Arts and attractions

Fountain of the Four Seasons

Fountain of the Four Seasons sculpture by Christian Petersen.

Exhibits Calendar

Anderson Sculpture Garden | contact

South of Morrill Hall, free

Brunnier Art Museum | contact

Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat and Sun, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (while ISU is in session), extended  hours on Saturday, Dec. 7: noon-4 p.m.

  • "Artists in Iowa: The First Century," will explore the diversity in art within the state from Meskwaki traditional art to the paintings of the New Deal, Sept. 19 through Dec. 22
  • Jennifer Steinkamp exhibition, an exhibition that blurs the boundaries between technology and traditional artistic mediums, Sept. 20 through Dec. 22
  • Iowa and Contemporary Pottery exhibition, a curated collection to reflect various aspects of ceramics making, Sept. 20 through Dec. 22

    Christian Petersen Art Museum | contact

    Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed Nov. 25-Dec. 1), special hours on Saturday, Dec. 7: noon-4 p.m., $3 suggested donation

    • "Force of Nature," an exhibition featuring works of art from Susan Chrysler White, Aug. 26 through Dec. 19
    • ReACT Gallery 

    Design on Main Gallery | contact

    203 Main St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (until 8 p.m. Thursday)

    Farm House Museum | contact

    Central campus, Noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday when ISU is in session, $3 suggested donation

    Gallery 181 | 515-294-7428

    College of Design, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

    Parks Library | contact

    Special Collections and University Archives, 403 Parks Library, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, free

    • "Our Trip Will Long Be Remembered," an exhibition following the trail of a bird-watching road trip of Walter M. Rosene, Sr. and Walter Bennett, through summer 2020
    • Online exhibits: archives.lib.iastate.edu

    Throughout Parks Library

    • "Art in Parks," features contemporary women artists, ongoing

    Memorial Union | contact

    Room 3228, viewing based on room availability, free

    • "Studies in Creativity," juried student exhibit, through Dec. 8

    Pioneer Room, viewing based on room availability, free

    • "Layers - A Collection," artwork by Emily Kobliska, through Feb. 3, 2020

    Multicultural Center, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday, free

    Reiman Gardens | contact

    9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, $9 (youth $4.50, free for members)

    Hughes Conservatory

    • "RG Express Holiday Train," garden-scale train winds through botanical creations of ISU campus buildings, through Jan. 4, 2020

      Textiles and Clothing Museum, Mary Alice Gallery | contact

      1015 Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, free

      • Upcoming: "Collegiate Fashion and Activism: Black Women's Style on the College Campus," Feb. 3-April 17, 2020
         
        Reiman Gardens

        Reiman Gardens

        Campus attractions

        Highlights

        Best public rose garden

        Iowa State's Reiman Gardens has been named the best public rose garden in the U.S.

        Most beautiful campus

        Iowa State's campus includes over 600 public works of art and was rated as one of America's 25 most beautiful in the book, The Campus as a Work of Art.

        Carillon

        The 10-bell carillon chime installed in the Campanile in 1899 was the first scientifically tuned bell chime outside of England; the carillon has 50 bells today.

        Building of the 20th Century

        Iowa State's Stephens Auditorium was named Iowa's "Building of the 20th Century" by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Iowa Chapter.

        Most Grant Wood murals

        Iowa State has the largest Grant Wood murals in the nation, including two WPA projects located in Parks Library -- "Breaking the Sod" and "When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Follow."

        Seamless curtain

        The main stage curtain in Stephens Auditorium is seamless, made entirely of silk, measures 85 by 35 feet and weighs 3,000 pounds. It was woven in Kyoto, Japan, on the world's largest continuous loom.

        Accredited museum

        The University Museums at Iowa State is one of only 10 percent of museums in the nation to be accredited by the American Association of Museums.

        Medallion site

        Iowa State's central campus was one of only three university campuses to make the American Society of Landscape Architect's 1999 centennial listing of "Medallion Sites."

        Most Christian Petersen sculptures

        Iowa State holds the nation's largest campus public collection of sculptures by Christian Petersen, who was artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

        Online art tour

        You can take a virtual look at some campus art with University Museums' Digital Art on Campus project.