New Bedford Art Museum

Address
608 Pleasant St
New Bedford, MA 02740 United States Get Directions
Phone (508) 961-3072
Events at this venue
Today
  • Artistic Luminaries: Three Local Icons

    Artistic Luminaries: Three Local Icons

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    For decades, three friends — Willoughby "Bill" Elliott (1943–2016), Severin "Sig" Haines (1946–2023), and Marc St. Pierre (1952–2019)— served as leading figures in the studios and classrooms of the Swain School of Design and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Their collective influence not only established a model of artistic and educational excellence but also significantly shaped the South Coast's creative identity. This legacy continues through successive generations of artists. Elliott, who taught at Mass Dartmouth from 1967 until his retirement as a Chancellor's Professor, urged his students to "allow others to step into the work — that's where the magic is." His landscapes translated perception into form and light, inviting viewers to enter the world as he saw it. A world that was sensitive and aware of constant change. St. Pierre, who joined the Swain School of Design in 1979 and later UMass Dartmouth in 1988, layered maps, geometry, and gesture into tactile worlds of wax and paper. He built "a dialogue of random marks that combines the constructed with the unsystematic," teaching students to balance precision with the unexpected. He retired in 2017 after thirty-eight years of teaching. Haines, a painter of striking natural insight, described himself as a […]

    $7 – $10

  • Wheel Throwing For Everyone

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced pro with the wheel, you are welcome in this class, which will cover all aspects of the ceramics process. You'll learn how to throw on the potter’s wheel and you will practice new throwing techniques and hone specific skills. An Instructor will help students increase the amount of clay they can handle successfully, throw thinner and taller, and throw new shapes. We will practice attachments such as handles, as well as pulling handles directly from the side of the cup. The class will focus primarily on tableware shapes – mugs, cups, bowls plates, etc, but all ideas and forms of expression through clay are encouraged! Classes meet 1 day a week for 4 weeks. (February 3, 10, 17, & 24) All necessary materials are provided for this hands-on experience.

    $189.00 – $210.00

  • Create Your Own Universe: Comic Workshop for Teens

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Step into the world of comics and build a universe that is entirely your own. In this four session workshop, illustrator Isiah Botelho shows you how to take your ideas from imagination to the page using the same tools and techniques working comic artists rely on. You will design characters, build dynamic panels and learn how to make your stories flow with clarity, impact and personality. Each class is hands on and fast paced. You will sketch, experiment, redraw and push your ideas further every week. You will learn how to show emotion through poses, how to create tension through pacing and how to guide your reader from moment to moment through smart panel design. You’ll also look at how professional artists build their pages and break down what makes their work stand out. The Class Over four weeks, you will: • Create your own original characters and shape the world they live in • Build panels that move your story forward • Learn how to show action, emotion and drama through drawing • Practice storytelling techniques used in the comic industry • Develop a short comic sequence • Put together a mini comic or zine to take home No […]

    $180 – $200

  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Drawing from a live model has been an important part of many formal artistic practices since the Renaissance. Our open figure drawing studio is intended to provide artists of all levels a relaxed environment and a dedicated space where they are able to continue the tradition of working from a live nude model. Sessions are three hours long, and will start with a series of short gestures and ranging from 5-10 minutes before moving into longer 30 minute poses. Each class typically concludes with an hour long pose. There will be no formal instruction during the class; artists are encouraged to work from the model independently, in any medium they wish to bring.

    $20

  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10

  • Music at the Museum: The Punk Cellist

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Folk, soul, pop, electronica, rock, hip-hop, and jazz, are just some of the genres you might hear at any given FriYAY event. Hear local musicians play a two-hour set. Upcoming: The Punk Cellist The Art Museum presents The Punk Cellist. As a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Ian Legge combines his formal training with his love of punk to create something entirely unique. Ian has performed and recorded with numerous artists, including Tony Award winner Charlie Rosen & The 8-Bit Big Band, Sum 41, Jenn Fiorentino, Red City Radio, Tim MacMillar (Protest The Hero), Lesibu Grand, And more.

    Free

  • MOVEMENT AT THE MUSEUM: In a Landscape

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    From cutting-edge modern dance to ballet, noted dancers, choreographers, and visiting guest choreographers curate performances, lectures, and workshops to introduce various dance forms. This Month: Steven Vaughn Professional dancer, Steven Vaughn, returns with a new solo performance that responds to the Art Museum’s current display, Artistic Luminaries: Three Local Icons, in a performance titled "In a Landscape".

    Free

  • Friday the 13th: SketchyGOichie Digital Drawing Workshop

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    This special Friday the 13th edition of the SketchyGOichie Digital Drawing Workshop turns a day known for superstition into a celebration of creativity and good vibes. Young artists will use iPads and professional digital art tools to design their own characters, creatures or good-luck charms while learning the same digital techniques used in creative careers. The session is taught with the playful, high-energy SketchyGOichie teaching style that keeps kids engaged and excited to create. SketchyGOichie’s mission is to nurture creativity, promote purposeful screen time and introduce emerging artists to real career pathways in the digital arts. By pairing industry-standard technology with supportive, step-by-step instruction, the program welcomes students of all backgrounds and learning styles. Participants explore character design, storytelling and visual problem solving in an environment designed to build confidence. DRAW is a digital art and rendering workshop series created to help kids develop strong creative habits while having fun. Using iPads and pro-level apps, students learn to sketch, refine and complete digital illustrations with guidance from working artists who bring real industry experience into the classroom.

    $30 – $35

  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Drawing from a live model has been an important part of many formal artistic practices since the Renaissance. Our open figure drawing studio is intended to provide artists of all levels a relaxed environment and a dedicated space where they are able to continue the tradition of working from a live nude model. Sessions are three hours long, and will start with a series of short gestures and ranging from 5-10 minutes before moving into longer 30 minute poses. Each class typically concludes with an hour long pose. There will be no formal instruction during the class; artists are encouraged to work from the model independently, in any medium they wish to bring.

    $20

  • Sketchbook Club

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Every Other Friday | 6:00–8:00 PM Upcoming: June 13 Tickets: $10 Whether you use your sketchbook to creatively brainstorm a work project, capture daily observations, imagine a fantasy world, or just mindfully doodle, it can be a unique record of your day or your life. Join other sketchers at our informal gathering, led by local artist and illustrator Isiah Botelho. Each session will kick off with a prompt to inspire discussion and drawing, and participants will be able to share their work comfortably. Bring your sketchbook and preferred materials; we will have some basic supplies available. No pressure, no judgment, no guilt -- just community.

    $10

  • Winter Break Art Program: Season of Making

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    Spark creativity this February Vacation at the New Bedford Art Museum. Season of Making is a full-day art program that invites young artists to spend the week exploring creativity, imagination, and self-expression through hands-on art making. Students will experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques while creating artwork they’ll be proud to bring home and share. Each day begins with engaging prompts and guided lessons led by the Museum’s professional teaching artists, followed by open studio exploration, creative games, and collaborative group activities. Participants will build confidence, make new friends, and strengthen their artistic skills in a warm, welcoming environment designed to encourage curiosity, creative growth, and meaningful artistic experiences during February Vacation. What to Bring: Children must bring their own lunch and drinks each day. All art supplies and snacks are provided. If your child needs to miss a day, that’s perfectly fine.

    $315.00 – $350.00

  • Petals Into Pigment: Natural Dyeing with Valentine’s Flowers

    New Bedford Art Museum 608 Pleasant St, New Bedford, MA, United States

    This workshop, led by natural dyer and artist Korie Ellis, explores how natural pigments can hold memories. Using leftover Valentine’s Day flowers, participants will turn something temporary and delicate into something that lasts. Instead of letting bouquets fade, this process transforms them into color that can be worn, carried, and remembered. Each person will dye a cotton bandana infused with the pigments of their own preserved moment, creating a piece of wearable memory. Flowers will also be provided for anyone who is not bringing their own bouquet. Along the way, Korie introduces the science behind natural dyeing, including how pH affects color and why natural fibers matter. The workshop also highlights circular design, showing how discarded flowers can become vibrant sources of color and self expression. This experience is about holding onto a moment and giving it new life. Everyone will take home their naturally dyed bandana, along with care instructions to help preserve its story and color. No experience needed, and all materials will be prepared in advance.

    $30 – $35

Be the First to Know What’s Happening

Get monthly updates on art walks, festivals, food pop-ups, and more.

Photo Credit: Josh Souza