Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Contemporary art museum on State Street. Free admission. More info at www.mmoca.org.

MISSION

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is an independent organization that exhibits, collects, and preserves modern and contemporary art to provide transformative experiences that educate, reflect, and inspire us as individuals and a community. COLLECTION

The Museum's collection traces its origins to a major gift from Rudolph and Louise Langer in 1968. Through donations and Museum purcha

ses, the collection has grown to become an important community resource. Works span the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and include paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, and drawings. Romare Bearden, Deborah Butterfield, John Steuart Curry, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Cindy Sherman are among the many esteemed artists represented in the collection. EXHIBITIONS

Exhibitions are the cornerstone of MMoCA's public programs and have featured many of the most respected artists of the last century, including Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Chuck Close, Sol LeWitt, George Segal, Jim Dine, Rodney Graham, Georgia O'Keeffe, Claes Oldenburg, Ursula von Rydingsvard, and John Wilde. The main galleries, located on the second floor, host the Museum's major exhibitions. The Henry Street Gallery presents exhibitions from the Museum's permanent collection while the State Street Gallery offers a changing roster of exhibitions and installations. MMoCA's rooftop sculpture garden presents major works on a rotating basis in an illuminated garden setting. EDUCATION

MMoCA's education department organizes lectures, films, panel discussions, docent-led tours, and children's art classes, as well as outreach programs like Art on Tour, Art Cart, and ArtZone. The education department also undertakes special projects like the online exhibition Modern Art/Contemporary Art/MMoCA Collects. MEMBERSHIP

MMoCA members provide critical support for the Museum's exhibitions and education programs. Members receive free or discounted admission to Museum events; opportunities to meet artists and curators; a subscription to the Museum's newsletter; and a tax deduction for contributions. MUSEUM RESTAURANT

MMoCA is excited for the possibilities a new restaurant will bring, and anticipate that a new restaurant will be in place in 2022. Follow us on social media to be the among the first to know more about the new rooftop restaurant. MUSEUM RENTALS

The Museum restaurant, lobby, lecture hall, and rooftop sculpture garden are available for special occasions.

Enjoy an evening of drawing and drinks! Jane Fasse will guide a figure drawing session in the Rooftop Lounge, featuring ...
09/04/2026

Enjoy an evening of drawing and drinks!

Jane Fasse will guide a figure drawing session in the Rooftop Lounge, featuring body-inclusive n**e models in varied poses. Admission includes one drink, with additional refreshments available for purchase.

All skill levels welcome! Space is limited, advance registration required.
mmoca.org/events/drink-and-draw-5

πŸ“… Sunday, September 20
⏰ 6–8 PM
πŸ“ Rooftop Lounge
🎟️ $20 Members / $25 Non-members
🍸 21+

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Explore the Chemistry of Color Gallery Talk with Dr. Tehshik Yoon! 🎨πŸ§ͺ Color is among an artist’s most powerful tools, an...
09/03/2026

Explore the Chemistry of Color Gallery Talk with Dr. Tehshik Yoon! 🎨πŸ§ͺ

Color is among an artist’s most powerful tools, and its modern evolution was fueled by organic chemistry. Learn how the invention of synthetic dyes in the 19th and 20th centuries revolutionized the vibrant palettes artists use today.

πŸ“… Saturday, September 5
⏰ 1 PM
πŸ“ Main Galleries
🎟️ Free Admission

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Image courtesy of Sharon Vanorny

Today is the final day to submit your application for Art Market!Whether you create handmade art, unique wearables, craf...
08/31/2026

Today is the final day to submit your application for Art Market!

Whether you create handmade art, unique wearables, crafts, or specialty foods, we want to showcase your work. Come display your work, share your passion, and engage with art enthusiasts.

Learn more and apply at mmoca.org/artmarket

πŸ—“οΈ Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on August 31
🎟️ $25 application fee

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Explore color in the galleries!Discover the diverse and vibrant applications of color featured in Extended Play: A-Side....
08/27/2026

Explore color in the galleries!

Discover the diverse and vibrant applications of color featured in Extended Play: A-Side. This Saturday, Derrick Buisch offers a gallery talk to explore how color serves as the core subject.

πŸ“… Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 2 PM
πŸ“ Main Galleries
🎟️ Free Admission

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Image courtesy of Sharon Vanorny.

Visit three participating Wisconsin Art Destination museums between August and November and receive a limited-edition t-...
08/26/2026

Visit three participating Wisconsin Art Destination museums between August and November and receive a limited-edition t-shirt. "Visit 3, Get a T" is a new promotion from Wisconsin Art Destinations. Visitors who check in at participating museums in three different Wisconsin cities are eligible.

This campaign runs now–November 15!

Go to wisconsinartdestinations.com for museum details, exhibitions, and visitor tips.

Wisconsin Art Destination museums:

Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah
Chazen Museum of Art in Madison
Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee
John Michael Kohler Arts Center and the JMKAC Art Preserve in Sheboygan
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in Madison ⭐
Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay
Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee
Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend
Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh
Racine Art Museum in Racine
Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc
Trout Museum of Art in Appleton

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Upgrade your happy hour at Muse at MMoCA!Gather your friends and fellow art lovers to explore the galleries before headi...
08/25/2026

Upgrade your happy hour at Muse at MMoCA!

Gather your friends and fellow art lovers to explore the galleries before heading up to the Rooftop Lounge. Enjoy unique cocktails poured by Executive Chef Elena Terry from Tall Grass at MMoCA, accompanied by a custom set list from DJ Shameless.

Wrap up the evening by admiring the stunning sunset from the Rooftop Sculpture Garden.

πŸ“… August 27, 2026
πŸ“ Rooftop Sculpture Garden
🎟️ Free Admission

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Images courtesy of Sharon Vanorny.

08/24/2026

See this exhibition before it becomes a memory!

Exploring how memories take shape in objects, David R. Harper’s multimedia exhibition β€œGood Morning Sweetheart” closes on Sunday, August 30. The exhibition utilizes everyday items, such as flowers and motel soap, to explore this theme.

Watch the full video on our YouTube channel or by clicking the link in our linktr.ee.

🎨 On view through August 30, 2026
πŸ›οΈ State Street Gallery
🎟️ Admission is always free at MMoCA

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08/21/2026

Did you notice the different styles in "Extended Play: A-Side?”

In the mid-1960s, some American painters shifted away from the strict geometry of Color Field painting and the Washington Color School toward a more fluid, personal approach. Though color remained central, they reintroduced visible brushwork and spontaneity, softening edges to create deeply expressive art.

πŸ“… Now – September 27, 2026
πŸ“ Main Galleries
🎟️ Free Admission

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08/20/2026

Do you have a venue, store, or space?

Transform your location into a vibrant gallery by applying for Fall Gallery Night! Join local venues to showcase art exhibitions, host artist talks, feature live music, and provide food and drinks.

The deadline to apply is September 28.

πŸ“† Gallery Night: November 6
⏰ 5–9 PM
πŸ“ Citywide
🎟️ Free Admission

Learn more and sign up your venue at: mmoca.org/event/gallery-night

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Address

211 State St
Madison, WI
53703

Opening Hours

Thursday 12pm - 9pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+16082570158

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