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The Des Moines Art Center tells the story of modern and contemporary art.

It features 19th-century Impressionism to the best of today’s international art. The collections include painting, sculpture, photography, prints, video, fiber, and other craft-based works.

The Art Center has built a renowned collection of international modern and contemporary art.

The Art Center's goal is to emphasize quality over quantity, striving to collect a signature example of each artist's work. Highlights include Georgia O'Keeffe (From the Lake No. 1, 1924), Edward Hopper (Automat, 1927), Francis Bacon (Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X, 1953), Ai Weiwei (Sunflower Seeds, 2009), and Wangechi Mutu (Water Woman, 2017), to name a few.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park was established in September 2009. The park is situated in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Western Gateway Park sits on 4.4 acres of land. The park is designed to provide visitors a sense of scale as they walk the grounds. Viewers can see multiple perspectives through topographic design elements known as "waves."

Visitors can explore the collection of more than 30 outdoor works. The collection reflects an international cross-section of major artists. The art offers various subjects and materials in the dynamic genre of monumental sculpture. Featured artists include Louise Bourgeois, Olafur Eliasson, Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, Jaume Plensa, Martin Puryear, and Mark di Suvero.

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Admission is free! Start planning your visit today.