From world-class museums to eye-catching murals, you’ ll find art around every corner of Charm City— you just need to know where to look. This three-day itinerary points you in the right direction, highlighting the top galleries, workshops and artful eateries to visit for the ultimate creative getaway. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, sketchbook or paintbrush and start exploring.
Baltimore native Devin Allen and the Klimt-inspired paintings of Tawny Chatmon. Night Owl Gallery is a woman-owned space that hosts small solo and group exhibitions, as well as pop-up shopping events. And you can’ t lose by popping into one of the 13 galleries at the Maryland Institute College of Art( MICA), where you’ ll see installations by MICA faculty, students and established artists alike.
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GET INSPIRED
When you arrive in Baltimore, drop your bags at Hotel Revival. This boutique art hotel in Mount Vernon is brimming with creative energy. The interior consists of statementmaking wallpaper, neon signs and custom-curated works by more than 30 artists. Plus, its penthouse restaurant Topside offers sweeping city views, while the cozy cocktail lounge, B-Side, is the place to unwind with a cocktail. Bonus: Reserve a karaoke room at B-Side to express yourself musically without the public audience. And if you’ re looking to snag an aesthetic souvenir, peruse the selection of homegrown products in the lobby gift shop before checking out.
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Day one is all about finding inspiration at Baltimore’ s many art museums and galleries. Begin at the Walters Art Museum, a free museum located just steps from Hotel Revival. The diverse global collection includes ancient artifacts, two Fabergé eggs and a rare stained-glass piece by Kehinde Wiley. Once you’ ve aced art history, explore the American Visionary Art Museum’ s wacky and wonderful collection of works by self-taught artists. This Federal Hill institution also boasts sparkling sculpture displays around its perimeter and a whole host of larger-than-life kinetic structures inside the Jim Rouse Visionary Center. Afterward, head to Maryland’ s largest museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art. Stroll through their contemporary wing to experience artworks by artists of local, national and international acclaim, and to see the world’ s largest public collection of works by Henri Matisse.
There are also several smaller, independent galleries worth visiting throughout Charm City. Galerie Myrtis shows photographs by
Conclude your creative day with a bite at The Royal Blue, a restaurant and cocktail bar that happens to be Night Owl Gallery’ s downstairs neighbor. The food at the Station North Arts & Entertainment District eatery is as well-executed as the for-purchase artwork that decorates the walls. Locals love this spot for its comedy shows and DJ nights, not to mention the cheery custom exterior by Baltimore-based mural maker Jaz Erenberg, whose paintbrush has graced countless buildings across the city, including Lexington Market and the portion of Durham Street known as Lady Day Way.
NIGHT OWL GALLERY, STATION NORTH ARTS DISTRICT
JOSHUA WASHINGTON
Image: TAWNY CHATMON; Remnants / Peace and Joy Are the Birthrights of All Beings, 2021-2022; 24k gold leaf, paper, and acrylic on archival pigment print; 54 x 34; Framed: 59 x 39 x 5 Washington University, St. Louis, MO; Printer: Maryanne Ellison Simmons. Courtesy of Galerie Myrtis.
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