A sparkling Museum of Self-taught art in Baltimore
American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM)
Art Gallery or Museum | Museum featuring self-taught art | Open to the public
When you see one of Vollis Simpson's whirligigs adorning the front lawn of a museum, you know it's no ordinary place. This is indeed the mecca for those who appreciate work by self-taught, outsider or visionary artists. AVAM features three full floors of art displayed in long-running shows that cover a specific theme like "aging" or "war and peace." Their permanent collection contains a number of works by Ted Gordon, Howard Finster, Gerald Hawkes and the Baltimore Glassman, Paul Darmafall. There's a great restaurant/bar upstairs and a well-stocked gift shop too, all sitting in this jewel of a building situated down the hill from where Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem.
Founder, Rebecca Hoffberger says, "People just love this place" and it's evident why. There's a sense of playfulness in the presentation, and an appreciation for the passion and commitment these works represent.