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 – 4pm
Thurs: 10am - 7pm
Sat & Sun: 1pm – 4pm
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
Jun
24
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Wading Crane Acrylic
Join us for a fun studio class where you become the artist! Fees are $15 or $13.50 for Friends members, and all supplies are included. Advance registration required on a first to register basis. Call 563-263-8282 to reserve your spot.
Jun
25
Visiting Artist Summer Workshop for Kids- Year of the Musser Mansion: 1908 (June 25, 2021)
The historic Musser-McColm mansion was completed in 1908 during the Edwardian era (1901-1910) and many pieces on display in the mansion come from that period. During this era, the popular art movement was called Art Nouveau, or "new art". This June, join us to learn about the historic era by taking a tour through the mansion, and creating projects in the Art Nouveau style, like faux stained glass, woodblock printing, and more! Workshops will be held June 11 & 25 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. You can sign up for both workshops, or just one. These workshops are open to kids ages 9 and up.
Jul
24
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Upcycled Paper Beads
Join Miss Julie Saturday, July 24 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to make your own upcycled magazine paper beads you can turn into a necklace or keychain. Bring your own old magazines, or use some of ours! Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Aug
28
Kids' Saturday Workshop -Leaf Pounding
Join Miss Julie Saturday, August 28 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to learn about this unique art form and to make a botanical print of your own. Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Sep
18
Kids' Saturday Workshop - Wayne Thiebaud Donuts
Join Miss Julie Saturday, September 18 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. to celebrate National Cream Filled Donut Day by painting your own colorful donut in the style of Wayne Thiebaud, and enjoy a cream-filled donut while you do! Call 563-263-8282 for more information and to sign up.
Jun
22
Mini Masters Wednesday Mornings
Mini Masters has returned to in-person class on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. 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. These classes are free.
Jun
22
Mini Masters Thursday Afternoons
Mini Masters will return to in-person class on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. Registration limited, reservations required. Call 563-263-8282 to register. 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. These classes are free.
Aug
14
Acrylic Workshop with Kay Flanders
Saturday, August 14, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. join artist Kay Flanders for an acrylic workshop. More details to come.
