Des Moines Art Center

The Des Moines Art Center stewards an exceptional collection of art and architecture, stimulates profound conversations about art, ideas, and society, and inspires the creativity of new generations of artists.

Established in 1948, the Des Moines Art Center exists to engage and stimulate the communities of Greater Des Moines and beyond. We are home to an exceptional collection of art made between 1500 and the present day. We offer free exhibitions, programs, tours, and lectures at our main campus in Greenwood Park, consisting of three unique buildings designed by world renowned architects Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier. We also oversee the iconic John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Western Gateway Park, which opened in 2009, and provide dozens of art classes for kids, teens, and adults in our amazing studios.