Current
American Art Pottery Collection
Highlighted in the collection are Iowa State Pottery and pottery from other Iowa companies.
Muscatine Art Center
Visitors to the Muscatine Art Center encounter paintings made by artists recognized around the world, fascinating objects connected to Muscatine’s past, beautifully crafted decorative arts, charming period rooms, and a Japanese Garden installed nearly a century ago. Learners of all ages can pique their curiosity through changing exhibitions, classes, and events.
Hours
Tues – Fri: 10am – 5pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 5 pm
Mon: Closed
1314 Mulberry Ave,
Muscatine, IA 52761
Get Directions
Exhibitions
Collections
Events & Classes
The Mansion circa 1910
Since 1965 ...
The Laura Musser Museum, later renamed the Muscatine Art Center, has been an important gathering place for the Muscatine community. Laura Musser McColm’s niece, Mary Musser Gilmore, and Laura’s stepdaughter, Mary Catherine Atkins McWhirter, jointly offered the home to the City of Muscatine and established a trust to aid in the maintenance of the house.
Over generations, Muscatine children have participated in school and youth group programs and studio classes, families have attended cultural events, adults have further developed their artistic skills and deepened their knowledge of local history and art related topics. Since 1976, the Stanley Gallery has displayed countless changing art and history exhibitions. Today, first time visitors and long time friends alike are captivated by the historic home, the collection, and the stories presented in exhibitions.
Collections
Current
Historic Toy Collection
Included in the Toy Collection are games, books, dolls and doll accessories and furniture, stuffed animals, wooden blocks and cars, and metal toys and ride-ons.
Current
Muscatine History Collection
A wide variety of artifacts, ephemera, photographs, and archives makes up the Muscatine History Collection.
Current
Costume Collection
The central pieces in the Costume Collection were owned by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mississippi River Collection
The Mississippi River Collection historically and aesthetically documents the cities, towns and communities along the mighty Mississippi from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
Current
Musser-McColm Family Collection
Furniture, photographs, dresses, paintings, glass, silver, diaries, music boxes, rugs and other decorative arts are among the items left by the Musser-McColm family.
Current
Mary Musser-Gilmore Collection
Mrs. Gilmore was an avid art collector, acquiring works by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Camille Pissarro, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Current
Iowa Regionalist Collection
The Iowa Regionalist collection features works by Grant Wood and his Iowa contemporaries.
Current
Early American Pattern Glass & Art Glass Collection
The glass collection consists of over 3,000 pieces of glass featuring a wide variety of patterns, colors, and forms, including American Art Glass and Early American Pattern Glass.
Events & Classes
Feb
9
Panel Discussion - Hard Won, Not Done Eastern Iowa Women Artists Invitational
(Image Credit: Kristin Quinn, "Sweet Lorraine") Eastern Iowa is home to many dedicated and driven women who significantly contribute to the local, regional, and sometimes national and international visual arts community. In these panel discussions, artists will share their life and studio experiences as they continue to develop skills and ideas, build community, and navigate a livelihood in the visual arts. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions or to share their own experiences. Panelists on Sunday, February 9th are Miriam Alarcon Avila, Cecile Houel, Nancy Purington, and Kristin Quinn. Panelists on Thursday, March 26th are Jean Berry, Rose Frantzen, Monica Leo, Elizabeth Shriver, and Jo Myers-Walker.
Mar
26
Panel Discussion - Hard Won, Not Done Eastern Iowa Women Artists Invitational
(Image Credit: Elizabeth Shriver, "Interwoven Vessel") Eastern Iowa is home to many dedicated and driven women who significantly contribute to the local, regional, and sometimes national and international visual arts community. In these panel discussions, artists will share their life and studio experiences as they continue to develop skills and ideas, build community, and navigate a livelihood in the visual arts. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions or to share their own experiences. Panelists on Thursday, March 26th are Jean Berry, Rose Frantzen, Monica Leo, Elizabeth Shriver, and Jo Myers-Walker. Panelists on Sunday, February 9th are Miriam Alarcon Avila, Cecile Houel, Nancy Purington, and Kristin Quinn.
Apr
5
Reception - Hard Won, Not Done Eastern Iowa Women Artists Invitational
(Image Credit: Louise Kames, "Malala Yousafza") Join us for a reception to celebrate the 24 Eastern Iowa women artists represented in the "Hard Won, Not Done" exhibition. From 2:30 to 3:00 p.m., Truc Deegan, one of the exhibiting artists, will give a demonstration of her traditional ink painting technique. This exhibition was organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment - Women's Right to Vote.
Feb
20
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Wise Old Owl
Bring this wise old owl to life with lifelike watercolors. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6647
Feb
27
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Purple Rabbit
Beckon spring with this playful purple watercolor rabbit. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6648
Jan
25
Chinese New Year- Year of the Rat
2020 is the Year of the Rat! Join Julie Lear to celebrate the Year of the Rat by making a Chinese New Year lantern. ID 6641
Feb
8
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Victorian Valentine
Victorian Valentine's Day cards were flat sheets of paper printed with color illustrations and embossed borders. The sheets could be folded and sealed with wax, then mailed. Join Julie Lear to celebrate Valentine's Day by creating your own personal Valentine. ID 6642
Jan
25
January Saturday Drop-In Art
Not sure what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Drop in anytime between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. for a quick make and take project. Miss Katy will guide you through the steps for this free activity.
Feb
15
February Saturday Drop-In Art
Not sure what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Drop in anytime between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. for a quick make and take project. Miss Katy will guide you through the steps for this free activity.
Feb
6
First Thursday with Katy Loos
Polymer clay is a fun, versatile material that can be shaped into anything from figurines to jewelry. Join Katy for a beginner DIY class where we will make beautiful polymer clay pendants using powder pigments, stamps, and paint to create a unique piece. Fee includes one pendant and necklace cord. Fee is $15.00 or $13.50 for Friends members. ID 6652
Jan
29
Mini Masters Wednesday Morning
Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Mini Masters is an engaging program for young learners (ages 2 to 7).
Jan
29
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoon
Every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Mini Masters is an engaging program for young learners (ages 2 to 7).
Jan
30
Booked on Art
Booked on Art January Meet Up Thursday, January, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Muscatine Art Center Art Reference Library.
Jan
30
Booked on Art: Broad Strokes
Booked on Art January Meet Up Thursday, January, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Muscatine Art Center Art Reference Library.
