Why you should experience Art of Asia at MFA in Boston, Massachusetts.
Art of Asia at MFA is an extraordinary museum collection where Fenway-Kenmore's artistic heritage, centuries of Asian civilization, exceptional scholarship, and cross-cultural exchange reveal one of the world's greatest collections of Asian art.
Set within the Museum of Fine Arts near the Japanese Temple Gallery and just steps from the Art of Europe galleries, this expansive collection presents masterworks spanning more than four millennia from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and the Islamic world. Serene galleries, meticulously conserved sculptures, luminous paintings, rare ceramics, intricate textiles, and sacred objects unfold through thoughtfully designed spaces that encourage close observation and cultural discovery. Every gallery reflects the extraordinary diversity of artistic traditions that shaped Asia across thousands of years. The result is an artistic experience defined by exceptional collections, global scholarship, and one of the finest presentations of Asian art anywhere outside Asia.
What you should know about Art of Asia at MFA.
Art of Asia at MFA is best known for housing more than 115,000 works spanning 4,000 BCE to the present, making it among the largest and most comprehensive Asian art collections outside Asia while helping establish the Museum of Fine Arts as an international leader in the study, preservation, and interpretation of Asian artistic traditions. Founded during the 1890s through the pioneering efforts of influential scholars including Ernest Fenollosa, Okakura KakuzΕ, and later Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, the collection fundamentally reshaped American understanding of Asian civilizations by introducing audiences to masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture, Chinese painting, Japanese decorative arts, Korean ceramics, South Asian temple sculpture, Himalayan religious art, and Islamic manuscripts. The museum today possesses the largest and finest collection of Japanese art outside Japan, internationally celebrated Chinese paintings and Buddhist sculpture, exceptional Korean and South Asian holdings, and one of the nation's foremost collections of Islamic art, reflecting more than a century of scholarly collecting and cultural exchange. Continually enhanced through major gifts, conservation initiatives, and rotating gallery installations, the collection remains at the forefront of research while presenting artistic traditions that span thousands of years and countless cultural, religious, and historical contexts. Together, visionary scholarship, extraordinary acquisitions, international conservation leadership, and unparalleled geographic breadth establish Art of Asia at MFA as one of the world's essential destinations for the study of Asian art.
The galleries demonstrate how thoughtful curation can reveal the shared themes and distinctive traditions that connect artistic cultures across the Asian continent while honoring the individuality of each region. Carefully designed exhibition spaces, ongoing scholarly interpretation, and internationally respected conservation programs continually expand visitors' understanding of Asia's artistic achievements while reinforcing the Museum of Fine Arts' reputation as one of the world's foremost centers for Asian art. More than a century after the collection's founding, Art of Asia remains one of the defining strengths of the museum's global collections.
How to fold Art of Asia at MFA into your trip.
Art of Asia at MFA works as part of an exploration through the Museum of Fine Arts' celebrated global collections.
Begin at the Japanese Temple Gallery before exploring Art of Asia to discover masterworks spanning thousands of years and diverse civilizations. Continue into the Art of Europe galleries, where Western artistic traditions provide fascinating points of comparison across cultures and centuries. Conclude in the Shapiro Family Courtyard, where contemporary architecture and tranquil public space provide a memorable finale celebrating one of America's greatest encyclopedic art museums. The progression moves naturally from Asia's artistic traditions to global masterpieces before concluding within one of the museum's defining civic spaces, revealing why Art of Asia remains among the Museum of Fine Arts' greatest treasures.
Where your story begins.
Foresyte Travel reveals places that feel extraordinary long before you arrive.
Experience premium editorial crafted for luxury travelers.
