Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
258 Main St
Ridgefield, CT
One of the only museums in the country devoted purely to contemporary art, tucked into a colonial building on a picture-book New England main street.
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is a rarity: an art museum with no permanent collection at all. Instead, it is devoted entirely to exhibiting the art of our own moment, mounting a rotating program of contemporary shows by emerging and established artists. That focus has made it one of the most respected small contemporary museums in the country, and a reason serious art lovers make the drive to a quiet Connecticut village.
What makes it doubly memorable is the setting. The museum occupies a building on Ridgefield's genteel Main Street that dates to the 18th century, so you step from a colonial New England streetscape into galleries of the newest art being made. An outdoor sculpture garden extends the experience into the grounds, free and open year round.
What Guests Love
- Cutting-edge contemporary art in a surprisingly small, walkable New England village
- The contrast of brand-new work shown inside an 18th-century building
- A free outdoor sculpture garden open year round
- Ever-changing exhibitions, so no two visits are the same
Worth Knowing
- The Aldrich has no permanent collection; everything on view is temporary, so check what is showing before you go
- The sculpture garden is outdoors and can be enjoyed even outside museum hours
- Ridgefield's Main Street is made for walking, so leave time for the village itself
- It is one of the oldest institutions in the United States dedicated solely to contemporary art
Details
Ridgefield, CT
Learn about Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
A museum founded on new art
The Aldrich was founded in 1964 by Larry Aldrich, a New York fashion designer and collector who wanted a place to show the contemporary art he loved. He established it in a Ridgefield building known as Old Hundred, an early structure that had served earlier lives before becoming a home for the avant-garde. From the start, the museum's identity was tied to the present tense of art rather than the past.
That founding idea, a museum without a permanent collection, still defines the Aldrich today. Because nothing is held on view permanently, the institution can stay nimble, giving early exhibitions to artists who later become major figures and continually refreshing what visitors see. It is a place built to keep pace with living artists.
Old walls, new work
Over the decades the museum expanded and modernized its exhibition spaces while keeping its footprint on Main Street. The galleries are designed to give contemporary painting, sculpture, video, and installation room to breathe, and the shifting program means the mood of the place changes with each new slate of exhibitions.
The juxtaposition is part of the appeal. Ridgefield is a town of white clapboard and colonial history, and finding a serious contemporary art museum in its midst feels both surprising and, given the town's long draw for creative New Yorkers, entirely fitting.
The sculpture garden
Behind and around the museum, an outdoor sculpture garden displays contemporary three-dimensional work in a landscaped setting. It is free to visit and open throughout the year, so even a passing traveler can stop and take in the art without stepping inside.
The garden rewards a slow walk. Works are sited among lawn, trees, and pathways, and because the outdoor program also changes over time, the garden offers its own reasons to return in different seasons.
Pairing the museum with the village
A visit to the Aldrich pairs naturally with Ridgefield's Main Street, one of the most attractive village centers in Fairfield County. Within an easy walk you will find independent shops, restaurants, and the historic Keeler Tavern, a colonial inn with a British cannonball still lodged in its wall from the Revolutionary War's Battle of Ridgefield.
Because the museum is compact and its shows are focused, it fits comfortably into a half-day outing that also includes lunch and a stroll through town, making it an easy and rewarding detour for travelers moving through the region.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Ridgefield
Keeler Tavern Museum
About half a mile, a short walk or 2 minute drive
A colonial inn and museum on Main Street with a British cannonball embedded in its wall from the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield, plus a garden house designed by architect Cass Gilbert.
Weir Farm National Historical Park
About 7 miles, a 15 minute drive
The only national park site devoted to American painting, the country home and studios of Impressionist J. Alden Weir, with preserved landscapes that artists painted.
Ridgefield Playhouse
About half a mile, a 2 minute drive
A well-regarded live performance venue in the village center hosting music, comedy, and film throughout the year.