We spent a wonderful winter's afternoon at this quiet (and warm) museum. There were only a few cars in the plaza-level parking lot off of West 2nd the day we spontaneously decided to visit (this lot btw is the best place to park). As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable museum associate--she informed us of the layout of the museum, gave us a brief description of the exhibits, and helpfully recommended that we start at the fourth floor and work our way down. It was probably the most organized and efficient welcoming presentation I've ever heard! It was also a bonus that afternoon we showed up on a "free visits" day. I think normally they charge about $14 per person. So, we took what looked to be an upscale freight elevator to the fourth floor and started with the elegant Raven and the Box of Daylight special exhibit by Preston Singletary...this is a very cool multi-sensory work that presents the Native American folktale of how the raven brought daylight (and stars and the moon) to the earth. The interplay of sound and light with the beautiful glass sculptures were really calming and wonderful. The exhibit will be there until August 2026. On our way down to the third floor we saw some mysterious double doors by the elevator that looked like an exit but had a small label nearby, "Wintetgatden exhibit." Good thing we went through the doors because there was an adorable bronze sculpture right on the other side, as well as an expansive view of the Mississippi from a wall of glass windows...a light-filled staircase winds down towards the third floor, and I believe this is the floor with a viewing area set up with easels for drawing! This was a unique and fun part of the museum visit, and there are chairs nearby for relaxing if you don't want to draw... The second floor houses the museum's main collections, including a large collection of Haitian art; we were also able to view a traveling exhibit from D.C. We enjoyed seeing a nice mix of portraiture, landscapes, still life and abstract paintings, sculptures, video art, furniture, and fiber arts... The first floor has the cafe (not open when we were there) and the gift shop... which was very fun to browse. I picked up a book, several stickers and packets of novelty tea for only $1each. This is definitely a fun, lovely, and enriching place to visit if in the Quad Cities area! read more

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Very nice art museum, they had free entrance during July so got in for free. The facility looks much bigger on the outside than it has display space on the inside. I asked and they said base floor is parking to boost it above flood stage. There is a lot of off display storage with other admin and mechanical space. It's still a very nice museum and recommend it. The hidden gem is take the back stairway down from the upper floors. There is a nice sitting and art space overlooking the Mississippi. I do wish the museum store had more to offer and there was more comfortable seating off the bar, which also overlooks the Mississippi to enjoy a beverage or snack while enjoying the view. read more

Figge Art Museum - Front of museum with free parking. - Art Museums Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

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What a fantastic art museum next to the mighty Mississippi River in downtown Davenport. Although 2 of the floors were closed due to renovation on one and an exhibit that was being prepped to open on another, it was still a 5 star experience. The building is striking in grandiosity , it might be only 4 floors but with it's high ceilings on each floor, it gives the impression of a 10 story glass geometric tower. The first floor offered a great gift shop, large atrium and a few selected pieces. The action takes place on the second floor by way of the grand staircase or the world's largest elevator. I may be overstating the size of the elevator, but a small dance party could be held inside. One wing of the floor houses what I assume is part of the permanent collection, and a great collection it is. Contemporary and Regionalism rooms were standouts for me - Always gotta have a little Grant Wood for a midwestern museum! The Haitian collection was a wonderful surprise also, never expecting that in heart of rural America! The Walter Wick exhibit currently showing until 11/17/24 is quite stunning. A sure hit for all ages. Wick is a children's book illustrator among other things. His bold colorful creations that he has built with hundreds of objects or built himself are then photographed and edited to create magical and fantastical images. Dozens of his three dimension and photographic creations are on display side by side. If I wasn't seeing the actual creations, I would swear the photos were created by Artificial Intelligence. A museum that any small city would be jealous to have in their skyline and attract world class exhibits with a solid collection. Good job Davenport! read more

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The Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA offers a lovely ambiance, engaging exhibits, and a charming café with tasty food. The staff is friendly and attentive, making the visit enjoyable from start to finish. read more

Road trip to Des Moines and decided to stop in this Figge Art Museum as a halfway point to look at some beautiful art work and to also stretch our legs. Building is huge and so beautiful by the water. We spent easily 2 hours inside with so much to see. There's a cute little gift shop where I purchased a Frida jigsaw puzzle as a souvenir. It was air conditioned in a hot summer day. Definitely a place to visit if you're in Davenport. read more

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I was road-tripping across Iowa to visit art museums that I hadn't yet visited. First stop: Davenport's Figge Art Museum. My expectations weren't high because that Davenport even has an art museum seems surprising. However, as I approached the gleaming multi-story building reflecting a bright blue sky in its glass panels, I felt like this visit would be more satisfying than I anticipated. While there aren't any iconic works here, this museum covers a lot of ground. It ain't encyclopedic but there is a good range of eras and styles. I applaud the collection's diversity, too. Works by women and people of color aren't hiding in the shadows. One gallery was filled with Haitian art. Another gallery had a well-presented display of works by Frank Lloyd Wright. There's a respectable gallery of not-quite old masters. Nineteenth and early-to-mid 20th century landscapes seems to occupy most of the walls here. One floor has some fun video art. Lee Nam Lee's 'Cartoon Folding Screen II,' a video featuring 5 framed LED was a pleasure to see slowly unfold. Of course, this is Iowa and there is a sprinkling of Grant Wood paintings. However, in that gallery, I think his works are justifiably overshadowed by what was, to me, the most compelling work on display in the entire museum. Ellen Wagner's 'F5 Tornado,' a large-scale 7-panel pastel on paper tour de force of a tornado. It's an overwhelming blur of earthy colors as the tornado seems in the process of churning the landscape through a blender. read more

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While pulling up to the museum I was taken away by how beautiful it was! It's right on the river and the views are amazing! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit this museum! The inside of the museum was just as beautiful. I enjoyed everything, especially the art! The ambiance inside fostered my creative thinking, giving me ideas to use on a project I am working on which was awesome! The quietness provides this amazing feeling of peace. There were so many amazing artists on display who captured art in such a special way. I took a few pictures of my favorites to share. I definitely recommend stopping by if you're ever in the area! read more

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I was blown away by how amazing this place was. I'm from Chicago, I didn't expect such a small city to have such so many wonderful exhibits. Tickets were relatively cheap, staff was nice, there was a very huge collection of art on multiple floors. I would recommend anyone visit this place for a great experience. read more

A really fantastic museum. I've had Figge bookmarked on Yelp for a long time - before the pandemic. I finally got to visit over the July 4th weekend and was pleasantly surprised to find out that admission was FREE during the entire month thanks to generous sponsors. *I would have visited anyway, but the free admission was definitely a bonus. * Three of my favorites artists/designers/architects are Andy Warhol, Grant Wood and Frank Lloyd Wright (in no particular order) and I got to see some of each of their works on display. Yippee! One of the current exhibits is POP POWER from Warhol to Koons. Loved, loved, loved this exhibit. See my photos. If you enjoy pop art, don't miss this exhibit. I also enjoyed the Tom Uttech photography, Franklin Evans and Drawn to Spectacle exhibits. Really, there's something for everyone. Grant Wood works and Frank Lloyd Wright pieces have permanent homes here, so just more reasons to visit the museum. We easily could have spent a few hours at Figge. It was moderately busy on the first Saturday of the month. Museum cafe was closed, but the gift shop was open and is gorgeous. Well-done to whoever curates the shop. Staff are stationed throughout various places in the museum. Museum us extremely clean and well-maintained. Masks aren't required if you've been vaccinated. Free parking right in front of the museum, or nearby parking garage for a nominal fee. Highly, highly recommend checking out this amazing destination in the Quad Cities. read more

Figge Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Amazing museum for Eastern Iowa. The community is fortunate. The programing varies. The museum really makes the museum a wonderful family escape. Wonderful children's activity area to create their own art. read more

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We stopped in on their free night- Thursday. We were visiting and renting a cabin. I know better than to underestimate a small town museum but this still blew me away. I was so impressed by the collection and layout. I nearly started crying at their Grace Hartigan. The instillation on the top floor was transformative and connected so well to the river setting. This is an amazing museum and well worth a drive. read more

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Really great art museum. Well worth a visit. Don't even think about it. Just go! There was an amazing exhibition of boxes. Incredible. And some amazing specific paintings. Make sure to visit all floors! read more

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An amazing art museum in downtown Davenport, Iowa. -A jewel of the city. It has a fabulous well priced cafe across from the main entrance with a creative / fresh menu. Located in a tall glass building in the heart of the city near the bus stop, with a fabulous view overlooking the train and river. From surrealism, fine art & concept; this museum is one of my favorites in the United States. It's not only quiet but extensive. Take your time,listen to the online audio or take a tour with loved ones. You won't regret it! read more

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2nd visit and still love it. One flow was closed during this visit and the special exhibition was local, but it was still a wonderful visit. One of those museums I go out of my way to visit while passing by. read more

This is a beautiful and well-curated museum on the Mississippi River, and at $7 is an insanely good deal. We stopped by here on a trip from Chicago to Iowa City, and we're thankful we did. We visited in the middle of the week in the late afternoon. As this was a regular work day, the California guy in me parked in the first available spot about two blocks from the museum. I just assumed that I got really lucky in finding free parking in a downtown area. As we approached we realized that there's a parking lot for the museum and I could have literally parked 50 feet from the main entrance. So, after moving my car, we entered the museum. I was stunned by the low cost of admission. Because of current special, our family was able to enter for just $13 for our group of four - an incredible bargain, and even if we paid full price it would still have been a steal. The building itself is outstanding. Airy and bright; a piece of art itself. The collections and special exhibits within were well-presented varied, with something to appeal to anyone. On this particular day, there were exhibits by Maurice Sendak, an American pop artist, an Austrian sculptor, and an Iowan wood turner. There was a Haitian art exhibit as well. The permanent collections were more of a mishmash of different periods and media, from 18th century minor artists to Frank Lloyd Wright designs to Grant Wood studies. In addition, there's a handful of University of Iowa pieces that have been housed here since the devastating floods of 2008. This is a gem of a museum and is not to be missed. The residents of the Quad Cities should be proud of this place. read more

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A spectacular art museum inside and out. Really enjoyed every exhibit and would recommend to anyone, old or young. We came during July 2021 for the Pop Art focus which was absolutely up my alley and I had an excellent time here. So many favorites up close and personal! read more

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The Figge Art Museum had been on my to-do for many years. We've been in the area numerous times but always to do something else. Until the other day, when a cool, cloudy day meant choosing something indoors. Prior to stepping in we had no idea how extensive this museum was. My initial guess was that it would take us 30-60 minutes to see it all. Happily, we weren't half way through the museum after an hour. The second floor holds the bulk of their artwork, but the other three floors have a considerable amount to see. Our favorite exhibit was the college and elementary kids artwork. It's a breathe of fresh air to see how younger people think and express themselves through artwork. Many of the pieces which, were done through amazing talent. Hopefully being shown in a museum inspires each into a career of expressing themselves artistically. Another aspect of the museum that sort of shocked us was the historical art on the second floor. They have a wide selection of art that dates back to the 16th century. Many of these paintings resemble artwork seen in the Chicago Museum of Art. By the time we reached the fourth floor we had spent almost 3hrs here. That's hard to do unless you've got a great deal of content worth looking at. I'd highly recommend Figge to anyone who does or doesn't appreciate artwork. I say that because this museum is full of surprises and a collection of art that would pleasantly surprise just about anyone. Cheers. read more

Great art museum!! We loved how spacious it was and the diversity in what is on display.

" Very Nice Educational Art Museum " We went to the Figge Art Museum and viewed a wide range of Artwork. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here going thru the multiple floors of Artwork. They also have a nice John Deere Theater where you can watch historical films. They have a children's Art center where teachers are working with students in classes.They also have a Bar and Food service area for your pleasure in the Museum. They have famous Artist works, local Artist exhibits, and always some Traveling Artist shows. This Figge Art Museum is definitely a must see in Davenport, Iowa. read more

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The Figge Art museum is a real community asset. I visited yesterday and had a wonderful time. Though there are only about 5 parking spaces in the parking lot, I was easily able to find street parking and make my way to the entrance, where a man working the front desk gave me a quick rundown of exhibits before setting me loose. There is so much to see at Figge, much more than I was expecting. I was there long enough to start worrying that my two hour parking spot had expired. Standout collections, for me, were the Life Along the Mississippi photography exhibit, the American West and mountain paintings, the vast collection of Haitian art, and the Grant Wood pieces. Admission is free at The Figge all summer! Treat yo'self! read more

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Just lovely museum, and a beaut of an architectural structure. We took advantage of the free admission day this past Saturday, and we noticed as we went in that they were setting up for a wedding reception! Sadly, because of time constraints, we only looked through the second floor exhibit rooms and the entrance of the library (with the really cool conference table and discussion clusters of 60's design chairs). We really enjoyed the art on display on the second floor, particularly the Haitian and voodoo art as well as the small retrospective on grant wood (one of my faves). I also identified a new sculpture that I became a really big fan of, called lazarus. We will be back again to check out the other exhibits as soon as time allows. read more

Figge Art Museum - Library Conference Room - Art Museums Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

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Let me start this review by stating, that this is the first actual Art Museum that I have ever attended. My husband and I enjoy new experiences, and look for places to attend while we travel. That being said, I was very impressed with this experience. The museum was huge, with several different wings displaying different types of art. I can comfortably say that there is something for everyone here. We paid $7 admission per adult, and it was well worth the cost. The facility was huge, well maintained and very clean! There were several rooms of children's activities, so I think this is an activity that the entire family could enjoy. There is a place inside to eat and grab something to drink, and parking was accessible and free! I also noticed a sign as we were leaving that specified free days that were coming up, so that may be something to take note of before planning your next trip! read more

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Each of my 10 or so visits here has been an outstanding experience. Let's start outside. A beautiful structure in a beautiful setting near the Mississippi River. The Second St glass façade appropriately reflects the old Davenport Bank (now Wells Fargo) Building. Generally Doris Day style parking is available in the parking lot just outside the entrance. There's a Sol LeWitt sculpture in the plaza along with the parking lot. The beautiful building encloses just enough space for this regional museum. Generally there will be a couple temporary exhibits. These excel when they feature great art from the local area. We particularly enjoyed a small show of decoys a couple years ago. Among the collections, the Regionalist collection (including several Grant Wood pieces) and the Frank Lloyd write collection stand out. A visit here is almost like a private viewing. There are no crowds during normal weekday museum hours. For the last couple years (and for a couple more) the University of Iowa collection is housed here. Sit in the pair of Eames chairs, put your feet up and enjoy Pollack's large "Mural" from that collection. You'll feel like Peggy Guggenheim. Sort-of. When you're done with that, take some time to enjoy the view of the river from the Wintergarden. Enjoy. read more

Cool ultra-moderne building that's pristine... a bit too pristine as there is a severe lack of art inside. I saw the Iowa native Grant Wood items... but you may as well hike up to Chicago to see his American Gothic. There was also a teapot exhibit which was fun but less than what I would consider fine art. Overall, I hope they get more art to fill its empty halls. You can't be so minimalist as to not want more paintings in an art museum building, can you? PS The chairs the Yelper speaks of below are Bertoia chairs; I have one and Knoll sells many. They are great but not uncommon at all outside of Mississippi river towns. read more

Figge Art Museum - Art Museums Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

Maurice, why you be hatin' on small-town museums? Maybe you're just a little jealous. I mean, if you want to go to a museum, come to New York. The Brooklyn Museum, near me, is often dismissed by tourists/Manhattanites, etc, as being too provincial because it's in Brooklyn, god forbid the second largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt or the buzz-worthy exhibits there every year be considered small potatoes! Anyway, everyone should have a chance to experience quality art, design, artifacts and beauty like this wherever they are. This is a small museum, yes, but they take their collection seriously, and the caliber of the work is world-class. Too many Dutch Renaissance painters out there for you? Okay, I'll shut up about that negative review now, just stop being a snob bro! Ah....David Chipperfield is one of my favorite architects. His ability to take a complex set of requirements are distill them into a simple form, and also manage to create an essentially all-glass museum building is always impressive. The Figge may be a bit over-branded (big signs worked into the glass fritting), but it is so much more beautiful than the nearby riverboat casino blighting the adjacent riverfront, equally covered with logos. There was a great exhibit of Cameroon artifacts and also anexcellent Motherwell and so on. Totally worth the trip FROM Chicago, and bravo for the Quad Cities for having the guts to build it. read more

Figge Art Museum - Entry Facade - Art Museums Near Me - Davenport, Iowa

This museum seems to have one of everything: a Picasso, a Joan Miro, a couple of Remington's, Grant Wood, Max Beckman, Phillip Gustin, William Merritt Chase, Chagall, Braque, a whole bunch of 17th Century northern European works, Thomas Hart Benson, Marsden Hartley... But not so much art that you are overwhelmed. The building is impressive - take the stairs rather than the elevators for the views and for the artwork on the stairwell walls. read more

We really enjoyed our visit to the Figge this week. Lovely art, friendly people working there, lots to see. The building was beautiful inside and out. I was impressed by the activity rooms for adults and kids at the end of the galleries. If you were inspired by the great art you saw, you were encouraged to draw and paint yourselves, and given all the basic materials to do so. Surprised that there wasn't a little cafe in the museum, but we were directed to go across the street to a nice lunch spot, Fresh Cafe, that was wonderful! read more

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Nice place for lunch. Very bright atmosphere and quiet. The lunch menu was ok. I have the tacos with their garlic salad. I wasn't overly impressed but the experience was quaint. read more

A surprisingly big and beautiful art museum. They have 3 floors of artwork - some that they keep and some that is rotated out. They have different exhibits that come and go - the best one I went to was a set of speakers (each one had a different voice) that sang together. Very cool. Definitely something for the Quad Cities to be proud of and a place that art lovers should go when they visit the QCA. read more

Fabulous facility my only complaint is specific to the John Deere Theatre ... where apparently there is no ability to control the air temperature separate from the rest of the facility ... it was uncomfortably warm and I sat near the bottom of the theatre. The rest of the facility was perfect for the Tedx production which went off flawlessly otherwise. I would also recomnend a portable beer and wine bar that can be deployed to be able to handle bar rushes that occur during certain events like Tedx. read more

This art museum keeps kids engaged and educates all kings of learners. I enjoyed my time exploring the architecture exhibit and the cozy spots for self expression, and I can't wait to return. Also the staff rocks. read more

We love this art museum. We always take out of town guests who like art & everyone agrees! A treasure in Davenport & for the Quad Cities.

ALWAYS A WINNER!! So many events! It is a great environment and so beautiful to experience. If you have not been, you certainly MUST!! Great events, great bar, great food, phenomenal people!!!! MUST DO!!! read more

A very beautiful museum inside and out! We started on the 4th floor and worked our way down. We enjoyed the view of the river from every floor. We came on a Friday morning and a school field trip was just leaving, and from there on we were the only people there! It was our museum for the morning :) They have a great variety of pieces and the descriptions of the pieces were really good/easy to follow. On one of the floors, all of the piece descriptions were written by art students and art professors which I thought was very neat. Museum staff was very friendly as well and their gift shop was nice. Again, beautiful museum. Would definitely want to come back to see new exhibits or just sit and relax while staring at the river front. read more

It's an adorable little museum. I got to spend an afternoon with Renoir, Picasso, boudin etc. You have to at least visit so that you can say you have been there and done that. Figge museum is checked off my list now . read more

Nicely done. Fantastic for an art museum anywhere, it is scaled in size to better serve the region. As a long time member of the Art Institute of Chicago, I have enjoyed the Figge Art Museum on several occasions - and also became a member. The only disappointment is the lack of a restaurant or a coffee spot to re-energize and have full emersion with a day at the museum. read more

A great art gem, in what seems like a "artless" area, a must stop for any art/museum enthusiast in the QCA

The Figge is a world class art museum. It offers several options of art classes for Youth, Teens, Adult and College students. The best part is not having to clean up the mess from art projects in your own home. There are several options of class structures, from lectures to workshops to demonstrations. The Davenport area of Iowa is a great location and has a definite "arts" vibe. The downtown is beautiful. In 2011, Davenport was named one of America's Great Places. read more

An absolutely stunning building near the waterfront in downtown Davenport. The collection of art is truly amazing for a community of this size. I have toured many art museums and collections throughout U.S., Canada and some countries in Europe and you would be very hard pressed to find anything remotely close to this in communities even larger than the Quad Cities. The family of V.O. Figge should be proud that their patriarchs vision has been realized in such a magnificent facility while also helping to spur the much needed emphasis on revitalizing the downtown area to take advantage of the areas natural resource; the mighty Mississippi. read more

This is my favorite place to visit whenever I pass through Davenport. The building itself is a work of art. It's a great way to spend half a day. read more