University Museums, Iowa State University

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University Museums, Iowa State University Brunnier Art Museum • Farm House Museum • Christian Petersen Art Museum • Anderson Sculpture Garden • Art on Campus They will reopen the week of August 22.

University Museums is a distinctive organization that encompasses two art museums, a National Historic Landmark historic home museum, a sculpture garden, and one of the largest campus public art collections in the nation. University Museums brings world-class exhibitions with educational programming to Iowa State University, actively acquires works of art to add to the more than 30,000 permanent collection objects, conserves and preserves collections, conducts and publishes curatorial scholarship, and fosters student engagement. For all things University Museums, including hours, current exhibitions, programs and collection information, go to www.museums.iastate.edu

Fall 2022 Semester Hours (beginning August 22)
Museums and offices will be closed for ISU holidays. All museums close at the end of the day July 22 to change exhibitions. Brunnier Art Museum
Wednesday - Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Closed to the public Monday & Tuesday. ISU curriculum tours may be scheduled these days with two weeks' notice. Christian Petersen Art Museum
Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Closed weekends

Farm House Museum
Monday - Friday, noon - 4:00pm
Closed weekends

Anderson Sculpture Garden
Always open

Did you know George Washington Carver appeared in Iowa State's 1896 Bomb yearbook? That's just one of more than 250 obje...
10/16/2026

Did you know George Washington Carver appeared in Iowa State's 1896 Bomb yearbook?

That's just one of more than 250 objects featured in America 250: Prairie, Plows, and the People's College at the Farm House Museum. The exhibition explores the people, ideas, traditions, and moments that connect Iowa State's story to the broader story of the United States.

The exhibition closes October 26.

Whether you're an Iowa State history buff or simply curious about the people who shaped this place, now is your last chance to experience it.

10/14/2026

What can art teach us about identity, place, and the stories that shape a region?

Join us for a virtual conversation with Dr. John Morán González as he explores the work of Luis Jiménez, one of the most influential artists of the American Southwest. Drawing on themes of culture, heritage, and life in the borderlands, Jiménez's work challenges viewers to think differently about the people and histories that define our communities.

Whether you're interested in art, history, literature, culture, or the evolving story of the American West, this lecture offers a fresh perspective on the ideas reflected in our current exhibition at the Christian Petersen Art Museum.

Attend from anywhere and discover why Jiménez's vision continues to resonate today.

➡️ Register today and join the conversation.

10/13/2026

Which building is next? 👀

This week's Art Walk lands at Sweeney Hall, where we'll explore how art, science, and engineering intersect through works from Iowa State's Art on Campus Collection.

Join us as we discover the stories behind the art in and around one of campus's most recognizable science buildings. Whether you're a student looking for a study break, a faculty member curious about campus history, or someone who simply enjoys seeing Iowa State from a new perspective, this walk is for you.

📍 Sweeney Hall
📅 Wednesday, Oct. 14
⏰ 3:10-4:00 p.m.
✅ Free and open to all

Tag a friend who should join you, then meet us at Sweeney tomorrow.

Did you know human hair jewelry was once fashionable? Or that the ISU Cemetery contains more than 900 graves? Or that th...
10/13/2026

Did you know human hair jewelry was once fashionable? Or that the ISU Cemetery contains more than 900 graves? Or that the sculpture Solo outside the Hub had to be repaired after a tree fell on it and knocked off its head?

These were just a few of the questions students tackled during University Museums Art Trivia at ISU After Dark in the Memorial Union last Friday.

Sixty-one students joined us throughout the evening, testing their knowledge of art, history, and Iowa State while competing for prizes and bragging rights. Favorite categories included Wild Card and Art Around the World, proving that some of the most fascinating stories can come from the most unexpected places.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by for a round (or two) and to the Iowa State University Memorial Union and ISU AfterDark team for their partnership.

One of our favorite parts of events like these is finding new ways to connect students with the stories behind Iowa State's museums, collections, historic sites, and public art.

📸 Take a look through the photos and see if you can spot yourself. And if you'd like to join us at a future event, visit the link in our bio to see what's coming up next!

Art can help us understand the spaces between cultures.In his bold, larger-than-life sculptures, Luis Jiménez explored t...
10/12/2026

Art can help us understand the spaces between cultures.

In his bold, larger-than-life sculptures, Luis Jiménez explored the meeting point of Mexican and U.S. culture, revealing how identity, language, history, and place shape our understanding of the world.

On October 15, join John Morán González, Regents Professor of American and English Literature at the University of Texas at Austin, for a free virtual presentation that looks beyond the artwork itself and into the cultural conversations that inspired it.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Luis Jiménez: The Mythic Southwest, this online program is ideal for anyone interested in art, literature, history, cultural identity, or the American Southwest.

📅 Thursday, October 15
⏰ 6:00 p.m.
💻 Free on Zoom

Visit our Facebook Event for details and to receive a reminder before the program begins.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause.On World Mental Health Day, we're reminded that moments of refle...
10/10/2026

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause.

On World Mental Health Day, we're reminded that moments of reflection matter.

Whether it's a visit to a museum, a walk through campus, or spending a few quiet minutes with a favorite work of art, taking time to slow down and look closely can help create space in a busy week.

With sunny skies in the forecast, consider exploring Iowa State's Art on Campus Collection or stopping by the Brunnier Art Museum, open today from 1-4 p.m.

We hope you find a moment of peace, curiosity, and inspiration wherever your day takes you.

Following a recent installation of her work on campus, artist and cultural organizer Favianna Rodriguez will visit Iowa ...
10/09/2026

Following a recent installation of her work on campus, artist and cultural organizer Favianna Rodriguez will visit Iowa State University later this month for a free public lecture and hands-on workshop.

Known for vibrant artwork that explores culture, ecology, migration, and community, Rodriguez's work invites audiences to consider how creativity can help us imagine a more just and sustainable future.

Learn more about Favianna's visit, her newly installed artwork, and upcoming opportunities to hear from and create alongside the artist:

🔗 https://museums.iastate.edu/news/following-new-campus-installation-artist-favianna-rodriguez-visit-iowa-state

📅 Culture, Ecosystems and the Art of Social Change: Artist Lecture
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. | Memorial Union

📅 Flora, Fauna, and Future: A Hands-On Art Workshop
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 10:30 a.m. | Memorial Union

Both events are free and open to the public. Advance registration for the workshop is encouraged as space is limited.

Thousands of people watched Iowa State's Presidential Installation last week. Few probably knew that one of the ceremony...
10/08/2026

Thousands of people watched Iowa State's Presidential Installation last week. Few probably knew that one of the ceremony's most recognizable symbols is cared for by University Museums.

The Presidential Chain of Office, worn by Iowa State's president during official ceremonies, is part of the Art on Campus Collection and has been entrusted to University Museums for preservation and stewardship.

As Iowa State welcomed President David Cook as its 17th president, we were honored to support a tradition that connects generations of university leadership and reflects the institution's enduring history.

Cats, dogs, cows, rams... and jaguars?There's an entire menagerie of animal sculptures around the Iowa State campus wait...
10/08/2026

Cats, dogs, cows, rams... and jaguars?

There's an entire menagerie of animal sculptures around the Iowa State campus waiting to be discovered. How many have you spotted?

Thanks to our friends at the College of Veterinary Medicine for highlighting the feline and canine sculptures outside the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. One of the joys of public art is its ability to transform an ordinary walk across campus into a moment of discovery.

From beloved campus landmarks to hidden gems, Iowa State's Art on Campus Collection offers something new around every corner.

We challenge you to find another animal sculpture on campus this week.

Have a favorite? Share a photo in the comments or tag University Museums in your post. We'd love to see what you discover.

Looking for a place to start? Check the comments for our Art on Campus map.

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Ames, IA
50011

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