A visit to the Memorial Art Gallery is a journey through more than 5,000 years of art history. From the relics of antiquity to works in the vanguard of contemporary movements, the Gallery offers a panorama of the world’s art. With the completion of Centennial Sculpture Park, the Gallery’s 14-acre campus has been transformed into a spectacular urban space.

Lovingly referred to as “the mini MET,” the Memorial Art Gallery’s permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects has been called the best balanced in the state outside of metropolitan New York City. Winslow Homer, The Artist’s Studio in an Afternoon Fog, 1894, Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, Veiled Sun, 1903, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, Portrait of a Young Man in an Armchair, ca. 1660 - just a tiny sampling.

We arrived during the M. C. Escher: Reality and Illusion exhibit in the Grand Gallery, including early figure drawings, lesser-known book illustrations, detailed Italian landscapes, the “tessellations” for which he became famous, and several examples of his signature architectural fantasies in which stairways seem to go nowhere or to mysteriously circle back upon themselves.

The most iconic works by Dutch artist M.C. Escher, including a pair of hands drawing themselves and fish morphing into birds, are familiar to many. This exhibition of over 100 woodcuts, lithographs, and drawings takes one deeper into both the literal and unfeasible worlds he created over a career that spanned five decades.

What I enjoy the most here is the special way in which space compliments the enclosed exhibits. As one enters each gallery one must pause to take it all in, a real visual treat, making each gallery special, on then it's on to examine so many fine treasures. I am always blown away by the exquisite marble statues and how they are framed. African masks are amazing and an inspiration for modern artists who capture their themes. And, upon entering the place, you are greeted by a Henry Moore bronze. How sweet is that?

For lunch, we dined inside at the Brown Hound Downtown, a cozy restaurant perched one floor up which allowed a view of the Moore sculpture as we enjoyed delicious potato soup and I chatted with our server (at length) who happened to be a Montréal Canadiens fan like me, unfortunately for my spouse - as we did reminisce a lot!

I was very happily surprised. This is a beautiful museum with a beautiful and varied collection. I would refer to it as a mini Metropolitan Museum of art.

This is a wonderful museum with very significant works and artists. Quite a large collection displayed in the open. No glass to obscure and no ropes to keep you at a distance. You can really look closely at the works. They even supplied magnifying glasses in their Indian Miniature collection. Many notable artists as well as interesting local works. Not crowded at all. Many different periods and countries represented.