A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the only I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too! read more

See all

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and others...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby. read more

See all

It had been about thirty years since I had visited this gem of an art museum, and had forgotten what an impressive collection of art they have! To wit: works by Lichtenstein, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, Picasso, Renoir, etc. Admission is still free. I liked how they had staff/volunteers carefully monitoring visitors in the galleries. The staff in the gift shop were very helpful, nice, and friendly (thanks, Erin, for your kindness)! This is definitely a worthy stop for those who find themselves in the Des Moines area. read more

See all

Staff located all throughout is very friendly. Quiet relaxed atmosphere. So much to look at! They host events, & have a little art shop you can check out on the way out or in. Beautifully selected art pieces to admire. read more

See all

A lot of construction going on right now, cafe is closed. Super friendly host who checks you in and gives you a map. Rather unimpressive art throughout but a couple Warhols, a Hopper, didn't find a Picasso I thought I saw online. Free admission! read more

See all

I hadn't been to the Art Center since my high school days. So impressed with the variety of art pieces here! Even with part of the building closed for renovations there was so much to see and learn about. There was a Picasso, O'Keefe, Matisse, Monet, Renoir, Wood, and Hopper! The Transform Any Room and Double Take exhibitions at the end of December 2024 were fantastic as well! Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. It's free admittance for the main galleries. The gift shop is fun to poke around in too! read more

If you can visit only one art museum in Iowa, this is the one. It has a stellar collection, admission is free, and there is an incredible emphasis on art education. There is a full calendar of art classes in painting, ceramics, photography, print making, metals, and calligraphy. This a very cozy complex to spend hours looking at art. I'm always drawn to works by Brancusi, Giacometti, and Diebenkorn. It's a reverential experience when I see anything they've created. A giant Alex Katz painting that almost sucks the viewer into it was a pleasant surprise. There is a riveting and well-known Francis Bacon painting on display. The architecture is another reason I enjoyed it here. Eliel Saarinen designed the original building. I.M. Pei added a cavernous Brutalist space that is my favorite. Richard Meier completed the last addition and some of galleries are a bit challenging to display the collection but the curators have done a good job. The exhibition of works by Alison Elizabeth Taylor is incredible. While a student at Columbia in NYC, she was inspired by the Metropolitan Museum's Studiolo from the Ducal Palace in Gubbio, circa 1478-82, an entire room of highly sophisticated marquetry. I used to spend a lot of time in that room, too, as there is nothing like it in any US museum. She has mastered the art of wood inlay. Some works are simple and show off her skill. Others include paint and even glitter. Subject matter ranges from trees to people on the margins of society. There is such detail down to reflections in mirrors and people in small frames within a work. While many artists create with a level of abandon, precision is Taylor's mindset. It's all so lovely. The exhibition ends in mid-January. See it if you can. read more

See all

Great place to check out if you're in the Des Moines area. I believe the parking and entrance was free. A lot of cool stuff to look at and indulge in as well. I really liked the egg illusion thing that was outside. read more

Des Moines Art Center - Outside - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

I had the good fortune to visit a great many art museums back in the days before the pandemic, and can truthfully say - and without exaggeration - that the Des Moines Art Center is a world-class contemporary art museum. The collection contains the work of artists easily recognized by casual art enthusiasts, as well as excellent and influential lesser known work for those with a deeper interest. The Art Center is worth a visit for the facility alone. One of the few places in the world where you can walk through the designs of Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier in one place all wonderfully surrounded by a wooded park and a rose garden. Architecture, paintings, prints, sculpture, installations - whatever you enjoy, there is something here for you. read more

Excellent and unique art museum, the museum itself is a work of art. Three different famous architects designed three different parts, the medium sized collection is varied and well presented. Their strongest suit might be modern and contemporary but the high point for me was the Edward Hoppers. Amazing sculptures. The workers are great, the price is great, I enjoyed every minute of my two and a half hours here. I would say this museum and the Iowa Cubs game were the high points of my visit. I was attending a conference downtown and took a bus here, but the bus doesn't quite come all the way so I had to walk about a mile. Most of that was uphill and it was hot. I took an Uber back, the Uber driver didn't even know Des Moines had an art museum. Remember, the great little gift shop does not sell charging cords so you need to make sure your phone is fully charged before you head over here. You do want to spend a little time walking around the outside just to take the building in. read more

See all

This is a hidden gem worth the confusing directions and wrong turns it took to get there. The museum is free, but dont let that fool you. the collection is very good. There is a Calder and a Hopper amidst the vast three story building. Lots of variety in styles and media are represented. Our only issue was with the hovering doscents tsk tsking us thru our visit. I know not to touch, cross over the guardrails, or step over the black lines. There is no need to be proactive with your guests. read more

Our Art Center is something to be proud of here in Des Moines. It may seem small compared to other big cities but it's the perfect size to experience great art and be educated in some most influential artists. The ANNA K. MEREDITH GALLERY is the area where the art center rotates different art the most. This is the main gallery that gets new artists and projects. There are 3 additions to the art center. There is a restaurant and gift shop. You can easily spend 3 hours at this art center learning and observing all the exhibitions. There are many permanent collections that I love and have loved showing my kids. We visit once a year to compliment what we learn in art. Overall it is a wonderful museum and we always look forward to coming back. Des Moines has a beautiful art culture not only at the art center but around the city. I'm so proud of our art here!! I highly recommend visiting and exploring. Perfect date day idea as well. Fun with older kids, not younger kids. read more

See all

I saw a t-shirt that said Des Moines: The Major League of the Minor Leagues. That pretty much sums it up for The Des Moines Art Center; a very impressive collection for such a small market "fly over" city. I must have said; "Damn, I can't believe they have a________" over 20 times during my visit. From Picasso to Lipshutz and Cave to Bacon. It was truly a greatest hits collection of my favorite modern artists under the roof of 2 connected buildings. The price is free and during the Covid they have a counter clock wise rotation to journey through the museum. I actually like this method; you are sure not to skip anything and you are not jostling for viewing with other visitors going against flow. This museum is completely worth a 3 hour drive from Kansas City or anywhere else in the surrounding Mid-west. Consider me impressed. read more

See all

An architectural gem (I.M. Pei's,open air water garden & courtyard) provides a mindful retreat that seamlessly transitions with DM Art Center's dynamic permanent collection & an array of provocative exhibitions. I'm looking forward to touring the surrounding expansive landscape/ sculpture gardens & future exhibitions. The DM Art Center has been the highlight of my trip! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed this place. The architecture alone is astounding. Simply put the building is so perfectly constructed and aesthetically pleasing that I would love to go even if the whole gallery were empty. The art pieces and sculptures are super interesting to view. I am not an art connoisseur but they post captions next to most works of art. These are extremely helpful and point out the importance of the art and what to look for. Lastly, yo this place really has a real Picasso! Insane! Great place and it is typically free admission. read more

Des Moines Art Center - This might be the best artwork or it might be the worst, you have to go and decide for yourself. - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Got in for a buck Worth every cent of it Lots of funky stuff Wasn't really planning on checking this place out. Stopped by the Sculpture Park just outside of downtown earlier in the day and saw some signage advertising this place. Looked at the Yelp reviews and saw that it is free! Sold. Drove straight out Grand Avenue from the Sculpture Park to the museum through a tonier part of town. Lots of nice houses and apartments along the way. The building will definitely jump out to you when you come across it. They don't make too many like it in Iowa. Walked in with a wink and a smile, but did drop a buck in the donation bucket. It was the only cash on me at the time. Would have gladly paid ten. They have got Warhol. They have got Basquiat. Lots of really cool stuff. read more

See all

Must-See! The collection is very nice, and I say that after attending when several portions were closed for renovation. We put it on our itinerary without reading much about it, so we had no idea what to expect and had no idea that we would be doubly (triply?) pleased by the art and the architecture. (If I had bothered to read the reviews, I guess I would have known.) As soon as we arrived, my friend noted the new white portion of the museum, trying to figure out where we had seen a similar design (the Getty in Los Angeles). I am not a great fan of Richard Meier's exteriors, but the interior was incredibly light and inviting. We decided we could just move in and live there. But it was the blocky second addition I found truly captivating. I really am no fan of heavy concrete blocks or chunky massive structures, but I was stunned by the airy influx of light and outdoors into the space. The docent noticed my attention swinging from the sculptures to the room, and explained that it was designed by I. M. Pei, who I generally associate with the glass pyramid at the Louvre or the Rock-n-Roll Hall of fame. Look at my pictures, especially the one that shows the ceiling - massive concrete slabs floating in the air. Absolutely worth driving from the Chicago area to see! read more

See all

I love the Des Moines Art Center. How lucky are we to have this amazing space in Des Moines. It is in a beautiful location and has wonderful people to help with anything you may need when you are on site. I also love to visit the Gift Shop which Carrie's wonderful and unique gifts. I would appreciate the staff in the gift shop speaking to me when I am there, however. The woman working never said ONE word to me until I asked HER a question. I was the only person in the shop for over 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. I did purchase something (which I almost did NOT do) and she had very little to say, even then. For such a wonderful place, they need to do better with some of the employees and interaction with the public. I am a HUGE fan of the arts and will always go back. read more

Terrific art collection and very interesting temporary exhibits. The building was constructed in 3 phases by 3 different famous architects, so it is a work of art itself. It is truly one of Des Moines' treasures! read more

Since we had some time to 'waste' in Des Moines we thought we would visit the art center with our children, aged 14 and 12. Our son loves art and has received the 'Most Artistic' award at school several times. He was excited to check everything out. We were advised not to bring in any food, not to touch the art (of course!) Advised that we could take photos but without using the 'flash' - OK no problem that is typical. We start to make our way around, some pieces were under glass, some were 'roped' off and some had tape on the floor where you could stand. Again, no problem, having been to The National Gallery in London and also The Tate Britain, we knew what to expect. MY children know how to behave in places like this. Almost immediately it felt like we were being 'kept an eye on' with staff following us from room to room. It was strange. We looked at pieces and pointed at details - never once touching any of the art. My husband was pointing out some detail to me and his finger was about 6 inches from the piece when we were advised loudly to not point so closely at the art! We were a little surprised and my husband asked how far back we should stand then since it wasnt a piece that was roped, taped or under glass. We were then advised to "stand a pizza box away" What!? We obliged and carried on to the next room, subsequently the staff member followed us around from room to room. I took a few photos and would get a little closer to some pieces to read the descriptions. Each time the same man would follow, several times I got half way through the description and would just walk away as he approached once again. It was extremely uncomfortable. This carried on our entire visit, as though they thought we were there to steal the art or something!! It was ridiculous. We had planned to eat lunch and check out the garden also but instead could not get out of there soon enough and went elsewhere. I was a little disappointed for my son as he would have liked to have seen more but just felt very uncomfortable instead. We wont be back. read more

We are quite lucky to have such a great and free local art museum. There are new exhibits every few months and the standard classics. The staff is knowledgeable and always willing to give you more info and insight if you want. Most of the building is picture( flash off) friendly and backs to the beautiful rose garden and Freewood park. Worth the visit and events. read more

Beautiful place to go to, especially when the flowers bloom! Staff is always nice and professional.

What a treat in Des Moines! Such a neat collection in such a neat space. Tons of lighting, tons to look at. There is also a neat rose garden, trail, and small lake behind the building. read more

See all

I love this place. So many different types of art sculptures paintings and more. This place is chill you can just stroll around and there are camps. This place is simply perfect. read more

Situated in a truly lovely setting, the Des Moines Art Center is located in the neighborhood known as "South of Grand" and situated in a grove of beautiful trees which are almost art in their own right! When you visit the Center you can either take a guided tour or just stroll through the exhibits at your own pace. The exhibits are comprised of everything from Old World art to sculptures and Modern Art. The art collected here has a surprising breadth and depth, especially considering the size of the city of Des Moines. Over and above exhibits, the Art Center offers art classes and programs for people of all ages. They even have evening events, with a theatre-like auditorim venue with numerous guest speakers. There's even a nice coffee shop where you can grab a bite :-) The massive windows in the museum offer several lovely views that are both relaxing and inspiring. Admission to the Art Center is free, with donations gladly accepted. While it's a little off the beaten path, it's very much worthwhile to take a little time and come here for a visit. read more

See all

My excitement sky rocketed this morning. I was going to art center! I was super pumped. So much so I was jumping and skipping like a little kid up to the stairs! I took my Mom and we arrived right when the museum opened. The reason I am here, to get my art geek on, is Drawing In Space exhibit. There is multiple installations that have just opened that are made with different types of tape! I have my BFA, so any hands on art is always bringing out the little kid in me. Its been too long since I have been to the museum. I saw the exciting developments on the news so we had to go. Walking in right away I was taken back by the Dave Eppley piece. He used all colors of vinyl sign tape all over the entry room floor. We were just amazed at everything that was created on and around the nicks and cracks. So much so we laid down on the floor to take pictures. We then moved on to the work of Monika Grzymala. She used really cool silver reflective tape. I wanted to crawl underneath to experience it however we were not allowed. Soon I was transfixed by the work of Heeseop Yoon. Using black masking tape she created this three story piece. So much energy and and so much going on. It was fantastic. We sat down and had to take it all in. The most fun I had was the piece by Nuemen/For Use. This was like a giant silk worm came into the art center and had its way with putting up this fantastic webbing like home. Using transparent tape it was a structure that you could crawl up into. Adults and kids can go up into it. So kicking off my shoes I went in for the adventure. I felt so safe like I could hide away here forever. You crawled all around and enjoyed the unique experience. I did get to enjoy all the other pieces around the center and highly recommend visiting the art center and taking a look at everything. Especially during this exhibit. Its great to have this in our town and I think we have an excellent diverse collection. read more

See all

Very friendly staff, and great art exhibits here. It's a great stop if you're in Des Moines. read more

Des Moines Art Center - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

A ton of incredible exhibits, great environment, worth walking around for the day! The building outside and the entrance way always feel a little underwhelming, but the artwork inside could not be more worth the time! read more

As an avid museum goer and art lover, I have to say that the DSM art center is a great space to check out! The gallery is not very large, but holds some great pieces (canvas and sculptures) and admission is free. The interior design is nice and bright, and the large windows bring in lots of lovely light. Their gift shop is nice with good items for purchase, and parking is free and easily accessible. I believe they also offer some classes which might be really fun! The only thing I will add is that some of the staff are very overbearing. I saw someone RUN over to a guest to make sure they weren't touching the art, even though they weren't, they were just standing near a piece and never actually made contact with anything. Frankly, not once have I seen an adult touch any piece of art in a gallery. While I understand that they were eager to do their job, it feels excessive and takes away from the calm experience of browsing a gallery in peace. I also felt that everywhere I went the staff followed us around and watched us the entire time, even though not a single person in the entire gallery was being disruptive or attracting attention in any way. Overall, a good space to visit and browse; it feels like you've stepped out of a small town and are in a different world in there. read more

See all

It's free. Sections of the center were designed by famous architects like IM Pei. Features a lot of fun and interesting modern art pieces. read more

Des Moines Art Center - LEGO self portrait of ai wei wei. - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We went to the rose garden at the art center to take pictures for my high school senior. It was very peaceful and pretty. Its been awhile since I've been in the art center but it is a nice, yet small, museum read more

We enjoyed our visit. There are some interesting pieces of art. Most of it is more modern than we usually like but it was still worth the trip. The complex is made up of three architecturally important buildings that are connected inside. The wheelchair accessible entrance is steep and off the main entrance. The door has to be opened by a staff person. It would be great if the main entrance could be altered to provide wheelchair access - we understand that they may not want to alter the building because of its architectural importance but under the ADA what is currently available does not meet standards. read more

Used to great. Now it's abysmal. It's in the wrong hands. The people running the center (it's not a museum, which is a whole other sad story as to why that is) lack common sense, aesthetics, and have let the public down with their terrible leadership. Much of the art" they choose to showcase is absolutely horrible. The places they've displayed them are very poorly chosen. There is a colossal waste of space. The Blank Gallery is nowhere near as nice as it used to be (the color of the walls and the lighting is horrible). The guards are very bored and will eaves drop on your conversation then abruptly interject with unsolicited tidbits about the art, which ruins the experience. I could go on and on. The Director, Curator and board are all pathetic and need to leave the city. read more

What an amazing part of Des Moines. An awesome, free to the public museum. Really love coming here to walk around with our infant son to see the amazing works of art and new collections. The current wanderlust piece is exquisite and so intriguing to our son! The staff is so helpful and courteous and accepting of the lil dudes yelps (ha!) and screams of joy at the amazing colors. We are usually pooped after our visits which makes for a nice nap time!! Love it read more

See all

Pound for pound this is the best art museum I've been to across the globe. Literally every famous artist you can think of plus many you never have experienced until today. The exhibits turnover regularly and no two visits are the same. The architecture and rose gardens are incredible. The gift shop and restaurant with courtyard and not to be missed. read more

Des Moines Art Center - The courtyard with the Tom Burr piece on exhibit Deep Purple. - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I'd always heard great things about the Des Moines Art Center so I was pretty psyched about visiting it this afternoon. Its collection is strongest in the modern/contemporary area featuring works by jeff koons, mark rothko, and Cecily brown. I was pretty surprised and excited to also see works by Francis bacon, Edward hopper, and Georgia o keefe! To top it all off it's free and seems to really foster the career of up and coming artists. This is truly a must stop if visiting Des Moines and an amazing resource to the people who live here. read more

Des Moines Art Center - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great place to take the family! Free admission. Beautiful neighborhood. Clean. Friendly staff. Very family friendly. Great works of art plus several touring or loaners come through throughout the year. Marcydiner tantrum scale of 5/5-no screaming kids. Even good to come alone and just explore. But don't touch! read more

See all

This will be a quick review because when we showed up we had 14 minutes until closing time. It's a good idea to check the times BEFORE showing up - ha! Anyway, the space is gorgeous and smells like old building which I just love. We walked in and went straight to the Vivian Maier exhibit. I was really excited because my husband and I have watched the documentary about her and it was fantastic to see her work in person. Plus photography is my favorite medium. I love that an Arts Center in Iowa is bringing in enormous talent like Vivian. The work was beautifully presented and her compositions were stunning. My only regret is that we had to leave right on the dot when they closed so we should have paid better attention to the time. The gift shop was also a great finishing point and had some eclectic gifts to choose from. read more

Des Moines has a lot of public art, but we also have an art center! This place is great and they actually host a lot more than art. I've been to openings for their exhibitions (wine and free food anyone?) If you go to one of those, get there early, because those are the busiest times for the center. They also host art classes in painting, sculpting and drawing at a variety of times during the day. They are a bit pricey for my blood, but I know one of the artists who teaches there and I know a couple people who've taken classes. They all seem to really enjoy it. I've been to free yoga at the art center. Isn't it great that they are willing to open their doors to the public for something other than "art". I believe they host yoga monthly, and it is also jam packed. Otherwise, the art center is always free, does stuff around town and holds some cool fundraisers. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is the atrocious parking lot. Don't forget to check out the rose garden in the back and head to Greenwood park nearby. read more

Des Moines Art Center - One of the recent installations. That's all tape! - Museums Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

The Des Moines Art Center is a revelation, a hidden gem to this community. It's both a sunny and rainy day destination for me. Definitely a winter hideout. And, it's free!! I'll begin with the architecture. The building was built in three phases, each designed by a different architect. Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier are the household names that made this building incredible, before you even walk through the doors. The original stone building is beautiful and looks like it grew out of the surrounding woods and hills. The second building with the white porcelain-covered metal plates rises on the hill above Grand Avenue and stuns on dark days and when the sun shines on it. It's the first look at the Art Center it's breathtaking. The third building is a concrete building that I never really appreciated (not a fan of Pei), but a docent pointed out the incredible views from inside the building to the back of the Art Center with its expansive lawn and trails into the woods. The collection is large and what's on display is always changing. In the last year they have had incredible exhibits lasting only a few months at a time. The breadth of the artists covered by the Art Center is a gift to Des Moines: Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Jasper Johns, Henri Matisse, Georgia O'Keeffe, Francis Bacon, Cecily Brown, John Singer Sargent, and Andy Warhol. Side note (thanks to one of the great docents): Warhol's sometimes lover Roy Halston was from Des Moines and when Halston died he left a large number of original Warhols to the Art Center, many of them signed on the back with notes to him from Andy. Cool, right? The sculpture here is outstanding. I cannot begin to describe all of the sights of this place. Oh, and they have two Calder mobiles (currently poorly located, but maybe they will move to a new location soon). The docents are so knowledgeable. Strike up a conversation. Most are chatty and welcoming. I try to take every visitor to the Art Center! It's just one of the gems in this world-class Midwestern city. read more