MICA Takes Center Stage at BMA with Bicentennial Exhibition

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is honoring MICA’s 200-year legacy with BMA Celebrates MICA 200, a focused exhibition that places MICA’s artists, faculty, and alumni at the heart of Baltimore’s cultural history.

Drawn entirely from the BMA’s collection, the exhibition features 17 works spanning nearly 150 years and a wide range of media, from painting and sculpture to textiles, photography, and film. Together, these works highlight the depth of MICA’s interdisciplinary approach and its enduring influence on contemporary art.

At the center of the presentation are the MICA community members whose creative practices have shaped both the institution and the city. Featured artists include alumni and faculty such as Timothy App, Betty Cooke, Grace Hartigan, Maren Hassinger, Connie Imboden, Hugh Bolton Jones, Tom Miller, Elle Pérez, Amalie Rothschild, Joyce J. Scott, Jo Smail, Shinique Smith, Aaron Sopher, Grace Turnbull, and Charles H. Walther. Their work reflects generations of experimentation, critical inquiry, and artistic leadership rooted in Baltimore.

The exhibition also spotlights the MICA Pandemic Quilters, a collective project that brings together dozens of contributors, from artists and scholars to community members, demonstrating the power of collaboration during a time of global disruption.

On view from May 17, 2026, through January 3, 2027, BMA Celebrates MICA 200 affirms the lasting impact of MICA’s community and its vital role in shaping the artistic and cultural life of Baltimore and beyond.

Images courtesy of the Baltimore Museum of Art.