History
The Museum of Bad Art began in the early 1990s after a discarded painting inspired its founders to showcase art that is “so bad it should not be ignored.”
History
Origins & Founding
The Museum of Bad Art began in the early 1990s when founder Scott Wilson recovered Lucy in the Field with Flowers from a Boston curb. Instead of discarding it, he and friends Jerry Reilly and Marie Jackson recognized its unintended charm. In 1993, the group officially founded MOBA, debuting the collection with a small basement exhibition in 1994.
Early Spaces & Growth
Interest grew quickly, and MOBA soon moved into the basement of the Dedham Community Theatre in 1995. The museum became known for showcasing works created with sincere artistic intent that nonetheless went humorously or dramatically off‑course. The permanent collection grew to over 700 works, with rotating displays that highlighted new “masterpieces.”
Branches, Exhibitions & Influence
MOBA expanded to additional spaces, including a gallery in the Somerville Theatre. It also curated traveling and themed exhibitions, sometimes installed in unexpected environments. The museum gained international media attention, sparking conversations about artistic value, taste, and failure.
Recent Location & Continuity
After several relocations and a temporary closure during the COVID‑19 pandemic, MOBA reopened in 2022 inside the Dorchester Brewing Company taproom in Boston. The setting reflects the museum’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, humor, and community.
