The Dayton Art Institute

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The Dayton Art Institute Inspiring Dayton through art since 1919. Open Wednesday - Sunday. Founded in 1919, The Dayton Art Institute is one of the region’s premier fine arts museums.
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In addition to exhibiting outstanding special exhibitions and impressive collections of art from throughout the world, the museum is renowned for education programming that includes an array of offerings for diverse audiences. The Dayton Art Institute is committed to enriching lives and serving the community by creating meaningful experiences with art. To learn more about the museum, call 937-223-4ART (4278) or visit www.daytonartinstitute.org. Connect with us on our other channels:
Twitter http://twitter.com/daytonart
YouTube www.youtube.com/daytonartinstitute
Instagram http://instagram.com/daytonartinstitute
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/daytonart
Flickr www.flickr.com/daytonartinstitute

The Dayton Art Institute welcomes your comments and feedback on this page. Please be respectful of others, and please refrain from using hostile or abusive language, and profanity. The DAI reserves the right to remove any comments or posts it deems inappropriate, including commercial messages promoting events, fundraisers or the sale of artwork, or to ban any users who violate these guidelines.

Now On View: “Wall Power! Spectacular Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum”Quilts are so much more than fabric and t...
10/17/2026

Now On View: “Wall Power! Spectacular Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum”

Quilts are so much more than fabric and thread. With bold patterns, striking colors and incredible attention to detail, they’re works of art that tell stories about life, creativity and tradition. This special exhibition brings together quilts from the mid-19th to late 20th century, highlighting the artistry of makers from across the country, alongside selections from the DAI’s own textile collection.

Come see these remarkable works for yourself! “Wall Power!” is on view through January 10, 2027.

🖼️ This exhibition was organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York, and is supported in part by the Bresler Foundation, the David Davies and Jack Weeden Fund for Exhibitions, and the Council for Traditional Folk Art.

Bourbon & Bubbles wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers! 🥂Want to be part of the fun? Join us for an eveni...
10/16/2026

Bourbon & Bubbles wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers! 🥂

Want to be part of the fun? Join us for an evening of dressing up, meeting new people and giving back to the museum while helping bring this special event to life.

Interested in volunteering? Sign up through Volunteer Hub using the link below to explore available opportunities! We’d love to have you join us!

VOLUNTEER HERE: https://daytonartinstitute.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/bourbonbubbles/

10/15/2026

After months of preparation, we’re so excited to introduce Beyond the Frame! Over the next several months, we’ll be sharing stories from local community leaders as they explore our collection and share their personal connections to the artwork.

We believe art is for everyone and there’s something special about seeing it through someone else’s eyes. Each featured leader’s story will also be on display at the DAI, so you can experience their perspectives in person as you explore the galleries.

Our community is such an important part of who we are and we can’t wait to share these stories with you! A special shoutout to Knack Video + Photo for helping bring this series to life. This project wouldn’t have been possible without them and we’re so grateful to have them as part of it. Stay tuned for our first video coming this month.

10/14/2026

A little behind-the-scenes gallery transformation! Our team has been hard at work getting everything ready for our newest exhibitions and it’s so fun to see the galleries come together. Take a look! 👀

10/13/2026

Our final rotation of “Exploring Feminism” features thought-provoking works that are worth taking the time to experience in person. Curator Dr. Mariah Postlewait shares more about this large-scale piece currently on view and why it’s worth a closer look.

🖼️ Shelley Brenner Baird (American, born 1950), “19th Amendment”, 2019, Mixed Media. Gift of Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell, 2026.23

10/12/2026

Something spectacular is opening at DAI this week! 🧵

“Wall Power! Spectacular Quilts from the American Folk Art Museum” opens for JPS Wednesday, members Thursday and the public Saturday, October 17, in Gallery 120. This traveling exhibition is a must-see and we’re celebrating opening day with a community tour of the exhibition, free with museum admission! Reserve your spot and come see what makes “Wall Power!” so special.

SATURDAY TOUR: https://dai.ticketapp.org/portal/product/45/events

🖼️ This exhibition was organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York, and is supported in part by the Bresler Foundation, the David Davies and Jack Weeden Fund for Exhibitions, and the Council for Traditional Folk Art.

The 2026 FotoFocus Biennial is here! This month-long celebration of photography brings together artists, curators and ve...
10/11/2026

The 2026 FotoFocus Biennial is here! This month-long celebration of photography brings together artists, curators and venues from around the world, with 74 exhibitions across Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Northern Kentucky.

This year’s theme, “The Long View”, explores how photography and film capture time, shift our perspective and shape the way we see the world. We’re excited to be part of this year’s Biennial with two exhibitions at the DAI: “Looking for Japan: Early Japanese Photography” and “Getting Technical: Alternative Photographic Processes”.

We also have a fun program coming up to complement these exhibitions! Join DAI curators Dr. Mariah Postlewait and Dr. Peter Doebler for a gallery talk about “Looking for Japan: Early Japanese Photography” on Thursday, October 22, from 6–6:30 PM.

The talk is free for members and FotoFocus Biennial Passport holders. For non-members, it’s included with museum admission. For FotoFocus Biennial Passport Holders: To reserve your spot for free, please call the Dayton Art Institute 937-223-4278 during regular museum hours. Come explore FotoFocus at the DAI!

Bourbon, bubbles and a whole lot to celebrate! A big thank you to our amazing sponsors for helping make Bourbon & Bubble...
10/10/2026

Bourbon, bubbles and a whole lot to celebrate! A big thank you to our amazing sponsors for helping make Bourbon & Bubbles possible. We’re so grateful for your support and can’t wait to bring everyone together for a fun night at the DAI! 🥂

Haven’t gotten your tickets yet? There’s still time to join us on November 6 for a night of great company and après-ski fun. We hope to see you there!

TICKETS: https://dai.ticketapp.org/portal/product/39/events

Who let the ghosts help with gallery prep? We have some questions…👻
10/10/2026

Who let the ghosts help with gallery prep? We have some questions…👻

10/09/2026

Calling all ghouls and goblins! Join us for a spooky tour this Saturday, October 10 at 1 PM. It’s going to be a spooktacular time, so grab your tickets and save your spot! 👻

TICKETS: https://dai.ticketapp.org/portal/product/87/events

Address

456 Belmonte Park N
Dayton, OH
45405

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 8pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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