RISD Museum image

RISD Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Art museum

One of the Most Reviewed Tourist attractions in Providence


Address

20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903

Website

risdmuseum.org

Contact

(401) 454-6500

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (1.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Thursday: 12 to 8 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (40) collection (16) free (14) RISD (10) Sundays (10) time (9) exhibits (8) small (7) pieces (7) modern (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Erik J. 7 months ago on Google • 510 reviews
    Do not miss when visiting Providence. The RISD museum houses an impressive collection that leans toward the decorative arts. The fine art collection is small, but houses some impressive holdings. The museum is expertly and thoughtfully curated throughout. One could tour the entire collection in about two hours. There is a coffee shop at the Benefit Street entrance. Adult admission is $20.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anita M. 8 months ago on Google • 364 reviews
    A beautiful art museum. It is not only paintings or pictures, also ceramic art and furniture pieces and more. Some modern pieces from the current and past students can also be seen. I highlighted some German art, but there is something from lots of countries. There is a sitting room where you can read some of the art books while there. What is also great is that it is free on Sundays and some evenings. Please check the website. There is a cafe at the museum that is open to the public. There are lockers for your backpacks since they aren't allowed in, but not many. On the other hand there are lots of restrooms.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nicole B G. 11 months ago on Google • 702 reviews
    A great spot. Certain days are free, I believe it was Thursday night and Sunday all day. There’s a small waiting area when you enter. Large, different everywhere. A nice museum with a lot of variety to it. It is kind of like a confusing maze though so it’s best if you have a lot of time to spend here. Hard to park in this area. They have little free cubby lockers and places to put your belongings and jackets.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jing M. 7 months ago on Google
    There are some amazing works here. And the museum is really big, from the outside it may look small but there are so much to see and explore. Definitely a cool place to check out!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Esther H. 9 months ago on Google
    Had the pleasure of visiting this museum again and it’s still worth every penny. A HUGE gallery that can be a maze at times. There are so many exhibits and the modern art changes frequently enough to keep coming back. Oil paintings, ceramics, sculptures, silverware, fashion—and so much more. There’s something for everyone. Definitely one of the most iconic Rhode Island locations to visit whether you’re touring the city for a day, or just need a quiet hour of art inspiration.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 AMY M. 10 months ago on Google • 323 reviews
    What a great museum. This museum has been on my bucket list since it was one of the best art museums in the US by Google search. I am an impressionism lover. They don't have a huge collection, but it was still enjoyable. They have a nice collection of contemporary arts. The Pendleton House, where all the American Arts located, was nice to see. It looks like a real house museum. I highly recommend anyone visiting Rhode Island. Active military & family member free admission was a really generous gesture from the museum.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julie G. 1 month ago on Google • 189 reviews New
    I loved this museum. Designed to inspire RISD students in their studies? It's compact and covers 6 floors. Spent most of the day here with a friend. It was so satisfying - inspiring, intriguing, stimulating and thought provoking. Modern and Contemporary; New Media; Prints, Drawings and Photographs; European; Ancient Greek and Roman; Ancient Egyptian; Costume and Textiles; Asian; American; Decorative Arts and Design. Here are some photos of my favorites. Entry is $20. Free on Sundays.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ahmed S. 3 years ago on Google
    Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD Museum) is an art museum in Providence affiliated with the Rhode Island School of Design, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The museum was founded in 1877 and is the 20th largest art museum in the United States. The RISD Museum's collection of about 100,000 objects contains a broad range of works from around the world, including ancient Egypt, Asia, Africa, ancient Greece and Rome, Europe, and the Americas. Among the prominent international and American artists represented are Picasso, Monet, Manet, Paul Revere, Chanel, Andy Warhol, and Kara Walker. The collection also features notable works by Rhode Island artists and designers, including 18th-century Newport furniture makers Goddard and Townsend and 19th-century Rhode Island painters such as Anglo-American impressionist John Noble Barlow and portraitist Gilbert Stuart.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lulu R. 6 months ago on Google • 105 reviews
    Went for the first time with my cousin on a Friday morning and it wasn’t packed at all, the whole place is like a maze and super intriguing. The Egyptian exhibit was impressive and I walked away knowing something new and feeling distinctively refreshed
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas R. 2 months ago on Google • 152 reviews New
    This is a gem, fabulously rich collection. Absolutely stunning pieces, great light. Staff is very very kind. We went on a Sunday, it was free, and it is wonderful to be in a museum which is popular. Want to go back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Pil G. 1 month ago on Google • 265 reviews New
    I was surprised by the size of the museum, does not look as large form outside. Collection is very Electric so you will find something you like for sure. Free on Sunday and 20USD other days. Street parking.

  • 5/5 Reetu 5 months ago on Google • 59 reviews
    Visiting the RISD Museum was a remarkable and free art experience. I spent a captivating 4 to 5 hours exploring the exhibits and can't wait to return. It was incredibly enjoyable to discover a wide range of art, both from professional artists and students. The informative descriptions added a depth of cultural insight to my visit. I was pleasantly surprised to find free entry, possibly because it was a Sunday, and I didn't need to inquire further. If you have a passion for art, this museum is an absolute must-visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joseph J. 5 years ago on Google
    Excellent art installations of different cultures and time periods, has exhibits of RISD past and present students. Can take up an entire day . Admission is free on sunday so do plan to accordingly. There is a store and a coffee shop on site
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laurie A. 4 years ago on Google
    Gem of a place with a wonderful collection of impressionist paintings, Asian Art, modern art and the period house with furnishings and art. It’s free on Sundays! Don’t miss this extraordinary museum if you are in Providence or on the way to Newport! The Bolt cafe in the Lobby is worth stopping in! Staff is helpful and friendly!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Justina 2 months ago on Google • 40 reviews New
    I was pleasantly surprised, and enjoyed visiting the museum. I wondered all the floors. I will to return in warmer weather to enjoy some of the outdoor sitting areas. Free on Sundays is a wonderful thing.

  • 5/5 G S. 1 month ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    Fantastic museum in the heart of downtown providence! Free on Sundays, take your time winding through 3+ floors with many rooms. Everything from modern art to a sarcophagus, textiles, and everything in between. Take a break at the coffee shop (accessible from inside the museum as well) and then power on through the museum.

  • 5/5 Jennifer B. 4 months ago on Google
    Very cool place to visit, they had so many beautiful pieces on display. They also have a cafe in case you want a tasty beverage and sweet .

  • 5/5 sean J. 4 years ago on Google
    Fantastic museum, I was not expecting it to be so huge. The collection was incredibly diverse, from period rooms, to contemporary art, Egyptian relics, Japanese relics. It really demonstrates the loves people have loved all over the world throughout time.

  • 5/5 Ariella J. 4 years ago on Google
    Didn’t know we had a gem like this in Providence. Awesome art and free on Sundays

  • 5/5 Yi Fang S. 4 years ago on Google
    👍😍

  • 5/5 Humberto B. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Very interesting (Original) Muy interesante

  • 5/5 Debu T. 4 years ago on Google
    Fantastic world class museum! My first visit was 3 years ago. I was amazed by the collection. I was naive in thinking that a college museum in a small city wouldn't rank with the likes of Boston's MFA, but it does! Wonderful collection.

  • 5/5 Gabrielle S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great way to spend an afternoon!

  • 5/5 Kent S. 4 years ago on Google
    I would say RISD Museum requires an approach unique to itself. At least from the standpoint of the modern and contemporary. Where other museums can be relied on for their canonical representations of 20th Century work and a few reaches into more contemporary work, the RISD Museum presents this time frame as a moving target with frequent rotatations, surprising contemporary pieces, and then backwards views at what it means for a museum to collect work in the 21st Century. There isn't a sequence of galleries to walk through, really. So it's more an exploration. And for what I hope comes across as a pro pick, don't miss the gallery of student work located in the newer building. It rounds out the experience!

  • 5/5 Claudia N. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place.

  • 5/5 PETER P. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic place to spend time and view all of the beautiful artwork. This museum is well worth it and the price point is fantastic. They have quite a few works from famous artists. The student portion of the museum is stellar as well.

  • 5/5 Tim P. 4 years ago on Google
    Great museum with unique exhibits and a truly fantastic "raid the icebox" series of curated exhibits. We were pleasantly surprised at the high quality of the exhibits and pieces at a college museum (yes, yes, I realize this is RISD). Enjoyed the wide range of art and styles as well as how well the museum was presented. Well worth the visit!

  • 3/5 j h. 4 years ago on Google
    This is definitely touted as one of the must sees while in Providence. To be honest, I found the museum interesting and a good way to kill time if nothing else to do but I wasn't blown away. It is small but has several floors and mazes to wander about. I thought there would have been more original pieces on display from students but there was really only one small section. There is a Bolt coffee shop if you need some caffeine boost to help you treck your way through the museum. Entry is free on sundays!

  • 5/5 Christine L. 4 years ago on Google
    Beautiful collection of art, ranging from works by RISD students to famous names like Monet. There are also several section dedicated to ancient artifacts. The special exhibits are always fun to check out. Free on Sundays so what are you waiting for??!

  • 5/5 Emmett S. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely museum with a diverse and extensive mix of contemporary works (“Raid the Icebox Now”) and works of many eras past (“Samurai at Leisure”) from all over. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit and hope to do so again soon. (Visited December 2019)

  • 5/5 Joseph B. 4 years ago on Google
    Great eclectic museum that includes art from ancient Egypt, Greco-roman art, paintings by masters like Monet, Renoir, Rembrandt and Picasso as well as modern artists like Jackson Pollack. A little bit of everything from every continent and every era! A great place to spend 2 or 3 hours walking through history!

  • 5/5 Robert B. 4 years ago on Google
    Great art museum (especially on Sundays when it's free for)! Bigger than I thought it would be and a great variety of art.

  • 5/5 Will L. 3 years ago on Google
    Best Museum in RI, excellent exhibits, very well curated.

  • 5/5 Damian C. 3 years ago on Google
    A modern museum with an amazing collection. Staff is always great

  • 5/5 Alex L. 3 years ago on Google
    Love this museum. Great value for students

  • 5/5 Ellyn E. 4 years ago on Google
    Huge collection for a small town. Free entrance on Sundays. Very interesting and eclectic collection

  • 3/5 theo r. 3 years ago on Google
    The museum was closed for social distancing regulations amid the pandemic, but was still posting hours of operations. sheesh.

  • 5/5 David C. 4 years ago on Google
    Beautiful art and a place to enjoy time among a piece of history.

  • 5/5 Junior M. 4 years ago on Google
    Cool

  • 5/5 Yasmin R. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) WAS interested in avia many cute paintings.Vallana are going to have fun on Sundays are free ami and my friends are not charming❤❤👉🏼👈🏼 they teach you ripa from before👏👍 (Original) FUE interesate avia muchas pinturas lindas.vallana se van a divertir los domingos son free ami y mis amigos noe encanto❤❤👉🏼👈🏼te enseñan ripa de antes👏👍

  • 4/5 PJ W. 4 years ago on Google
    Pretty cool even if u don't like art

  • 4/5 Still L. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice collections.

  • 4/5 Chris R. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice place to visit

  • 5/5 Loroline 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful artwork and amazing place to explore the world of art in different forms. Definitely would recommend for those who love history and art.

  • 5/5 Billy D. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice.


Call (401) 454-6500 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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