Museum of Bad Art (MOBA)

MOBA was established in 1993 after antique dealer Scott Wilson discovered an eye-catching piece in a garbage pile that proved it was "art too bad to be ignored." Receptions became so popular they outgrew their home base in Somerville; today the museum exhibits in an old theater basement there.

Founded in 1993

The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA), in Boston Massachusetts is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating bad art from all around the world. Established in 1993, MOBA hosts exhibitions featuring works that are not only bad, but funny and entertaining as well. NPR and the New York Times have given MOBA praise as they share its mission of celebrating artistic failure through exhibits featuring exhibitions from some of its own members and international visitors alike.

MOBA was established in 1993 when antique dealer Scott Wilson discovered an unusual painting in a trash bin and decided to save it, becoming the inaugural painting displayed at MOBA (known as Lucy in the Field with Flowers today). Soon enough it became clear there was an audience for this type of artwork and MOBA quickly outgrew its modest beginnings.

MOBA was initially housed at Wilson's home until its collection outgrew his small space. Over time, MOBA moved to the basement of a theater in Dedham before recently also having spaces in Brookline and Somerville before COVID-19 caused them to relocate into Dorchester Brewing Company.

MOBA exhibits works that may seem disparate at first glance; all they share in common is an incredible lack of skill - which makes the museum all the more intriguing for visitors. Alongside its main galleries, MOBA also holds traveling shows; for example "Art Goes Out the Window", in Cape Cod featured hanging works suspended from trees in nature!

MOBA collects art from dumpsters, thrift stores and artists directly - often known as MoBA Rescues - but some pieces also come from donations by artists themselves, giving rise to unique stories behind each painting like when MOBA displayed one painted by a mental patient depicting an image of a naked man climbing stairs!

MOBA was created with one mission in mind - to celebrate failure through art - and has quickly become a sought-after destination for fans of bad art worldwide. Open and free to the public, its operations are supported through donations and book sales.

Located in Somerville

The Museum of Bad Art in Somerville, Massachusetts is dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and celebrating bad art. Additionally, this museum teaches its audience to appreciate it properly - its mission being providing a place where individuals can enjoy viewing bad paintings and sculptures, as well as learning how to create their own bad pieces of artwork.

The museum's public gallery can be found in the basement of Somerville Theater in Davis Square and features 700 pieces, each of which comes complete with written interpretation to help public understand more easily some of their complexity. Admission to the public gallery is free with any movie ticket purchase; or visit during open hours to visit for yourself!

As well as its main gallery, the museum also hosts traveling shows; these have included performances in a barn and even an automated car wash! T-shirts, books, and other gifts can also be purchased here.

Though the gallery may be small, it contains some amazing works of art. Pieces range from poorly drawn portraits of celebrities and outlandish landscapes to several nudes; even though their masterpieces may not rival those by Rembrandt or Van Gogh they will no doubt entertain and amuse anyone visiting the museum.

Since 1993, this museum has been run entirely by volunteers. Donations come primarily from people passionate about bad art who donate pieces to be displayed therein; donations and sales of gift items also provide financial support for its operation. Collections continue to grow steadily, with hopes that soon enough a permanent location may be secured by this unique organization.

Louise Reilly Sacco, MOBA's "permanent acting interim executive director" (her real title), recounts its beginning. Her brother Jerry discovered an awful painting in a curbside trash bin and recognized it as being too bad to ignore - that painting led directly to MOBA.

Today, the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) has evolved into an international organization and gained widespread acclaim; even The Times listed MOBA among their 50 best galleries worldwide in 2014. Alongside their brick-and-mortar gallery space, MOBA also hosts traveling exhibits and has an online storefront.

Dedicated to showcasing art that’s so bad it’s good

Some may view the museum's mission as comically ironic or absurdist; however, its true purpose lies in challenging traditional notions of what constitutes art and providing education on how to critique work produced by artists. Furthermore, its collections feature paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints which both disturb and amuse.

The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) has been open for more than two decades and was created by Boston antique dealer Scott Wilson and art collector Jerry Reilly. Their first piece found was Lucy in the Field with Flowers from a trash heap; at first, Wilson wanted to dispose of it but then realized its inherent beauty; ultimately Reilly said "That's so bad it's good!"

The museum aims to preserve and showcase paintings that are so bad, they're actually good. Their collection contains over 600 works; each comes complete with information regarding its source, style, and meaning; plus proceeds go towards funding educational programs.

MOBA started out in Reilly's basement but quickly outgrew the space, moving to two galleries located in 1920s-era theaters in Dedham and Somerville. Today it is run by Louise Reilly Sacco who has served as curator since 1994; MOBA has become a global sensation attracting visitors from all around the globe.

An artwork that fits the criteria for Bad Is Good must meet certain standards: its work must be original and genuine while remaining spectacular or interestingly bad in some way. MOBA curators do not accept pieces with kitschy themes like animals, hearts or flowers as these would not pass muster with MOBA curators.

MOBA is also an ideal venue for wedding receptions and birthday parties, offering workshops on creating bad art. Their website showcases paintings submitted by patrons along with information regarding their significance or story behind it.

Located in Dorchester

At the Museum of Bad Art, terrible art can often be surprising and wonderful at once. That is embraced by its celebration of inept paintings and drawings that make you laugh, cry or simply perplex yourself. Now located in Dorchester, its collection features hilarious baby frilly tops as well as whimsical horses; founded in 1994 this nonprofit organization strives to preserve some of the worst artwork from all around the globe.

Scott Wilson found his first piece from the trash and quickly discovered that others found pleasure in viewing its strange creations as much as he did. Soon thereafter he started hosting receptions in friends' homes; by year's end his collection had grown so large it required its own space; initially in Dedham Theater's basement and then at Somerville Theater's Somerville Studio space before eventually moving to Dorchester Brewing Company in Boston where it has found a permanent home, featuring approximately 40 paintings from its collection as well as beer and beverages from its M&M BBQ restaurant!

MOBA Director Louise Sacco emphasizes its purpose: celebrating artists whose labor would otherwise go unrecognized by any other forum. As an entirely volunteer-run organization without admission fees, its collection includes more than 700 pieces (25-35) on display at any one time in Dorchester's permanent gallery and traveling exhibit.

The museum has found its perfect home at Dorchester since pandemic-induced theatre closure. Gallery hours will mirror those of the brewery, and plans are in the works to expand reach in future. Meanwhile, Zillionaires: Road Trip USA created by Big Potato Games can now be pre-ordered!