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
Mar
28
POSTPONED- Artist Guided Tour: Letters to My Ancestors - The Watercolors of Tara Moorman
UPDATE: This tour has been postponed. Please check back with us for updates and other cancellations. Join Tara Moorman on Saturday, March 28th for an artist guided tour of her exhibition, Letters to My Ancestors. Learn about Tara’s process and research into her family’s history. There is no fee for the tour, but reservations are requested. Please contact the Muscatine Art Center at 563-263-8282 to sign up for the tour.
Mar
19
CANCELLED- Reception - Art Array 2020
UPDATE: The Art Array 2020 opening reception has been cancelled. (Image Credit: Kathleen Lenaghan, "Low Water") The work of ten area artists will be featured in the Muscatine County Arts Council’s first juried exhibition, “Art Array 2020.” The exhibition will be displayed at the Muscatine Art Center from March 19 through May 31, 2020. Cash awards will be announced during the March 19th reception. Light refreshments will be served. There is no admission fee, and reservations are not needed.
Mar
26
CANCELLED- Panel Discussion - Hard Won, Not Done Eastern Iowa Women Artists Invitational
UPDATE: This program has been cancelled. Please check back for updates and other cancellations. (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.
Apr
5
CANCELLED- Reception - Hard Won, Not Done Eastern Iowa Women Artists Invitational
UPDATE: This public reception has been cancelled. Please check back for updates and cancellations. (Image Credit: Louise Kames, "Malala Yousafza") Join us for a reception on April 5th starting at 1:30 p.m. 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.
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.
May
31
For Love of Art Tea & Preview of "Till Death" Exhibit
"For the Love of Art" and preview of "Till Death" exhibition will be held Sunday, May 31st, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Mar
19
POSTPONED- Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Button Lamb Collage
This class is postponed until a later date. Please check back with us for more information.
Apr
9
POSTPONED- Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Pretty Poppies Watercolor
This class is postponed until a later date. Please check back with us for more information.
Apr
16
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Down on the Farm Watercolor
Feel right at home down on the farm with this inviting watercolor barn scene. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6655
Apr
30
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker - Garden Bath Time Watercolor
Feel the warmth of spring with these adorable birds in a birdbath. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6656
May
28
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. ID 6658
May
21
Red Barn Studio with Vada Baker- Purple Elephant
Bring this playful elephant to life with beautiful hues of purple watercolors. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6657
May
14
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, May 14th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Advance registration required.
Apr
22
Earth Day Celebration
Help us celebrate National Earth Day by stopping by the Muscatine Art Center Wednesday, April 22nd, anytime between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. to participate in a "green" craft using only recycled materials. No registration required for this free event.
Apr
4
CANCELLED- Kids' Saturday Workshop - Easter Sugar Eggs
This class has been cancelled. Please check back with us for more information.
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 FOR FOUR WEEKS
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.
Apr
2
CANCELLED- First Thursday with Katy Loos
Tap into your inner Bohemian artist with these unique macrame necklaces! Katy will give you tutorials on simple macrame knotting to create these one-of-a-kind pendants. Fee is for one pendant and chain. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6660
May
7
First Thursday with Katy Loos
Make your own "crystal" pendants with resin and alcohol inks. We'll explore the many uses of resin and become familiar with the process. Fee is for two pendants and chains. Fee is $15 or $13.50 for Friends Members. ID 6661
Apr
9
SUSPENDED- Mini Masters Wednesday Morning
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
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.
