Delaware Art Museum

Currently my new favorite Museum. Very spacious with so much to see and do!

I went during an event where they serve food and allow people to sit on the grass. I met two natives and they were so nice! We shared a table and had some good tacos.

If you like museums with good art this place is for you.

For a DE native, I am a little ashamed this is my first time here ! What a beautiful museum ! Gorgeous grounds, friendly staff.. this is definitely a place that is well run and well maintained.

It's two floors and truthfully took less than an hour to navigate all of the galleries (which there were about 15-16). You're greeted in the lobby by a lovely Dale Chihuly glass sculpture and even more sculptures outside so don't head back to the car, take the path across the street to the sculpture museum as you leave to walk back to the parking lots.

Don't forget to check out the museum store ! I left with some frida kahlo socks and a magnet just to show that I had completed this rite of passage. Not getting many visitors, you will feel like you have this museum all to yourself and honestly it felt like such a treat to be there.

For a city the size of Wilmington, the Delaware Art Museum packs a decent punch and is worth a visit. It's located in an absolutely beautiful area with nice homes outside of the downtown core of Wilmington with plenty of free and safe parking. It's limited to 2 floors, so can easily be covered in 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your pacing and level of interest. I have been there twice and while the rotating exhibits haven't been overly impressive, the permanent core collection along with the Chiluly glass installation makes the visit worthwhile. There is also a modest outdoor sculpture garden area that is nice and peaceful for a stroll. There is a wonderful cafe on premises with a welcoming interior and decent selection of food and drinks, located adjacent to the museum store/gift shop. Best of all, admission to the museum is free on Sundays to all thanks to funding from DuPont. While it may not be as extensive as some small city museums across the country, the Delaware Art Museum is a nice attraction I'd recommend visiting to others.

I went by myself on a low activity day, nearly empty, and the security guards followed me to every room. I am a retiree, was dressed nicely, tiny pocketbook, etc. Not like I was looking suspicious with bags or such... It was HIGHLY disturbing. I finally asked, "Are you following me?" and the man said "We have very valuable items here." Ridiculous. I reported it to management and never heard back. Will not go again and don't recommend it to anyone.

Wilmington, Delaware is an underrated city. I find that Wilmington has a number of the best museums in the country, and they should market themselves better to that end. But on the other hand, I like how there's just so much culture jam packed into the city without being overly hyped and touristy. It's certainly no Disney World. This review is going to talk about one of those such museums.

Many of the other museums in town I have visited before, but I had never gone to the Delaware Art Museum. The reason we went is because they had Bank of America museums on us weekend. I recommend checking the schedule to see if you can go on one of those days for free. They also have Dupont free Sundays. So, we got in for free, which was great.

There weren't that many people there. We basically had the whole museum to ourselves. It was such a nice day. They had lots of specialized exhibits on certain artists, and they also had a Delaware history theme to the art. Much of the exhibits were modern art, so you need to appreciate that.

They had outside picnic areas, and we brought our lunch. We made a nice afternoon out of it. The Delaware Art Museum is just as good as any one that I've been to in New York, but it's just not as hyped. I will definitely go back again, but once they rotate their exhibits again.

I had an amazing time and my wife keeps talking about going back. Definitely recommend this place for the visually stimulated.

I recently spent a lovely Sunday afternoon wandering the galleries at Delaware Art Museum. This is a wonderful museum and a real treasure in the Brandywine Valley. I particularly enjoyed the museum's collection of early to mid (20th) century illustrations and their Ashcan School holdings. On this recent visit, I spent the bulk of my time enjoying the illustration galleries and the Chihuly installation at the entrance. There is a cafe in the museum, as well as a nicely-stocked gift shop. The museum has free admission on Sundays.

Great museum, just the right size. Can see all the work in about a hour or two. Good artist. Clean spacious. Everyone that works there go out of there way to help you. A must if your I. Wilmington.

Dayumn, DAM!
This museum is FREE on Thursday afternoons/evenings, & on Sundays. FREE! FREE! FREE!

I was happily surprised to find that there are also FREE TOURS! Upon arrival a tour had just started, but we were able to join. There were only two other visitors on it, which was more personal. Docents, Nancy & Jim led us through six works, a transection of the movements/periods in the permanent collection. (According to Nancy, each docent chooses the works they like best, & know much about.) Note: apparently, tours are only offered on weekends.

The galleries possess a little something to cover each chapter of your "Art History 101" book, but it's not full halls per chapter, like the PMA. As others have mentioned, this is as much a positive as a negative. What they lack in depth, allows for an ingestible dose of breadth, which, when you're in the mood for a buffet, is just right. This is especially perfect for kids/artworld novices, who are learning from exposure, & IMO should see a little of everything, to see what catches their sensibility.

The tour we had, began with a trompe l'oiel violin still life, which I believe was Dutch, or of that Vermeer-y Dutch Baroque period. (I was late so I didn't get the full intro.) I knew what trompe l'oiel was, but if I hadn't had background study, it would have been an appreciated new insight/education. Nonetheless, it's always enriching to hear a docent discuss a painting, & I had a lot of fun picking Nancy & Jim's brains with my annoying questions (they were really patient & kind).

We moved on to a stained glass window taken from a Newport Gilded Age mansion. It had been commissioned through Morris (as in the Arts & Crafts guru) in England, but as a commission, the style was not Art Nouveau, rather made as ordered: a Viking ship. The owner of this RI manse, was enamored of Norse folklore & wanted her home styled in that vein. It was fascinating to hear about the installation, the fees, & the visual content of the ominous waves, as though inside the rocking boat.

The next work was "Spring Rain," by John Sloan, of a woman in Union Square at the time of the Industrial Rev. I noticed the light source was askew, & it annoyed me b/c there were no clues as to why. The female figure is illuminated unnaturally for her surroundings, just slightly. Why?

What would a visit to the Brandywine Valley be without a Wyeth painting? The A. Wyeth work, "Tenant Farmer," was an eerie egg tempera behind glass. Nancy gave us a worksheet to consider which adjectives best described our reaction to the dead deer hanging from a small tree. (I said "magical" b/c that puny branch could not support a deer.)

Next, a more contemp painting of women with dripping paint on the lines of sketch. It grew on me. Artistic Appropriation, I learned, is the term for when you rip off another creator's work. In this case, Grace Hartigan had copied an illustration from a paper doll book, but made it her drippy own. A bit brilliant.

Last, the "big hole" installation. Sorry, I forget the artist. It was novelty-interesting, but more sensational than cerebral.

There were also two exhibits going on, one on periodical/book illustrations from late 19thC/early 20thC, + an Edward Loper exhibit. I am not huge on this period of American illustrations (not a fan of Rockwellian apple pie propaganda), but I really felt moved by a lot of the Loper pieces. He was a Wilmington local, who painted all kinds of Wilm. & Philly scenes. His color & movement awed me, lots of mood energy in his canvass. I am glad I was introduced to him.

With Nancy's quick talks about the artists & works, I got a LOT more out of them. I'd have been burnt out to tour every piece, but the handful was just right; enough to pique my curiosity, & create momentum for self-guided exploration.

It was a very productive visit. My son was well-behaved, & responded to the relaxed creative energy. I was even able to CAREFULLY let him sit/crawl on the floor away from the art, & the guards, while watchful, allowed it, which was appreciated b/c he needed a little outlet. I have to say, the guards here are really chill & cool. The ones at the PMA are MEAN! (Tip: guards are often art students themselves!) The DAM guards are at task, but not jerks, & that was so nice!

Didn't get to see it all, but I can't wait to return!

DAM is located in a residential section of Wilmington, with beautiful old homes. It is very walkable, safe, & quiet. It doesn't feel like you're in the city at all. If you have time, I recommend taking a stroll around the neighborhood before or after your visit, just to taste the architectural flavor. The sidewalks are all upkept, & it's so pleasant on a nice day!

Additionally, the grounds of the museum host a sculpture garden, & a maze installation, which is hands-on explorable, & fun for all ages. They have some benches & picnic tables around the lawns, too.

Parking is FREE & the lot is huge, so you are sure to have a space.

Go have FUN!

This museum is stunning. The outdoor space is so lovely. The selection of art is quite nice and has a lot of variety. The gift shop has a great selection of items. Staff are friendly and helpful. Will be back with friends and family!