Six Must-See Fall Art Exhibitions in Boston and Beyond

Read on for new exhibitions at the MFA, the ICA, and other local museums and galleries.


“Boston Made”

Boston artists of the early-20th-century Arts and Crafts movement didn’t shy away from the bold: They distinguished themselves—and the city—by employing an elaborate mix of metals and gemstones in their works. Head to the MFA to see nearly 100 of these eye-catching pieces, including a 1910 enameled copper box by Frank J. Marshall.

11/17–3/29/20, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-267-9300, mfa.org.

Photo by Dominik Mentzos (William Forsythe)

“Choreographic Objects”

William Forsythe—the world-renowned choreographer currently in the midst of a five-year tenure at the Boston Ballet—created a series of interactive installations, sculptures, and films hoping to elicit new and varied forms of movement. So lace up your sneakers: This first-of-its-kind ICA exhibition invites you to climb hanging rings, dodge swinging pendulums, and more.

10/31–2/24/19, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, 617-478-3100, icaboston.org.

Photo by Roger Minick. / Woman with Scarf at Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, California from Sightseer Series 980, courtesy of Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts

“Contemplating the View”

The American landscape often plays host to head-to-head battles between the natural and human-made, whether it be a tree growing through a hole in a fence or a roller coaster snaking through hilly ground. With works from the likes of Ansel Adams, Lois Conner, and Marcia Resnick, this Addison Gallery exhibition features more than 150 photographs that examine the complexity of our nation’s terrain.

9/8–3/3/19, 180 Main St., Andover, 978-749-4015, addison.andover.edu.

“Mary Sinclair: A Retrospective”

An avid Bay State vacationer, artist Mary Sinclair became a local favorite thanks to more than 50 years of painting Cape Cod scenes. This Provincetown Art Association and Museum exhibition provides a fond look at the late artist’s impressionist work.

9/7–11/4, 460 Commercial St., Provincetown, 508-487-1750, paam.org.

Courtesy of the artist

Paul Rousso

In this Lanoue Gallery exhibition, Paul Rousso entices viewers to spend time with the material we take most for granted: paper. The artist enlarges images of crumpled candy wrappers, dollar bills, and newspapers to exaggerated dimensions (think: 6 by 8 feet), hand-sculpting them to perfection.

10/19–11/30, 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, 617-262-4400, lanouegallery.com.

Courtesy of the artist

Samir Sammoun

Move over, Paris: Boston Common, Beacon Hill, and the Back Bay serve up plenty of inspiration for Samir Sammoun’s postimpressionistic paintings. View his iridescent canvases, including a series of new works on the Head of the Charles, at Galerie d’Orsay.

9/30–10/31, 33 Newbury St., Boston, 617-266-8001, galerie-dorsay.com.