Skip to Main Content Jump to Main Content Skip to Search Jump to Search

A Guide to Baltimore’s Art Scene

Discover everything Baltimore’s thriving art scene has to offer, from galleries to music, theater, dance and more.
The facade of the Baltimore Museum of Art
E

njoy our world-renowned Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Stroll about the nation’s largest outdoor arts festival. Watch works of art race down the street. These are just some of the fantastic experiences you can find in our comprehensive guide to art in Baltimore.

Best Hotels for Art Lovers

The rooms at Hotel Revival are artfully decorated.

Baltimore’s art scene begins with where you stay. Book a room at Hotel Revival, the city’s only boutique art hotel, and come home to one-of-a-kind art and breathtaking views of the city and its landmarks, including the best views of  Mount Vernon Square Park and its Washington Monument, right from your room. For those looking to find local artists, Sagamore Pendry Hotel features original work from renowned Baltimore street artist Gaia and sculptor Adam Scott, while the Royal Sonesta has its very own gallery curated by local icon Crystal Moll. Hotel Indigo has partnered with Maryland Art Space to showcase local artists through rotating exhibitions. Guesthouse by good neighbor is as much of a gallery experience as a hotel with art from Baltimore artists such as Amy Sherald, Jerrell Gibbs and Charles Mason III, plus a selection of original Indian art from Baltimore collector Sarva Girdhar.

Where to See Art in Baltimore

Baltimore is home to world-class museums like The Walters Art Museum, The Baltimore Museum of Art and American Visionary Art Museum but there are many other ways to enjoy art around the city. Use our interactive Mural Map to take a walk around Remington & Station North for an inspiring stroll down Baltimore public art history – don’t miss the iconic Graffiti Alley, the only part of the city where graffiti art is legal.

The Walters Art Museum

To experience more of the local and regional artist movements, head over to Creative Alliance, an innovative hybrid performance space, gallery and artist guild, and the Eubie Blake Cultural Center, which is home to dozens of performing and visual arts events and exhibits. For music lovers, the internationally recognized Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs more than 100 concerts a year, including special events and summer programs. Performing arts is also a vibrant scene in Baltimore. From classical theater at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, touring Broadway shows at the Hippodrome Theatre, world-class stand-up comedy at The Lyric or feminist plays at Strand Theater Co., there’s always something to be seen onstage in the city.

If you prefer a more hands-on approach to art, Baltimore offers plenty of opportunities for the maker at heart. Baltimore Clayworks showcases the best local and international ceramic artists and offers classes and workshops for all ages. Meanwhile, at Baltimore Print Shop, you can find an assortment of gifts to take home or create your own by taking one of their letterpress, screenprinting or risograph workshops.

Vibrant murals adorn many walls in Baltimore and make for one-of-a-kind photo backdrops. Michael Owen has painted 20 murals of silhouetted hands spelling “L-O-V-E” in neighborhoods from Mount Washington to Carroll Park. Favorite spots include the mural across from the historic Senator Theatre in Belvedere Square and one on The Avenue in Hampden. Follow @baltimurals on Instagram to find more Baltimore murals.

Where to Eat

Art enriches the soul. But at some point, you have to enrich your body too. Luckily for you, in Baltimore, you can do both at once. For a hearty breakfast before hitting the galleries and a taste of local art, head over to Blue Moon Cafe, a diner with a rock & roll attitude that you can see reflected on its walls and in dishes like the now-famous Captain Crunch French Toast. Station North Arts Cafe Gallery, a funky little jewel known for walls lined with local art, hot cornbread waffles and fantastic pulled pork, is another excellent choice if you’re around the arts district. If you happen to be visiting the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), Gertrude’s Chesapeake Kitchen is an attraction in its own right, with a sophisticated menu of regional foods using organic, local ingredients. Sit outside to get a view of the BMA’s sculpture garden while you enjoy your meal.

Art Events in Baltimore

Performance during Artscape in Baltimore, Maryland.

Performance during Artscape in Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore’s rich art history comes to life in the city’s annual events. One of the most notable is Artscape, the nation’s largest free outdoor art festival. It attracts over 350,000 visitors each year and features more than 150 artists, performers and craftspeople over three days of celebrations.

In the category of “something completely different,” the Kinetic Sculpture Race is an annual showcase of art, athleticism and ingenuity where teams race human-powered sculptures through Baltimore streets. Fans of street art rejoice during the Madonnari Arts Festival, where international artists cover the streets of Little Italy with chalk drawings.

Music is also a huge part of the Baltimore art scene, and the Love Groove Festival is a one-of-a-kind event where young, talented artists get a rare opportunity to play on a major stage.

Check out BmoreArt, an independent arts publication, for more about the Baltimore area’s artists and organizations. Their calendar is loaded with local cultural events.

Notable Neighborhoods for Art Lovers

Baltimore’s Art and Entertainment Districts are hubs for artists, organizations and arts venues. Each reflects the traditions, contributions and culture of its community and gives you a rare opportunity to experience local art in its purest form.

Visit Baltimore Merch

Show off your Baltimore pride in style with t-shirts, hats and hoodies featuring the Visit Baltimore logo. Plus get your hands on our one-of-a-kind posters.