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

Scheman Building, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $3 suggested donation

  • Closed for renovations through summer 2019

    Christian Petersen Art Museum | contact

    Morrill Hall, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

    • "Designed for a Modern Life: Decorative Arts & Fashion in the Mid-century," features selections from both permanent collections and select loans, Oct. 25 through June 28, 2019
    • "Full Steam Ahead: Creativity, Beauty, Science and Engineering," this exhibition examines the benefits of looking at art and STEM together, through June 28

    Design on Main Gallery | contact

    203 Main St., 2-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

    • "A Bevy: Studio Curiosities," an exhibition that reflects the objects, tools, images and artworks that inspire the artists featured, June 7 through 9
      Reception, June 7, 5-8 p.m.

    Farm House Museum | contact

    Central campus, Noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, $3 suggested donation

    • "Timeless: Love and Romance in the Victorian Era," an exhibition that takes a peek into love and romance in the Victorian era, through Oct. 31, 2019

    Gallery 181 | 515-294-7428

    College of Design, 8 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

      • "We Are ISU: Snapshots of Student Life," an exhibit focusing on photographs, scrapbooks, journals, t-shirts, and more from past students, March 13 through Sept. 2019
      • Online exhibits: archives.lib.iastate.edu

      Throughout Parks Library

      • "Art in Parks," features contemporary women artists, ongoing.
        Art walk, June 3, noon to 1 p.m., tour begins in the lobby of Parks Library, 701 Morrill Road.

      Memorial Union | contact

      Gallery, viewing based on room availability, free

      • "The Portrait," series of female figures by Beth Bird, through July 15

      Pioneer Room, viewing based on room availability, free

      • "The Steps of an Artist," paintings by Andrea Van Wyk, through July 7

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

      • "Where's ALDO? (Leopold)," tucked within the surrounding plants and flowers inside the Hughes Conservatory, look for eight ecologists, including Aldo Leopold who is considered the father of wildlife ecology and a native Iowan

        Textiles and Clothing Museum, Mary Alice Gallery | contact

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

        • "2019 Fashion Show Winners Exhibit," May 1 through June 28.

         

          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.