In 2006, the Institute of Contemporary Art
in Boston (also known as the ICA) established a central site in the Seaport District, on the border of the bay. The modern structure was built by Diller Scofidio + Renfro to resemble the surrounding commercial cranes that offload cargo ships. Despite the architects' rave reviews, Bostonians are divided as to whether the structure is a piece of art or a nuisance given its prime location along Fan Pier. The museum has a striking portfolio of modern art as well as a long-standing commitment to providing excellent programs to the Boston population.
The ICA's collection is highlighted by notable works by women from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, namely Louise Bourgeois, Doris Salcedo, and Eva Hesse, which were gifted by benefactor and activist Barbara Lee. Lee has donated 68 notable pieces by artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Doris Salcedo, and Eva Hesse, all which she herself gathered over the course of three decades.
Important creative shows, surveys of notable modern artists, and new projects are all part of the ICA's art and design program. It also features creators in their first single museum exhibitions. The most interesting development in recent years for this museum is the opening of ICA Watershed, a temporary 15,000-square-foot structure from across water in East Boston that runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.