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
Apr
20
POSTPONED- History on Tap Trivia Night at Contrary Brewing Co.
This event will be postponed until this fall. Please check back for updates about this event.
May
3
POSTPONED- Red Cedar Chamber Music Presents: Brinton Reprise
This program has been postponed to a later date. Please check back with us for updates. You can also visit Red Cedar Chamber's website at www.redcedar.org for more information.
Jun
18
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Button Lamb Collage
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jun
25
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Pretty Poppies Watercolor
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Aug
13
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Acrylic Painting on Garden Flag
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jul
9
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Garden Bath Time Watercolor
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jul
16
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Paper Napkin Necklace Pendant
Make your own unique necklace pendant with graphics from a paper napkin and silver jewelry findings. Chain included. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Aug
20
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Serenity on the Sea Watercolor
Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more updates.
Jul
30
Creative Sessions: Bookmaking
Creative Sessions are free and open to cancer survivors, patients, and their support team. Brian Allen from the Figge Art Museum leads this session which will be held Thursday, July 30th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required. Class size may be limited. Guests are encouraged to wear a mask while in the building. Check back with us for more information closer to the class.
Jun
11
Virtual Creative Sessions: Journaling with Ryan Collins
Ryan Collins, Executive Director of the Midwest Writing Center in Rock Island, will lead this session on Thursday, June 11th, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Advance registration required. Call 563-263-8282 or email kloos@muscatineiowa.gov to register and get your meeting ID. This session will be held via GoTo Meeting.
May
2
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Cinco de Mayo
Join Julie Lear to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by making Ojo de Dios (God's Eye) weavings. Free. Register by May 1st. ID 6690
Mar
16
MUSCATINE ART CENTER CLOSED UNTIL JUNE 9TH
The Muscatine Art Center will be closed for the next few weeks as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. We are following the guidelines set by the CDC in an effort to keep our staff and patrons safe and healthy. Questions? Call us at 563-263-8282.
Mar
18
CANCELLED- Spring Break Kid's Open Studio March 18th
Spring Break open studio for kids has been cancelled. Check back with us for more updates and cancellations.
Feb
15
SUSPENDED- Take & Make Art
*UPDATE 3/16/2020: The Take & Make program will be suspended for the next four weeks.* Need something to do on the weekend? Stop by the Muscatine Art Center and grab a Take & Make project! Every Saturday and Sunday during open hours.
Jun
4
Online Only - First Thursday with Katy Loos
This class will be pre-recorded and shared on the Muscatine Art Center's Facebook page and YouTube channel on the first Thursday of the month. See below for supplies needed.
Jun
1
Online Only - Mini Masters Wednesday Morning
UPDATE 6/1/2020: There will be no in-person Mini Masters on Wednesday mornings for the immediate future. Go to the Muscatine Art Center Mini Masters Facebook page to watch the weekly videos, and view other content related to tots. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations.
Jun
1
SUSPENDED- Mini Masters Thursday Afternoon
UPDATE 3/16/2020: There will be no Mini Masters on Wednesday mornings for the next four weeks. Check back with us for updates and other cancellations. 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).
Apr
9
Booked on Art: Broad Strokes
Booked on Art April Meet Up Thursday, April 9th, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Muscatine Art Center Art Reference Library.
