Museum of Bad Art

It doesn’t take long to go through the collections, but it certainly does live up to it’s name and it’s well worth a visit.

When I ever heard about this place I KNEW I had to go. It was quite a few years ago. I went with my sister on a double date — the first and only time we ever did that. Our dates were more random than the art… and that is saying something. But as usual, I digress.
We actually didn’t even go out there for a movie — we went just for the «museum». If you have that kind of sense of humor, then this is the place for you. It is a small «exhibit», so don’t expect rooms and rooms of art.
Lucky for us though, if you haven’t go your fill in Dedham, you can always visit the other «branch» of the MOBA at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

While passing through Dedham a few weeks ago my girlfriend and I decided to stop by the MOBA for a quick visit. We were happy that no purchase of a movie ticket was required and it’s easy to find because it is located right inside the Dedham Community Theatre. I haven’t been to the MOBA in years I think the last time I was there the movie «I Heart Huckabee’s» was playing.
I knew in advance that the MOBA isn’t anything fantastic and that it is located outside the Men’s/Women’s bathroom. Well, something must have happened here because it’s not nearly what I remembered. On this particular day the «museum» probably had under twenty pieces of artwork on the walls which didn’t hold a lot of acclaim.
I understand that this place is a novelty and people come from all around to see these priceless P.O.S’. But it would be nice to see the MOBA be given a facelift and have some newer pieces of crap hanging on the walls. I’m thankful I didn’t have to pay for my visit but hope that when I do eventually return that there is more delightful scribblings on the wall.

Kind of tricky to find if you’re not familiar with the area, but once you make it there, it is a gem. Sometimes the sounds of personal business from the men’s bathroom provide a charming soundtrack to the bad art viewing. After checking out some really hilariously bad art, take in a movie upstairs.

I make everyone that visits me go here.
The museum is located outside the men’s room, which cracks me up every time I enthusiastically lead people down the stairs to the museum.
When I went this weekend after a long hiatus, I was welcomed with snazzy new placards and an entirely new installation of art. The key to its genius is the printed interpretations underneath. I like to be the person who insists on reading my favorite parts aloud and finding the coveted «donated by artist’s mother» captions.
It’s worth the trip just to see the Playboy Bunnies and Lady with Enormous Pants. And while you’re there, work your imaginative magic on coming up with a title and interpretation for the new piece conveniently located on the back wall of the men’s room.
I find a visit is best paired with a show at the movie theater above — it makes one feel cultured.

Lame, small and just not good. If I go back and think otherwise, I will update you…
FYI City Feed and Supply in JP sells the Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) book in case you like it or want an unusual gift…

This place is hilarious. My family and I like to catch a movie in the theater above and then descend into the museum.
Most of this art looks like it was pulled from a dumpster. My sisters and I like to critique the pieces in the same way we do at the MFA (hushed voices, mentions of the artist’s vision and soul). If you are an even remotely talented artist, this place will make you feel like Leonardo da Vinci.

I was pretty disappointed by the museum of bad art. There was hardly anything on display, and it actually wasn’t that BAD. I wasn’t expecting some BAD art. Maybe I just have bad taste, but some of it I would actually hang in my house.
The museum is a little ways off the road, but we stopped on our way to Providence from Boston, and now I can say I’ve been to Dedham. Plus we picked up some popcorn for the rest of the ride, so not a complete waste, but probably would not do it again.

I think that I might have been a little too excited to see this. In my dream world, MoBA is a huge complex covered with terrible, TERRIBLE artistic interpretations.
What I got was a 12×10 room, outside the mens room, with about 15 «pieces»
The best part was the interpretations put up along side the pictures pointing out various flaws that might not catch your eye at first. All the descriptions ask the question «WHY?» and I don’t think that is something one can answer.
I’ve love for this to be bigger and better than any regular art museum out there. It’s such a great concept. Especially for those that might be bored by your average art gallery.

I was disappointed by the art on display at the Dedham location today. I think that all the masterworks must be on tour. I found the current displayed works unambitious and unevocative – too high school with little resonant stabs at symbolism, juxtaposition or haunting ambiguity. There’s so much exuberance and scale proffered by the works on the website that the journey to Dedham museum became an anticlimax.
The facility itself ain’t so hot either. It would benefit by a repaint and some proper gallery lighting because I don’ think their irony extends to the shabby space. I think that undermines it by suggesting to the viewer that he’s observing a prank rather than anything with a scholarly sincere thoughtful angle.

i have to admit, i was expecting more from the Museum of Bad Art. Something more than just a room. That said, they more than earned four stars for the idea alone, and it’s hardly faint praise to say that something left you wanting more (at least when it’s something that’s free in the first place). While the collection on display when i visited is not on a par with their masterworks, there was still plenty to ‘appreciate’, from the initial bad impression each artistic misstep provides, to the more intricate nuances that the curators lovingly point out on the placards.
A total waste of time. I’ll come back repeatedly.

There’s nothing like a basement museum that smells like bathrooms (because the bathrooms are there too and the doors are open. or is it just the mens?). anyway. And yes, much of the art is bad. Very very bad. Or worse, bad in that Gigli sort of way.
Sometimes, though, I’ll see something there I think is good. But, then, I guess there’s no accounting for taste.
The theater above is great in it’s own regard and there’s plenty of other things to do in Dedham once the entire museum has been canvassed (since it’s just one room, this takes anywhere for 15 minutes to an hour).
Go here. Definitely go here. But don’t plan to spend the day here. Plan other activities around your trip.

Went to this place last weekend with my girl to check it out. Turns out it’s in the basement of a really old movie theater. It’s very tiny I kept saying ok so is this is where is the rest as did my girl did. One or two sorta worth saying pieces but really to go there for 5 minutes waste time trust me get some ice cream across the street then was your time there it’s a joke as are the other reviews on this place.

Art appreciation is so subjective. People go nuts over Jackson Pollack, but I think it’s just a lot of randomly boring swoops and swirls. The Museum (and «museum» is such a misnomer, because it’s, like, a room) of Bad Art just goes to show that one person’s bad art is another’s masterpiece, or at least another person’s source of chuckles.
I found myself strangely disappointed because I was hoping for some REALLY awful art.
As Eric G. said, the worst of the bunch are the art class junkers. This is the real «bad art» in the collection. But I like outsider art, so the works by people who are clearly insane or homicidal maniacs are actually really cool. (Does that make me insane too?)
Don’t come here expecting that it will be the experience of a lifetime, but if you’re in the area and seek amusement for a few minutes, the museum is worth it. 3.85 stars with a cherry and whipped cream on top.
If loving bad art is wrong, then I don’t want to be right!

My husband once took part in a charity event where he played candlepin bowling against one of the curators from the MOBA. He won, and as a result he was able to walk away with a piece of art from their collection that was deemed too bad to hang.
Sadly, the jerk got rid of it before I met him, otherwise you bet that sucker would’ve been framed and hung in a place of honor and respect in our home.
— — — — — — —
You have to love any museum that is
a) free
b) dedicated to mediocrity in one’s craft
c) located next to the bathrooms of a movie theatre

MOBA is a museum driven by pieces of BAD art that were either donated or found collecting dust. Most of the items were seriously found in attics, thrift stores or yardsales. MOBA is the epitome of «one man’s trash is another man’s treasure»
Many of the pieces remind me of my High School art class. An even mixture of items made from the angry Goths and Jenny the cheerleader who was forced to take the class for the credits.
In a world of over analyzed art, the pieces at MOBA are too horrible to trash… they are just plain tacky, weird and overall crappy paintings and sculptures.
It is always a good time to see what pieces are accepted as crap and why. A great place for a cheap night (that includes the pieces) that will have you laughing the entire time.

It’s almost what it sounds like — the Museum of Bad Art is more of a gallery than a museum, but the art is indeed bad. Their website states that there are over 400 pieces in the collection, and they only display bits at a time (to keep you coming back). The curators certainly seem to enjoy their job. I think one of my favorites was the Matisse-​style portrait of the lady listening to her ipod. I don’t recall but that may be the one that was donated by the artist.
I do kind of wish it was bigger, but hey, it’s free! Also, it’s a bit out of the way from central Boston via public transport. We had to take the Orange Line to the very end and then wait for an infrequent bus line to take us to Dedham. However, once we got to Dedham we saw that it is a very cute and quaint little town. It’s a nice afternoon trip.

A depiction of purple alien Adam and Eves in the garden of eden.
A detailed portrait of a clown with his monkey.
A giant cityscape made of keys glued onto board called ‘Keys to the City’
Two cowboys fighting for a car-​sized hat under the desert moon.
A grumpy cat haunted my the spectre of a cloud-​ghost dog.
Who paints this stuff!!!
I want it.
But sadly, you can’t buy it. You can only head down under the Dedham Cinema and see the hilarity in this dingy smelly annex room to the men’s toilets (some paintings are practically next to the urinals). Well, at least it’s free. And it only took me about 10 mins to end up in hysterics. It was cat & ghost dog one that did it for me: semi-​talented art + absurd subject = giggles galore.
The collection rotates so go again, and buy the T-​shirts if you dare.

I made this a meeting place, figuring it would be easy to find. And, other than the musty basement smell, it lived up to its very informative and funny website. We gazed at the bad art, and I decided that not all of it was too bad. I mean, overall it looked like a talented bunch of 7^th graders on exhibit, but most was a heck of a lot better than I could do. My favorite was this blue faced guy. I’ll upload the photo.
The bathrooms are very accessible, and we had the place to ourselves. This is a must-​see before or after a film at the cinema above. It’s free and fun, what more do you want these days?

Eyes. Pooled with tears. Laughs, un-​stifled.
So much emotion, beauty, joy, and sorrow on display here. I expected bad art, but there is so much more depth than anyone suspects.
Represented are–
— The Hopeless Art Class Victims. These people made a couple of paintings and are now probably working on a novel destined for glory in the Museum of Bad Literature.
–The Masters– The maximum pomposity that can be contained within a frame. The ego of these works is shouting out at you. The shouts are muffled by your soft giggles.
— The Insane– These artists have a chemical or neural disfunction of a serious nature. The art transports you to a different reality.
I will visit MOBA once a year until I die.
Don’t miss the gift shop!