Are you an artist living in Massachusetts? Maybe just visiting? Massachusetts has rich art and culture and is filled with art museums, both contemporary and historical. There are so many places to pull inspiration from, but yet New England residents don't take advantage of it. Here are 7 art museums that I encourage you to explore this summer.

1. TheMuseum of Fine Art (MFA)

The MFA, located on Huntington Ave. in Boston, has nearly 500,000 works, both historical and contemporary. The massive two story building is home to many works of art and artifacts from all over the globe and is a perfect environment to get inspiration or simply learn about world history through the beautiful works that have been left behind. This world-renowned museum is a perfect place to bring your family or to explore with your friends.

2. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)

Like the MFA, the ICA is located in Boston, however, it does not have historical pieces in its galleries. Instead, this museum presents modern works in nearly all media, including visual and performance art and music, video, and film. It aims to bring attention to works that are not thoroughly presented to the New England population. This is a museum that no modern artist should miss out on. I encourage anyone who is involved in or appreciates art to take a trip here this summer.

3. The Worcester Art Museum (WAM)

Sited in Worcester, WAM is a 35,000 piece museum which displays works that span 5,000 years, including floor mosaics from the ancient city of Antioch, Greece. This is another great educational resource, as it holds many historical artifacts and works of art. Additionally, WAM has recently adopted the artifacts from the local and recently closed Higgins Armory Museum. And for the artist who loves drawing the human figure, they offer a nude drawing program on Thursdays from 2 to 5 pm.

4. TheIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum

This museum, again, located in the big city of Boston, has a rich historical collection and was created by Isabella Stewart Gardner, one of the most prominent female philanthropist who was an animal and child rights advocate and collected art and artifacts from ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, Renaissance Italy, Asia, the Middle East and 19th-century France and America. In addition to the Monks Garden outside the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the flourishing interior courtyard combines horticulture and sculpture to allow visitors to experience the great beauty of the garden arts. I highly recommend this museum for feminists and lovers of art history.

5. The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)

The PEM in Salem is an art museum that aims to broaden people’s perspectives and attitudes concerning the world around them. While displaying both contemporary and historical works, PEM has made itself known as one of the fastest growing museums in North America. It is one of the nation’s

main museums for Asian art and was among the first museums

in America to collect art from around the world. I recommend this museum for

the artist who has a fascination of Asian art.

6. The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln is the largest park of its kind in New England, spanning 30 acres. Its outdoor sculpture park is constantly changing its larger-than-life, modern sculptures and installations, containing more than 60 works. Inside the museum are rotating exhibits and programs. This museum is especially perfect for both the nature lover and the 3D designer or sculpture enthusiast.

7. Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA)

Placed in North Adams, MASS MoCA has a large variety of modern galleries and both indoor and outdoor venues for the performing arts. This museum has a collection of all different forms of art, including music, dance, theater, film, photography, painting, sculpture, and even works that cross boundaries and are not classifiable by traditional media definitions. Striving to be an unconventional art museum, MASS MoCA’s mission is to bring the highest quality of new and exciting works of art to the public’s attention. This is a museum that the modern artist cannot miss out on.