Living in a city like Boston, I am lucky to find inspiration all around me. Boston, like most metropolitan cities, is filled with places to explore. As a designer, I feel most creative when exploring the architecture (new & old), boutiques, food trucks, restaurants, shops, galleries, markets, and of course our local museums. Recently, I have been on a huge museum kick, spending my weekends eating good food and exploring cool art. If you like to spend your time the same way, this blog post should be a fun guide for you!

MIT Museum

465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
mitmuseum.mit.edu

Favorite Exhibitions

Robots & Beyond: MIT’s Pioneering Work in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

MIT is world-renowned for their robotics research, and the museum has an incredible display of the evolution of robots and Artificial Intelligence. The kids (and grownups!) love the remote control robots so much that there is usually a line on the weekend to play with them.

Gestural Engineering: The Sculpture of Arthur Ganson

This exhibition is actually what started off my museum spree. I was fascinated by the blurred lines between art and science (a common theme with a few exhibitions at the MIT museum) where you explore a room filled with purposeless but skillfully engineered machines! It was fun to press the buttons and levers and watch what these crazy looking contraptions were capable of.

Big Bang Data

A compilation of visually stimulating installations let me explore how we use data in modern life. The museum encourages you to peruse multiple rooms filled with infographics, giant multi-display monitors, colorful globes, and even some mannequins generated from DNA found on a piece of gum!

While in the neighborhood…

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
www.mfa.org

Favorite Exhibitions

Takashi Murakami: Lineage of Eccentrics

Contemporary Artist Takashi Murakami uses imaginative characters, explosive colors, and dynamic patterns to bridge centuries of Japanese art. This exhibition is a lot of fun for art nerds and casual museum goers alike.

Monet (Gallery)

The MFA has one of the largest Monet collections outside of France. Monet has always been one of my favorite artists. My mom decorated with a few of his paintings around the house which may have inspired my love for impressionist art. This gallery is a must see for any art lover!

While in the neighborhood…

Get your caffeine fix at Pavement coffeehouse, a Boston staple. I always order one of their fun, seasonal specials.

Peabody Essex Museum

161 Essex St
Salem, MA 01970
www.pem.org

Favorite Exhibitions

XYZT: A Journey in 4 Dimensions

This stunning, immersive exhibition was entirely made up of black & white light, interactive virtual environments. These mini environments all had sensors that reacted to your movements and changed the light display based off of your gestures.

PlayTime

This fun-filled contemporary art showcase explores the role of play in our world. Made up with pieces from 17 artists, the exhibition includes a room filled with pink balloons, colorful car wash spinning brushes, and a video game room filled with bean bags.

All the Flowers Are for Me

Take a walk around this square room illuminated by an ornate laser cut steel lantern. Artist Anila Quayyum Agha, a Muslim woman, uses her work as an effort to reclaim femininity and provide a safe space to welcome others.

T.C. Cannon: At the Edge of America

Discover an emotional, personal, and political exploration of the artist’s Native American culture and experience as a Vietnam War veteran. The striking art embraces bold colors and patterns as well as traditional portrait compositions. Poetry inscribed on the gallery walls throughout the exhibit give great insight into the artist’s intention and experience.

Georgia O’Keeffe: Art, Image, Style

This exhibit showcases a deep profile of the artist and art of the iconic Georgia O’Keeffe. The exhibition included her renowned paintings, photographs, hand-sewn garments, and a biographical exploration of her life and impact on the art world.

While in the neighborhood…

Grab a beer at Notch Brewery. They make some of the best session beers around.