Exhibitions

With more than twenty changing exhibitions and displays offered each year, there is always something new to discover at the Muscatine Art Center. The two-story Stanley Gallery hosts large exhibitions while smaller displays are presented on the second floor of the historic house and in showcases near the reception desk.

A wide range of topics and the works of many different artists are presented in changing exhibitions. Plan your visit to best match your interests by checking the exhibition schedule.

The Muscatine Art Center curates exhibitions using works of art and artifacts from its collection, hosts traveling exhibitions, and collaborates with regional artists, museums, and collectors to spotlight artists and their visions and to tell thought-provoking stories. The organization builds its exhibition schedule to reflect the variety of interests present in the community. Within the two-story Stanley Gallery, interactive displays that appeal to children and families, a juried exhibition, a show of artwork by local elementary students, and a display of historic wedding dresses may be presented within a single year. These exhibitions are typically planned two to four years in advance.

Jon Fasanelli-Cawelti: The Man Filled with Music

Muscatine printmaker Jon Fasanelli-Cawelti rediscovered his love of playing the trumpet following a twenty-year hiatus and began playing in five musical groups including the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra and the Mad Creek Mudcats. His love of music sparked a new series of music-based prints. Among these fifty works are Man Filled with Music, Jazz is the River Burning, and Desperate Cornet Shimmie.

Mauricio Lasansky: Portraits from the Permanent Collection

Mauricio Lasansky: Portraits from the Permanent Collection is on view September 21, 2023 through January 28, 2024.

Cory Christiansen

Through his experiences, Cory Christiansen has come to appreciate the fragile and fleeting nature of our existence. Christiansen's exhibition is on view from August 10, 2023 through March 10, 2024 on the second floor of the historic house.

John Deason

John Deason, a former Muscatine High School teacher who received his Master of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in photography from the University of Iowa and later taught at Augustana College, has been fascinated by photography for many decades. His photographs are on view from August 17 through October 29, 2023 on the second floor of the historic house.

Muscatine's Pearl Button Button Industry

The Mississippi River town of Muscatine produced billions of pearl buttons. By 1905, Muscatine made 37 percent of the world's buttons and earned the title of "Pearl Button Capital of the World."

MUSCATINE ART CENTER JAPANESE GARDEN CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS

The Japanese Garden at the Muscatine Art Center is currently closed for renovations. Stay tuned for updates.

Heartfelt & Handmade Ornament Competition

Calling all artists and crafters! Compete for cash prizes while supporting the Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and educational programs! Entries in the Heartfelt & Handmade Ornament Competition are due on or before November 1st!