Institute of Contemporary Art
About
Hours
- Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00am – 5:00pm
- Thursday, 11:00am – 7:00pm
Admission
- ICA at Maine College of Art & Design is always free.
- Donations are appreciated.
Shop
The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA at MECA&D) (Portland, ME) cultivates engagement and dialogue regarding contemporary visual art practices, aiming to foster discourse on the critical conversations of our time, and to enhance understanding of visual culture. Located in stunning galleries in Maine College of Art & Design’s landmark Porteous Building, the ICA at Maine College of Art & Design presents an exhibition calendar of ambitious work by living artists, operates as a learning laboratory for students, and a center for public programming regarding contemporary art that engages with the local, national and global art community.
Hosting five exhibitions each year accompanied by a dynamic series of public events and artist talks, the ICA at Maine College of Art & Design also supports the College's graduate student exhibitions and events. We are dedicated to working across platforms collaboratively and thinking with others to inspire creative action, reimagine our future, and create compassionate communities together through visual art.
On View
Edra Soto: lazos terrenales / earthly bonds
July 12 – September 15, 2024
Sheida Soleimani: no breath, no breeze
July 12 – September 15, 2024
Cole Lu: Stoicheion
July 12 – September 15, 2024
Our Mission
The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design (ICA at MECA&D) in Portland, Maine promotes engagement and dialogue on contemporary visual art practices. We aim to foster critical conversations and enhance understanding of visual culture.
Located in our landmark Porteous Building, our galleries showcase ambitious work by living artists, serve as a learning laboratory for students, and host public programming that engages with the art community. We host five exhibitions each year, along with public events and artist talks. We also support graduate student exhibitions and events. Our goal is to inspire creative action, reimagine the future, and create compassionate communities through visual art.
Upcoming Exhibitions
- Objects & Power: October 4 – December 13, 2024
History
In 1997 Maine College of Art & Design (Maine College of Art at the time) opened the Institute of Contemporary Art with dynamic year-round exhibitions and programming for academic and public audiences. Designed by David Ireland and housed in downtown Portland’s historic Porteous Building, the ICA continues to connect our students to local, national, and international contemporary art and ideas.
We acknowledge that the land known as Portland, Maine, on which the galleries stand, is the traditional territory of the Wabanaki Confederacy which includes the Abenaki, Micmac, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet Nations. We recognize our ability to live and work on this land is possible because of the stewardship and sacrifices of tribal individuals and nations both ancestral and modern.
Connect
Iris Williamson, Director of Exhibitions
Sarah Sawtelle '19, Exhibitions Coordinator
Caroline Kouba '22, Exhibitions Assistant