Gallery Layout

Maritime Art

Paintings, carvings, ship models and iconic ocean liner posters celebrate human encounters with the power and beauty of the sea. PEM’s collection of historic and contemporary maritime artworks is internationally acclaimed.

Korean Art

The Korean Art Gallery is dedicated to scholar and diplomat Yu Kil-Chun (1856-1914) in recognition of his pioneering efforts to forge cultural connections between Korea and the United States. Works on view, from the late the 18th and 19th centuries, include costumes, ornate keepsake boxes, ceramics and a spirit house. Most of the objects were designed using natural materials and with symbols that express core cultural values.

Asian Export Art: China

Devoted to art made in China for export to the West, the gallery illustrates how the cross-cultural exchange that began in the 16th century continues today. Artwork on view reflects the intense demand for customized porcelains and metalwork, along with images that depict the Western market’s desire for spices, tea and luxury goods.

Art & Nature Center

Visitors of all ages always find something to see and do in the Art & Nature Center and adjoining Art Studios. You can meet artists, create art, play games and participate in an ever-changing schedule of events and programs. The interactive Art & Nature Center features exhibitions and related activities that interpret the natural world through experience and observation. Computers, gallery guides, books and other media provide additional opportunities to explore art.

Traditional Indian Art

The Fadia-Desphande Gallery presents a dynamic variety of traditional art from the last two centuries, ranging from Bengal’s clay sculpture to Thanjavur painting.

Oceanic Art

Early New England mariners who became familiar with Pacific island cultures in the late 18th century formed the basis of PEM’s collection of Oceanic art that is internationally recognized for its breadth and aesthetic richness. Masterworks from Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia exemplify tradition and the contemporary reinterpretation of cultural icons and practices.

Native American Art

Personal and ceremonial works on view are all masterful expressions of individual and community vision. They reveal the vital role of art in the daily lives of Native American people. PEM holds the oldest, ongoing collection of Native American art in this hemisphere, begun with the museum’s founding in 1799.

All of My Life: Contemporary Works by Native American Artists features the work of nine artists who reinterpret Native American painting and sculpting traditions that are thousands of years old. The artists are Mateo Romero, David Bradley, Truman Lowe, Barbara Cerno, Tammy Garcia, Dan V. Lomahaftewa, Judith Lowry, Rick Rivet and Kathleen Wall. All works were completed in the last decade.

Asian Export Art: Works On Paper

Changing exhibitions feature works on paper with themes related to botany, landscapes, commerce and city life. The low light helps preserve these fragile works of art.

Japanese Art

Works on view fall into several themes, including “Spirituality,” “Essence of Nature” and “World of Play.” Ancient and contemporary expressions demonstrate the diversity of aesthetic taste — from understated to ornate — that remains a vibrant part of Japanese life.

American Art

Experience artworks that celebrate the lives and sensibilities of New Englanders, from toys to furniture, home furnishings and portraits. Artists reflected the region’s distinctive historical and political character and incorporated diverse artistic and cultural influences. That unifying sense of place and identity is constantly being renewed.

Chinese Art

Changing exhibitions blend the art of China and other parts of Asia. See previously unseen works from the museum’s collection, recent acquisitions, artworks borrowed from other collections and an array of contemporary art.

Asian Export Art: China

Devoted to art made in China for export to the West, the gallery illustrates how the cross-cultural exchange that began in the 16th century continues today. Artwork on view reflects the intense demand for customized porcelains and metalwork, along with images that depict the Western market’s desire for spices, tea and luxury goods.

Asian Export Art: Japan

See splendid silver, bronze sculptures, ceramics and lacquerware Japanses artists created for export to Europe beginning in the 16th century.

Asian Export Art: India

British military leaders who settled in India in the late 18th and early 19th centuries commissioned textiles, ceramics, decorative art and furniture and frequently brought these works back to England with them. Soon, Indian objects, especially the types of textiles and furniture on view, were prized throughout Europe, where they were valued for their exceptional artistry, rare materials and distinctive joinery.

Maritime Art

Objects and images — paintings, lighthouse and ship models, ivory carvings, prints, and a miniature pair of sailor pants — convey aspects of the American maritime experience.