Boise Art Museum, Boise

Established in 1931 as the Boise Art Association, the Boise Art Museum has grown into a leading fine arts institution. Its original facility, constructed in 1937, was a modest 3,900-square-foot gallery. Over the following decades, the museum underwent several major expansions, offering exhibition galleries, a sculpture court and education studios.

The museum’s collecting mission centers on twentieth-century realism, modern and contemporary ceramics, and artists from the American West, particularly Idaho and the Northwest. Early acquisitions included works by Harvey Gregory Pruscheck and Fanny Dike Burns. The museum also holds the largest public collection of works by James Castle, a self-taught artist known for his drawings and handmade books.

The museum has presented traveling shows, regionally focused exhibitions, and thematic displays on topics such as social protest, cultural identity, and environmental concerns. Longstanding attention to diverse artistic media includes painting, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, photography, and installation.

The museum also serves as an educational and community resource. Programs include hands-on workshops, school partnerships, and drop-in family art days. A key annual event, “Art in the Park,” brings together more than 200 artists each September in an outdoor festival featuring art sales, food, music, and children’s activities.