Colby College Museum of Art

Colby College Museum of Art

Colby College Museum of Art
5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles194 reviews
Excellent
164
Very good
24
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
1

Carol G
Thomaston, ME4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Exceptional art museum with excellent collection - mainly American paintings and sculpture representing artists from early 1700's through contemporary artists experimenting with new approaches. Well-designed special exhibitions. Especially thanks to the large gifts of several donors, this a fine place for any visitor to learn about art and ideas.
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

outgardening
Seneca Falls, NY101 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
It had been 3 years due to Covid since we visited the college but the Andrew Wyeth collection drew us back in for a visit. However, the Tsiaras Family Photography exhibit was even more incredible. Best of all, there was a concert in the gallery so we enjoyed Bach as well.
Written 4 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NHjo
Saco, ME8 609 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
This is a wonderful little art museum! I especially enjoyed the Remington and Gaudens bronze sculptures, the Etruscan pottery, and the works by Andrew Wyeth, Homer, Picasso, and Cassatt. The Alex Katz exhibit was great, too. This was a destination art museum and worth the trip (and the absurd current cost of gas). I was very surprised that there was no entry fee. It's a definite return trip in the near future to see new exhibits and to enjoy the permanent collection once more.
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jfadds
Naperville, IL4 782 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
For whatever reason- this museum has quite a collection of contemporary art. Must not hurt to have rich alums. As to why Alex Katz is loyal to Colby- who knows?
Any city in the country would be happy to have this museum as their own
Worth a visit if close
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rooindie
Sioux Falls, SD932 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
A small museum with a nice varied collection. Can't beat the price (free). I especially enjoyed the Tiffany lamp, which was lit in a darkened room (the light in the room was on a motion sensor, so turned on as we walked in - if you see a dark room, pause to enjoy the lamp before you go in!), and a Sargent. We spent about an hour there.
Written 3 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SwissPinkPanther
New York City, NY122 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
The Colby College Art Museum is off the beaten path for most tourists who don't venture up to Bar Harbor by car from points south. It requires an effort ....but I guarantee you will be rewarded for your effort.

One itinerary I would recommend for those only touring southern Maine, using Portland as a base, would be an early morning stop at Freeport (20 mins from Portland) of course to shop at LL Bean, then drive to Waterville (an hour) to stop and tour the Colby College Art Museum and the college campus as well which is beautiful...then on to tour Camden a beautiful coastal town (an hours drive from Waterville ) followed by a late lunch at The Riggers (see review).

For those driving to Bar Harbor from southern Maine there is no excuse not to stop at the Colby College Art Museum. It undoubtedly has one of the finest collections of American Art on theEastern Seaboard from Winslow Homer to Chuck Close to Alex Katz and is now considered to be the finest art museum in all of Maine. The college campus is only a 10 min drive off of I-95. Even if you drive the Maine shore road up to Bar Harbor take I-95 on your return. Don't miss this stellar museum.

Both the variety and quality of the art is amazing for a relatively small college. This speaks volumes to the relationships that the college has fostered over the years with both alumni and leading artists and the colleges commitment to providing its student body, the town of Waterville and visitors with the very best cultural experience .... and its free unlike most other art museums these days... although a donation is appreciated.

So treat yourself when you are touring the wilderness of central and northern Maine. Stop in and tour the Outstanding Colby Art Museum and refresh your soul.
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan A
Carlisle, PA107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Took visitors here from New Jersey and were impressed with the collection. I am a novice when it comes to art and even I recognized some of the artists - Winslow Homer, Jackson Pollock, and Maya Lin. The lobby always houses something creative and usually whimsical. And it is FREE!
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NieSam
Maine968 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
This museum is amazing and has an incredible array of artists' works. I was expecting a much smaller museum with a minimal collection. I was blown away!

First, the admission is free. Second, the staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Third, the printed guide/map is useful and informative. Fourth, the exhibits were fascinating. Last, there is an entire section devoted to Alex Katz who has gifted 600 of his works to Colby.

The Katz section is beyond a display room that looks to be the end of the Museum. We checked with the information desk so we could be sure to see it. Some of his paintings on display are enormous. One of the rooms dedicated to his work was closed off for a coming private event. The guard saw us peering around a partition and headed our way. I expected to be chastised but was pleasantly surprised when he asked if we’d like to see the art work in the room. He moved the barrier and was really helpful.

There was an entire section about the Passamaquoddy and their creations. There were works by Louise Nevelson, Georgia O'Keefe, Rockwell Kent, James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent and many more. I’d just toured the Farnsworth and I found many of the same artists' works displayed here.

A special exhibit had some interest pieces. My favorite was a piece titled Pin River - Kissimmee 2008. It was made completely of straight (sewing) pins. The artist was Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam War Memorial in DC. Her portrayal of a topographical map of the challenged Kissimmee River as an environmental statement is genius.

I'm eager to visit again.
Written 19 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan C
Waterville, ME17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
The biggest art museum in Maine! Great special exhibits. And it is free. We frequently visit this museum as exhibits change.
Written 4 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tedkirby
Lexington, MA600 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
This museum is on Colby's campus, and has a lot of nice paintings. I went on a Saturday morning and it was not very crowded. There are multiple gallery rooms with paintings by American artists, with works by Homer, Remington, Norman Rockwell, and some other well-known artists. Also there is an exhibit about Native Americans who lived in the area.There are bathrooms in the museum, and a place to buy snacks. The people working there at the front desk were nice and helpful.
Written 2 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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COLBY COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Colby College Museum of Art

Colby College Museum of Art is open:
  • Sun - Sun 12:00 - 17:00
  • Tue - Sat 10:00 - 17:00