using bright pink and black spray paint on repurposed cardboard to paint a close-up of the titular flower.

“Orchid” by Sarah Clough; bright pink and black spray paint on repurposed cardboard New Bedford Art Museum sign on the glass door in the lobby

New Bedford Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $0 for NEMA, NARM, Card to Culture, and Museums for All members, along with active duty personnel and their families. The museum’s single floor layout is easy to navigate. However, the galleries are not always well lit, and there is no seating. An all-gender restroom in the basement is accessible via an elevator. For a quick taste of American art with an excellent docent, this is a great stop.


Abby Epplett’s Rating System

Experience: 8/10

Accessibility: 8/10



Location: 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA 02740, USA