Visionary News

BALTIMORE, MD — The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is pleased to announce the appointment of three accomplished leaders to its Board of Directors: Jim Conley, Dr. Elfreda Winstead Massie, and Jason A.L. Timoll. Their respective expertise in law, education, nonprofit governance, and strategic leadership will further strengthen the museum’s commitment to visionary art, community engagement, and institutional excellence.

"When I create, I feel like a butterfly." —Mary Proctor

(Baltimore, MD) – The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) will debut “The Strength to Be Joyful: Messages from Mary Proctor” on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The two-year landmark solo exhibition, located on the 3rd floor of the Zanvyl A. Krieger Main Building, is dedicated to the astonishing life and luminous work of Southern visionary artist Mary Proctor, also known to many as "Missionary Mary."

Arts leader, educator, and artist and current Director of the Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University becomes 3rd Director

AVAM's Play(ful) Ball Gala Evening will Celebrate the Intersection of Sports, Art, and Activism on Saturday, June 28.

(Baltimore, MD) - For the third consecutive year, the American Visionary Art Museum has been nominated in the category of “Best Art Museum” as part of USA Today’s “10Best” Readers' Choice Awards. AVAM is the only Maryland museum to be nominated in this category, and is among museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in California, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania also nominated. In each of the last two years, AVAM was voted second in the "Best Museum" category.

The Board of Directors of the American Visionary Art Museum announces the departure of Jenenne Whitfield as director, effective immediately. Ms Whitfield assumed leadership of the Congressionally-Designated National Museum & Education Center for intuitive artists, creatives and visionaries in September, 2022.

(Baltimore, MD) - With its motivating theme, “Color Outside the Lines,” Baltimore’s Congressionally-designated national museum and education center dedicated to showcasing intuitive, self-taught artistry and thought will honor U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-8) with its Grand Visionary Award during a Gala evening on Saturday, November 19, 2022, 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

The American Visionary Art Museum - a Congressionally-designated national museum and education center dedicated to showcasing intuitive, self-taught artistry and thought - will open its 27th original thematic mega-exhibition on Saturday, October 8, 2022 and extend until September 3, 2023.

BALTIMORE - Out of a field of nearly 1,000 submissions, the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) has been selected as one of only five museums nationwide to exhibit three “weird works of art” selected by Last Week Tonight’s television host John Oliver.

The American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) announces the anticipated retirement of its visionary Founder, Director, and Primary Curator, Rebecca Alban Hoffberger in early 2022.

The American Visionary Art Museum unveils two exciting upgrades: the reopening of visionary artist Ben Wilson’s Meditation Chapel, a masterpiece of AVAM's permanent collection; and the installation of UV lights throughout the museum's HVAC system, in another major addition towards the safety and comfort of COVID-era visitors and staff.

Two of the American Visionary Art Museum's most anticipated, free, and beloved, annual summer events are postponed until 2022: July 4th Pets on Parade and The Hughes Family Flicks on the Hill movie series. The decision was made out of continuing concern for the optimal wellbeing of our community and staff, due to the large crowds the events attract.