Baltimore’s beloved American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is turning 30, and plans to celebrate the milestone by debuting a mega-exhibition, “Fantastic Realities: Truth Stranger Than Fiction.”
On Oct. 4, the year-long exhibition will open as AVAM prepares to enter its fourth decade as the Congressionally-designated museum for self-taught, intuitive artists. The museum is consistently ranked as one of Baltimore’s favorite destinations for Marylanders and out-of-staters alike.
The “Fantastic Realities” exhibition will transform the second-floor gallery space of the Zanvyl A. Krieger Main Building with more than 130 pieces of art. The variety of work ranges from surreal oil paintings, poignant ceramic subway scenes, and haunting lithographs to poseable handmade action figures, chainsaw-carved minotaurs, and hand-painted sci-fi galaxies.
“The exhibition focuses on depicted worlds: some artists channel from other dimensions, offering truths beyond our perceptions; others dream of what could be, mirror what is, or warn of what might yet come,” reads the press release.
“Fantastic Realities” will be anchored by in-depth installations by artists like Cuong “Mike” Tran; Promethea, fka Maura Holden; and Baltimore-based artist Junius Wilson. The exhibition will also feature works from AVAM’s permanent collection, including those by Antar Mikosz, Stephanie Lucas, Chris Mars, Romaine Samworth, and Mona Webb.
“Walking through ‘Fantastic Realities’ is like traveling through a series of alternate universes,” said Ellen Owens, executive director of AVAM, in a statement. “Each of the 24 artists share such a vastly different perspective on our human experience—some dystopian, some playful, and all incredibly magnetic and complex.”
The artists will offer insights via video, poetry, and prose, with the goal of prompting deeper reflection by the viewers on the nature of “truth.” Owens hopes visitors will “carefully consider how these pieces reflect our current realities, joys, and concerns as we collectively question: what does our future hold?”
“Fantastic Realities: Truth Stranger Than Fiction” opens to the public Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. There will be an Exhibition Opening Party on Friday, Oct. 3 from 7–10 p.m., during which AVAM members and the public will have access to a special preview of the exhibition. Admission to the Opening Party is free for AVAM Fan Club members, and non-members can purchase tickets through the event page.
