The Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) is kicking off its 75th anniversary with a new exhibition called “Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950,” sponsored by PNC. The event is open January 30 through May 24, 2026 and features a variety of paintings, sculptures, and prints created throughout the century—many of which are by famous artists like Paul Cézanne, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Why You Should Visit
The exhibit boasts 57 masterpieces from the Brooklyn Museum’s renown collection sourced across the world, including Italy and Canada, as well as 43 pieces from the Birmingham Museum of Art’s own collection. “We couldn’t have created this exhibit without what we have,” explains Dr. Maggie Crosland, Art Curator at BMA. While it’s not uncommon for collections to be expanded, it’s pretty unheard of to have so many pieces to contribute. This is the largest exhibition of French modernism that has ever happened at BMA. With so many pieces by renowned artists on display, it’s worth a visit even for those who don’t consider themselves “art aficionados.”
Is It Kid-Friendly?
Yes! Bring your kids. Not sure they’ll be interested in the art? Try pointing out how cool it is to say you saw a Monet, a Matisse, and other works of art by famous artists. (They’ve often heard these names in school!) There is also an interactive section right outside the exhibit that they’ll enjoy as well. Not to mention the activity guide (hello, art bingo). If you want to pick up your own activity guide to do on your own, no judgment here—it makes it even more fun and helps you develop an eye for detail.
Did you know? Our Birmingham Museum of Art has nearly 30,000 works of art, which is bigger than those in many larger cities.
About the Exhibit
The exhibition is laid out by four thematic sections—Landscape, Still Life, Portraits and Models, and The Nude, allowing viewers to journey through this transformative period in art history in a more approachable way. The sections of art give structure to the varying methods that artists used as they processed and grappled with the huge technological changes, political upheaval, world wars, and more that they faced during their lifetimes.
The French Modernist movement in and of itself is an evolution of modern art, thoughtfully portrayed. The BMA has also added a section on women in art, tripling the typical number of pieces crafted by women in the collection. This makes the exhibit especially interesting because women were barred from any of the academies in Europe and therefore had to find different ways of training. The exhibit highlights how female artists continually pushed barriers and fought to express themselves.
How Much Does It Cost?
While general admission to the museum is free, this special exhibit is $19.51 for adults, and $10 for youth—although museum members get 50 percent off tickets.
How Birmingham Museum of Art Is Impacting the Community
The BMA is drawing people together through the power and influence of art. The very aim of the museum is to offer people in the Birmingham community an experience that will leave a lasting impression. “What we do, we do for the community,” says Graham C. Boettcher, Director of BMA. “An exhibit of this size and scale creates educational opportunities, economic development, and builds tourism,” a local PNC representative adds. Needless to say, the museum and its newest exhibit are worth checking out.
