This was a pleasant experience, with some interesting exhibitions of art. Beautiful location on the harbor and I was really impressed with the gift shop. You'll find ✌🏾 regular ✌🏾 art gift shop items, but also clothing, books, and much more than just trinkets and keepsakes.

– Larry Edwards

It’s always a great time at ICA, whether as a solo time out or with friends!
The artists are talented! Not forgetting, if you can don’t miss out on the watershed, you can get it together with the museum tickets.

– Jacinta Tsagli

An Artful Afternoon on the Waterfront

Just left the Downeast Cider House, where the only "installations" were tanks of delicious, fermenting apples and the dominant aesthetic was "rustic industrial." The Queen feeling pleasantly buzzed and artistically underqualified, we travelled next door to the ICA.

And what a glorious contrast it was!

The first thing you notice is that the ICA is the building that looks like a chic, silver envelope slid halfway off a table by a minimalist giant. It’s a statement. And the statement is: "I contain art. And probably a very expensive gift shop."

The best statement of all? It’s free. That’s right. You can wander in off the street, still smelling faintly of apple, and immerse yourself in cutting-edge culture without spending a dime.

We caught the current exhibit, which was, of course, "artfully executed." (Because what else would it be? "Slapdash and vaguely threatening"? Not here!) It was the kind of art that makes you nod thoughtfully while making a "hmmm" noise, desperately hoping you're "getting it." Pro tip: Tilting your head and squinting works for both examining abstract sculpture.

It’s the perfect place to gaze out at the harbor, feel profoundly cultured.

So, if you find yourself on the waterfront with an hour to kill and a brain that’s either full of cider or just hungry for something stimulating, make a beeline for the ICA. It’s the perfect chaser to a day of drinks: a tall, cool glass of perspective. Highly recommend.

– Shawn Cooper