Review: Milwaukee Art Museum

Zoom out. What’s this place all about?
The lakefront Milwaukee Art Museum is a vision in and of itself. The gleaming white Santiago Calatrava structure, with dramatic wings and stunning dorsal fin, hints at the talent within the quiet galleries inside. Located right on the lake, the effect is that of a great white water bird preening itself. When the museum opens in the morning, you can glimpse the wings open wide. Midday, they flap, and at night, the wings tuck in for the evening.

Ye shall know them by their permanent collection: How was it?
With a collection of over 25,000 works, the Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the largest museums in the country. The galleries feature everything from folk art to contemporary American, across all disciplines like prints, sculptures, paintings, and the like. Wisconsin native Georgia O'Keefe features prominently—the museum owns much of her work—alongside European artists Gustave Caillebotte, Claude Monet, and Joan Miró.

But also by their new shoes. How were the exhibits?
The museum curates regular exhibition from its deep collection, like the recent “Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France," a look at 150 works by artists working in Paris in the 1800s and 1900s. Another exhibit, "The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip" features 18 photographers and their work, chronologically displayed starting from the 1950s to today. A special road trip play list, curated by 88nine Radio Milwaukee, is available to listen to while exploring the exhibit.

What did you make of the crowd?
Summer is Milwaukee's high season, but most people are outdoors and enjoying lakefront beaches, sports, and music festivals. The museum is a comfortable reprieve from the crowds, with large, echo-y spaces and quieter galleries, particularly the furniture arts.

On the practical tip, how were facilities?
Yes, and easy access to lakefront park lands offers a break from stale museum air.

Any guided tours worth trying?
Kohl's Art Generation app is available for young museum goers to interact with the exhibits through videos, games, trivia, and more.

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
It's a pretty standard museum gift shop.

Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere?
Typically, Café Calatrava, named after the museum's architect, serves up stunning lakeviews and artful dishes to match the museum's vision. Scallops, brussels sprouts and pancetta are plated in a gorgeous, jewel-toned crescent moon, while charcuterie is served with bright nasturiums and other edible flowers.

Unfortunately, for now Cafe Calatrava is closed due to the pandemic.

Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?
The museum once ran a public poll for peoples' favorite works. Henry Vianden's oil on canvas, "Landscape with Mountains and River" and Jules Bastien-Lepage's "Le Père Jacques (Woodgatherer)" numbered among the top choices.