In their efforts to re-envision their connections to the past, many contemporary artists have taken a particular interest in the baroque and rococo periods of the 17th and 18th centuries. Going for Baroque united eighteen international artists whose work derives from a fascination with this period of theatrical drama and illusion, featuring loaned and commissioned pieces. The exhibition brought contemporary art into the Walters Art Museum for the first time, where it was displayed alongside baroque artworks in order to establish a dialogue between past and present. Project support was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts Museums Program. Three artist residency programs were initiated to facilitate project development (1 month in duration, each residency).

Artists included in the exhibition: Ken Aptekar, Dottie Attie, Karl Connolly, Ann Fessler, Bryan Hunt, Derek Jarman, Jeff Koons, Paul Etienne Lincoln, Jean Lowe, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Yasumasa Morimura, Juan Munoz, Rosamond Purcell, David Reed, Adrian Saxe, Andres Serrano, Cindy Sherman, Frank Stella.