Social Saturday: Plot Twist
2026-04-11 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s April Social Saturday event: Plot Twist! Enjoy crafts in the Art School studios, a free guided tour, a unique performance in Levitt Auditorium, treats in the Art Center Café, and so much more!
Schedule of Events:
11:15 | Storytime with guest reader Amanda Cawthorn from CultureALL
Levitt Auditorium
11:30 am – 12 pm | Stilt Walking Performance by Simone Harris
Macomber Lobby
12 – 12:30 pm | Open Book with CutureALL
Levitt Auditorium
This CultureALL Open Book program, where a community member tells their personal story in a group setting, features “Legends from Oneida” by Amanda Cawthorn.
1 – 2 pm | Themed Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
1:30 pm | Christine Rebet and Simone Harris: Live Performance, Film Screening, and Artist Conversation around “The Fall”
Levitt Auditorium
Registrations recommended.
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Museum Galleries
Find the Social Saturday interactive Art Cart in the galleries.
Relax for a while and enjoy a book nook reading setting among the art, set up throughout the museum galleries.
Scavenger Hunt throughout the museum.
Macomber Lobby
Browse a variety of books available through the Museum Shop, plus grab a free Social Saturday bookmark! Art Center members get 10% off everyday in the Museum Shop!
Art School Studios
Explore creativity and your inner artist! Free drawing available in Studio 5, as well as zine/mini-comic book making and flip stick animations in the other studio spaces.
Art Center Café
Stop by for a sit-down lunch or a delicious la mie pastry; a full hot/cold espresso menu is available. Art Center members receive a 10% in the café every day.
See our special exhibitions before they close!
“Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films” (Anna K. Meredith Gallery)
“Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” (A.H. Blank Gallery and Krause Atrium)
“Bill Owens: Work and Leisure” (John Brady Print Gallery – Closes April 19!)
Social Saturdays occur at the Des Moines Art Center on the second Saturday of the month. This event is free to attend, and no registration is required. Social Saturdays will be documented with photography.
For programs in Levitt Auditorium:
We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: Italian Classics with Dan Keough (SOLD OUT)
2026-04-16 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We are excited to continue the Art Center Café, presented by la mie’s signature culinary experience: Joe and Christina Logsdon’s Dinner With Friends series! Be our guest as Joe and Christina gather around the table with friends for a lighthearted evening of laughter, conversation, and live music in the cozy setting of the café. Each dinner features a unique menu developed in collaboration with our special guest host and prepared by the Art Center Café’s Executive Chef Stephanie Williams.
For the first guest of our spring dinner series, we’re welcoming Holmes Murphy CEO Dan Keough for a night of “Ottimo Cibo.” Dan will share his palette of favorite Northern Italian dishes and fabulous wines from The Krause Family Vietti Vineyard in Italy. Live music for the evening provided by Steve Tyler and Friends. Don’t miss out on this night of great food and great company!
$125/person; all-inclusive.
Other Upcoming Dates:
April 30: Angela Poldberg
May 14: Ben Easter
May 21: Liz Lidgett
Reservations are required. Tickets include a four-course meal, beverages, and gratuity. Tables seat 6; smaller parties will be seated together for a festive evening of community and and togetherness.
The event is sold out; for questions about your reservation or to be added to a waitlist, please call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Photo: Rick Lozier

"Artists Around a Table" Exhibition Opening Celebration, hosted by Print Club
2026-04-24 17:00 - 18:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for the opening celebration of “Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” in the John Brady Print Gallery! This event is hosted by the Des Moines Art Center’s longstanding member group, Print Club. This exhibition presents works on paper made by a vibrant social network of artist-printmakers who moved between New York City, Woodstock, Paris, and beyond in the first decades of the 20th century.
Bring family and friends to view the artwork, and guests can enjoy an exclusive, hands-on art activity — prepare a small screen-printed paper dinner napkin to take home! Lite refreshments provided by the Art Center Café. Beer and wine available for purchase. Remarks will take place at 6 pm.
This event is free; registration is not required.
John Carroll (American, 1892 – 1959)
“Artists Around a Table” (detail), 1928
Lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Carl Weeks, 1954.109

“Christine Rebet: Sound of Time” Exhibition Tour
2026-04-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a an in-depth look at the exhibition, “Christine Rebet: Sound of Time” in the Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery. Attendees will have the chance to watch the full length of the exhibition films then discuss its context and meanings with an Art Center docent. In her films, Rebet imagines and invents visual forms for forgotten rituals, sacred landscapes, and oral histories. The films put historical fact in tension with objects, ideas, and traditions whose forms are unknown, emphasizing the slippery and enigmatic aspects of human knowledge and history.
Christine Rebet is the 2026 Toni and Tim Urban Artist-in-Residence.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Christine Rebet (French, born 1971)
“The Fall,” 2025
Animation shot on HD, sound
5:19 minuntes
Courtesy of the artist and Bureau, New York

Youth Art Workshop: DIY Paper Flowers (Ages 5-8)
2026-04-26 12:30 - 14:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Use construction paper, tissue paper, dowels and pipe cleaners to make incredible, colorful spring bouquets!
register for ages 5 – 6
register for ages 7 – 8
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.
Scholarships for classes and materials are offered on our application page.
Photo: Charles Borowicz

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: Food for Thought with Angela Poldberg (SOLD OUT)
2026-04-30 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We are excited to continue the Art Center Café, presented by la mie’s signature culinary experience: Joe and Christina Logsdon’s Dinner With Friends series! Be our guest as Joe and Christina gather around the table with friends for a lighthearted evening of laughter, conversation, and live music in the cozy setting of the café. Each dinner features a unique menu developed in collaboration with our special guest host and prepared by the Art Center Café’s Executive Chef Stephanie Williams.
For the second installment of our spring dinner series, we’re welcoming sustainable fashion enthusiast and local business owner of MARNĒ, Angela Poldberg. The menu is inspired by a pioneer of the slow food movement, Alice Waters, and influenced heavily by her vegetarian* California cuisine. Live music for the evening provided by John Krantz. Enjoy a night of intriguing conversation, plus good food that’s good for you!
$125/person; all-inclusive.
Other Upcoming Dates:
May 14: Ben Easter
May 21: Liz Lidgett
Reservations are required. Tickets include a four-course meal, beverages, and gratuity. First seating begins at 5 pm and seating ends at 6:15 pm. Call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org to reserve your seat and arrival time. Please share any dietary restrictions when making your reservation. Limited capacity. Tables seat 6; smaller parties will be seated together for a festive evening of community and and togetherness. *Menu will contain eggs and dairy.
Photo: Rick Lozier

“Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” Gallery Talk with Associate Curator Ashton Cooper
2026-04-30 17:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Art Center Associate Curator Ashton Cooper for a gallery talk about the exhibition “Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” on view in the John Brady Print Gallery from April 25 – August 30. The exhibition presents works on paper made by a vibrant social network of artist-printmakers who moved between New York City, Woodstock, Paris, and beyond in the first decades of the 20th century.
Free; no registration required.
John Carroll (American, 1892 – 1959)
“Artists Around a Table,” 1928
Lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Carl Weeks, 1954.109

Member Double Discount Days
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-10 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Stop by the Museum Shop May 1 – 10 for Double Discount Days! Shop a large selection of curated items in the gift shop, which is always changing its inventory to have something new every time you visit. Des Moines Art Center members receive 20% off regularly priced merchandise. Pickup the perfect Mother’s Day gift, a present for an upcoming graduation party, or a little treat for yourself; we have something for everyone.
Interested in saving 20% in the Museum Shop during Double Discount days? Become a Member today! Art Center members receive a year-round 10% discount in the Museum Shop, 10% off at the Art Center Café, plus a 20% discount to all studio classes, camps, and workshops. Members also enjoy invitations to behind-the-scenes experiences and events.
Museum Shop hours

Art for Brunch!
2026-05-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We invite you to join us at Art for Brunch! Come hang out with us at this monthly meetup for adults of all ages and enjoy thoughtful conversation as we unpack a different work of art each month. A docent will guide the dialogue with questions and prompts, but each discussion will be as unique and varied as those who attend. We’ll go where the conversation leads us. No art background needed. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to look a little longer.
While brunch is not provided as part of this free program, we encourage you to make it a date and pair this event with a visit to the Art Center Café for coffee drinks, teas, and irresistible la mie pastries before or after.
Art for Brunch! is held on the first Sunday of each month. Free; registration required.
REGISTER

The Art of Architecture with Director Kelly Baum
2026-05-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In appreciation of your commitment to the Des Moines Art Center, we are excited to invite Director’s Circle members and special guests to an exclusive event with Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO, on “The Art of Architecture.”
Join Kelly for a discussion about the unique role architecture plays in museums like the Art Center. Great buildings are more than neutral containers: they are theatrical stages that bring drama to the experience of art. Nowhere is this more true than in the Art Center’s magnificent I. M. Pei building. At this event, Kelly will preview her 2027 exhibition with artist Hugh Hayden, a project inspired by the sculptural architecture of the Pei wing, which has served as a muse to artists and curators since it opened in 1968.
Following Kelly’s presentation, mingle with fellow Art Center patrons and enjoy lite bites and drinks in the Bookey Family Courtyard.
Please register using the button below to send your RSVP to Karly Rehman, Manager of Membership and Development at membership@desmoinesartcenter.org. Registration is requested by April 29.
I. M. Pei Image: Rich Sanders

Hugh Hayden (American, born 1983)
“American Gothic,” 2024
White oak, steel, broomcorn, cotton, rubber, ostrich feathers
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Purchased with funds from the Edmundson Art Foundation, Inc., 2024.23.a-.c. © Hugh Hayden; Courtesy Lisson Gallery

Social Saturday: Toons and Tunes
2026-05-09 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s May Social Saturday event: Toons and Tunes! Who loves Saturday morning cartoons? Watch short animations created by local artists! Musical majesty? Listen to unique and fun tunes by the Des Moines Gamer Symphony! Enjoy crafts in the Art School studios, musical storytime, a free guided tour, treats in the Café, and so much more!
Schedule of Events:
11:15 am | Musical Storytime
Levitt Auditorium
12 – 12:30 pm | Des Moines Gamer Symphony Small Ensembles
Levitt Auditorium
Come hear the Des Moines Gamer Symphony brass and woodwind ensembles perform music from video games you know and love! From Mario to Zelda to Halo, we will cover generations of games in just 30-minutes to celebrate this rising genre.
12:30 – 1:30 pm | Live Music in Galleries
Find various solo artists performing throughout the museum gallery spaces. Cello and guitar by Jessica Villegas, and Peruvian Pan Flute by Cucho Madero.
1 – 2 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
1:30 pm | Community Animation Showcase
Levitt Auditorium
Inspired by the exhibition, “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films” this showcase presents creativity in motion. The film screening will feature a mix of short, animated works made by local artists. Registrations recommended.
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Museum Galleries
Find the Social Saturday interactive Art Cart in the galleries featuring the theme “Play with Line” in the lower Meier gallery.
Macomber Lobby
Browse the Museum Shop and find the perfect gift for Mom just in time for Mother’s Day! Art Center members get 10% off every day in the Museum Shop. Visit the Membership table for more information on Art Center membership.
Art Center Associate Curator Ashton Cooper will be signing exhibition catalogs for “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films.”
Art School Studios
Explore creativity and your inner artist! Free drawing available in the studio space, as well as 16-bit grid drawing and mini paper mosaic making.
Art Center Café
Stop by for a sit-down lunch or a delicious la mie pastry; a full hot/cold espresso menu is available. Art Center members receive a 10% discount in the café every day.
See our special exhibitions before they close!
“Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films” (Anna K. Meredith Gallery)
“Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” (A.H. Blank Gallery and Krause Atrium)
“Christine Rebet: Sound of Time” (Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery)
“Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” (John Brady Print Gallery)
Social Saturdays occur at the Des Moines Art Center on the second Saturday of the month. This event is free to attend, and no registration is required. Social Saturdays will be documented with photography.
For programs in Levitt Auditorium:
We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Dance Performance: “Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Cities in Iowa”
2026-05-13 14:00 | Levitt Auditorium, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
“Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Cities in Iowa” is a dance program inspired by works from three Iowa art museums: “Manos (Hands)” by José Clemente Orozco at the Des Moines Art Center; “Woman Ironing (Isis)” by Vik Muniz at the Figge Art Museum; and “Which Way?” by Elizabeth Catlett at the Stanley Museum of Art. Audiences will experience three original dances, each paired with projected images of the artworks, weaving movement and visual art together in a performance that includes contextual commentary. The project will culminate in a screen-dance film, expanding the work beyond the stage and making it accessible online via the Des Moines Art Center’s website later this summer.
“Interwoven Worlds: A Dance Journey Between Three Cities in Iowa” is designed by Eloy Barragan, Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Iowa and generously supported by the Iowa Arts Council Fellowship Award (2025-2026).
Choreography: Eloy Barragán
Original Music: Colin DeJong
Costume Design: Juliana Waechter
Video Design: Mariana Tejeda
Dancers: Victoria Adams, Brenna Labus, Natalie Prill, Declan Ryan
Piano: Colin DeJong
Clarinet: Jorge Montilla Moreno
Violin: Renee Santos
Cello: Sarah Arnone
Audio Engineer: Shu-Min Alice Chang
Free; no registration required.
We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.
José Clemente Orozco (Mexican, 1883 – 1949)
“Manos (Hands)” (detail), 1930
Lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Carl Weeks, 1954.165

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: French Cuisine with Ben Easter (SOLD OUT)
2026-05-14 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We are excited to continue the Art Center Café, presented by la mie’s signature culinary experience: Joe and Christina Logsdon’s Dinner With Friends series! Be our guest as Joe and Christina gather around the table with friends for a lighthearted evening of laughter, conversation, and live music in the cozy setting of the café. Each dinner features a unique menu developed in collaboration with our special guest host and prepared by the Art Center Café’s Executive Chef Stephanie Williams.
For the third installment of our spring dinner series, we’re welcoming Des Moines based professional photographer Ben Easter! A longtime friend of the Art Center, Ben’s evening will offer a menu from the south of France where his passion for photography began. Live music for the evening provided by The Peels.
$125/person; all-inclusive.
Other Upcoming Dates:
May 21: Liz Lidgett
Reservations are required. Tickets include a four-course meal, beverages, and gratuity. First seating begins at 5 pm and seating ends at 6:15 pm. Please share any dietary restrictions when making your reservation. Limited capacity. Tables seat 6; smaller parties will be seated together for a festive evening of community and and togetherness.
This event is sold out. To be added to a waitlist or for questions about your reservation call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Photo: Rick Lozier

“Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” Exhibition Tour
2026-05-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a free guided tour of the exhibition in the John Brady Print Gallery, “Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952.” This exhibition presents works on paper made by a vibrant social network of artist-printmakers who moved between New York City, Woodstock, Paris, and beyond in the first decades of the 20th century.
“Artists Around a Table” explores a group of artists, friends, and lovers who constructed figurative works of art inflected with humor and merrymaking. They depicted scenes from their own lives as well as those illustrating the various locales in which they lived and worked.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
John Carroll (American, 1892 – 1959)
“Artists Around a Table” (detail), 1928
Lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Carl Weeks, 1954.109

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: Artful Delights with Liz Lidgett (SOLD OUT)
2026-05-21 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We are excited to continue the Art Center Café, presented by la mie’s signature culinary experience: Joe and Christina Logsdon’s Dinner With Friends series! Be our guest as Joe and Christina gather around the table with friends for a lighthearted evening of laughter, conversation, and live music in the cozy setting of the café. Each dinner features a unique menu developed in collaboration with our special guest host and prepared by the Art Center Café’s Executive Chef Stephanie Williams.
For the final date of our spring dinner series, we’re welcoming host Liz Lidgett, owner of Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design in Des Moines and author of “Art for Everyone.” Inspired by a favorite in the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collection, Edward Hopper’s 1927 painting “Automat,” this menu will feature upscale diner classics and new takes on old favorites. Live music for the evening provided by Max Welllman.
$125/person; all-inclusive.
Reservations are required. Tickets include a four-course meal, beverages, and gratuity. First seating begins at 5 pm and seating ends at 6:15 pm. Please share any dietary restrictions when making your reservation. Limited capacity. Tables seat 6; smaller parties will be seated together for a festive evening of community and and togetherness.
This event is sold out. To be added to a waitlist or for questions about your reservation call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Photo: Rick Lozier

"The American Experience: Semiquincentennial" Guided Tour
2026-05-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Des Moines Art Center will be offering several public guided tours titled, “The American Experience: Semiquincentennial.” These tours will highlight works on view in the Art Center galleries that center around American artists, history, and culture.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Fritz Scholder (Native American, 1937 – 2005)
Bicentennial Indian, from “Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence”, 1974-75
Lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Lorillard, New York, 1975.40.12

Topographies over Time: A Hike Series with Wander Women Midwest
2026-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Jester Park, 12130 Northwest 128th Street, Granger, IA, 50109, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center and Wander Women Midwest for a three-part guided hiking series that invites you to experience the same landscape across changing seasons. Centered on connection, reflection, and time outdoors, each hike offers space to notice how the environment—and your relationship to it—shifts over time. Inspired by exhibition, “Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging,” the series considers how movement through place shapes memory and meaning, with a simple, optional creative reflection following each walk.
For each hike, we’ll gather as a group at Jester Park in Polk County to wander the park’s trails and discuss the different art pieces featured in the park’s prairie, before wandering individually for an independent phenology practice meant to encourage reflection and observation. The practice of phenology, returning to a place at different times of year to notice the changes in the landscape, is a grounding exercise meant to connect yourself to the landscape and hone skills of observation. You’ll find a special-to-you location and have time for whichever form of reflection you prefer, like drawing, journaling, photography or sensory intake.
REGISTER
Upcoming Dates:
Hike 2: July 15, 2026
Hike 3: Sept. 9, 2026
$12 registration per session, attendance at all sessions not required; need-based scholarships available. All genders are welcome.

Community Cooking Class at the Culinary Annex: Artists Around A Table
2026-05-29 18:00 - 21:00 | Culinary Annex, 304 5th St. unit 102, West Des Moines, IA, 50265, United States
Few things in life are more inspiring than gathering around a table with good food, good drinks, and even better company. These kinds of creative, social moments have fueled artists for generations, and they’re at the heart of the Des Moines Art Center’s print gallery exhibition, “Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952.”
Consider this your invitation to the party! Join us and the Culinary Annex’s Chef Cass for a hands-on cooking class where you’ll create and enjoy classic party foods from the 1920s-40s. Expect a lively, social atmosphere full of flavor, laughter, and a little bit of indulgence — echoing the barrooms and parlors where artists once gathered to eat, drink, and delight in one another’s company. Come solo or bring a friend; you’ll leave with new recipes, new connections, and maybe a good story or two.
Hosted by Chef Cass, this class will take place at the Culinary Annex, located at 304 5th St. unit 102, West Des Moines, IA 50265.
Registration is required, and the class fee is $50.
REGISTER

“Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” Exhibition Tour
2026-05-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a guided tour of “Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” in the A.H. Blank Gallery and Krause Atrium. For the 2026 edition of Iowa Artists, the annual exhibition series celebrating artists from our home state, which has been ongoing since 1950, the Art Center welcomes Sioux City-born artist Henry Payer (born 1986).
A member of the Ho-Chunk people, whose ancestral territory spans areas in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, Payer explores his history and identity as an Indigenous American. “Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” will feature Payer’s signature mixed media works with imagery from both Native traditions and Western popular culture.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Henry Payer (Ho-Chunk, born 1986)
“Wandering Winnebago No. 5” (detail)
Mixed media
Courtesy of the artist

Museum Shop's Mimosa Morning
2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Museum Shop for a morning of mimosas and shopping at this special customer appreciation event! Bring a friend and enjoy complimentary mimosas and pastries. Members receive 20% off regularly priced merchandise at Mimosa Morning! Meet the Museum Shop team while browsing new merchandise.
Stay at the Art Center for lunch at the Art Center Café and a free guided tour at 1 pm highlighting the Art Center’s permanent collection to experience the museum galleries in a fresh and engaging way.
Interested in saving 20% in the Museum Shop during special sales events? Become a Member today! Art Center members also receive a year-round 20% discount to all studio classes, camps, and workshops, a 10% discount in the Art Center Café, a 10% discount in the Museum Shop every day (+ additional Double Discount events throughout the year), and invitations to behind-the-scenes membership experiences and events.
shop online

Museum Highlights Tour
2026-06-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-06-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Discover the vast variety of the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collection during our Museum Highlights Tour. This tour offers a unique journey through our galleries, featuring a selection of timeless paintings, sculptures, and more. Join our knowledgeable guides to uncover the stories, techniques, and inspirations behind the art on view, and experience the highlights of the Art Center in a fresh and engaging way. This guided tour is perfect for art enthusiasts of all ages!
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Photo: Erik Brockmeyer

Screening: “The Last American Gay Bar”
2026-06-13 11:00 | Levitt Auditorium, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Presented in collaboration with Capital City Pride, during the Des Moines Art Center’s Social Saturday: Pride and Seek event, and during Des Moines’ annual PrideFest celebration, we’re showing a full screening of “The Last American Gay Bar,” directed by Kristian Day. The show is a six-episode documentary series following the story of Iowa’s legendary Blazing Saddle, the oldest gay bar in Des Moines opened in 1983, and the community that built it. Episodes will run consecutively. *Although the episodes are not rated, content is intended for adult audiences.
SCREENING INFORMATION:
Episode 1: 1960s: Stonewall and Vietnam (20 minutes)
Three men come of age and head to war in Vietnam.
Episode 2: 1970s: Scooping the Loop (22 minutes)
Anita Bryant is praying for our sins while gay men are hitting the streets.
Episode 3: Violence in the Streets (21 minutes)
Are gays raging war with each other in the city of Des Moines?
Episode 4: The War on AIDS (21 minutes)
Long after Vietnam, the gay community faces an invisible enemy.
Episode 5: Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (22 minutes)
The fight for equal rights arrives but not without a cost.
Episode 6: Here and Now (21 minutes)
Trans visibility is at an all-time high, but the world is falling apart.
This screening is presented in partnership with Capital City Pride (CCP) and forwards the education pillar of pride. CCP fosters a culture where curiosity, learning, and innovation are celebrated. Through educational programs and events, CCP invites the community to explore, understand, and appreciate the richness of diverse LGBTQ+ experiences.
Free; no registration required.
Image: “The Last American Gay Bar” series cover.
We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.

Social Saturday: Pride and Seek
2026-06-13 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s June Social Saturday event: Pride and Seek! During Des Moines’ annual Capital City Pride PrideFest, stop by the Art Center for a couple hours of fun, art making, and educational engagement. Enjoy crafts in the Art School studios, a scavenger hunt, a free screening of the “Last American Gay Bar,” a free guided tour, drag king storytime, treats in the Art Center Café, and so much more!
Schedule of Events:
11 am | Screening of the Last American Gay Bar
Levitt Auditorium
In collaboration with Capital City Pride, enjoy a full screening of the six-episode docuseries. More information here.
11:15 – 11:30 am | Storytime, featuring a local Des Moines Drag King!
Art School Courtyard
12 – 12:15 pm | Tiny Art Hide and Seek
Front Lawn of the Art Center
Seek out one-of-a-kind mini artworks hidden outside the Des Moines Art Center! Art provided by the Des Moines Public Library’s Tiny Art Show. (Hide-and-Seek is weather dependent, while supplies last)
1 – 2 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
LGBTQIA+ Artists in the Art Center Collection, guided by Art Center Associate Curator Ashton Cooper
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Museum Galleries
Find the Social Saturday interactive Art Cart in the galleries.
Macomber Lobby
Enjoy the Art Center’s Paint-n-Play station.
Art School Studios
Explore creativity and your inner artist! Free drawing available in the studio space, as well as participate in creating a temporary community mural art project.
Scavenger Hunt
Search the museum galleries for artwork by LGBTQIA+ artists – complete the hunt and turn it in at the front desk for a prize!
Art Center Café
Stop by for a sit-down lunch, a delicious la mie pastry; a full hot/cold espresso menu is available. Enjoy music in the courtyard after 1 pm by a special guest invited by the Art Center Café. Art Center members receive a 10% discount in the café every day.
Museum Shop
Browse the Museum Shop to find gifts and souvenirs, plus check out the $10 and under table just outside of the Shop. Art Center members get 10% off every day in the Museum Shop.
See our special exhibitions before they close!
“Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” (A.H. Blank Gallery and Krause Atrium)
“Christine Rebet: Sound of Time” (Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery)
“Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” (John Brady Print Gallery)
“Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging” (Anna K. Meredith Gallery – first day open!)
Social Saturdays occur at the Des Moines Art Center on the second Saturday of the month. This event is free to attend, and no registration is required. Social Saturdays will be documented with photography.
For programs in Levitt Auditorium:
We strive to provide live captioning for all events offered in Levitt Auditorium. Due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa, American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing jfeatherstone@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Summer Music Series: Saturdays in the Courtyard
2026-06-13 13:00 - 15:30 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Spend Saturday afternoon at the Art Center with our Summer Music Series! Every Saturday afternoon in June and July, beginning June 13 enjoy music in the beautiful Bookey Family Courtyard, with meals, treats, wine, and other beverages available for purchase from the Art Center Café. The series opens with guitarist Terry Luther and bassist Erich Gaukel as they perform an assortment of blues and jazz tempo songs, followed by a different live performance each week.
Upcoming Dates:
June 20 and 27; July 11, 18, and 25. The Des Moines Art Center will be closed Saturday, July 4.
While you’re here, be sure to take in the magnificent art on view, including the “Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging” exhibition in the Anna K. Meredith Gallery.
*No outside food or drinks are allowed in the café or courtyard.

Art Workshop: Gilded Letters
2026-06-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join fellow students for this one-day workshop where you will learn the history of gilded letters and choose a piece to construct and design. Imitate traditional pieces from the Middle Ages and/or design contemporary pieces like calligrafitti. After construction of a large, primary letter, traditional calligraphy and abstractions and illustrations can be added to the work to create a final piece.
Registration for this class is now closed. View more class opportunities here!
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.
Scholarships for classes and materials are offered on our application page.

Creative Aging: Gallery Series (Ages 55+)
2026-06-16 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Creative Aging is a program designed for adults age 55+ to gather at the Art Center and learn about art while making community connections and fostering cognitive health. During this gallery series, an Art Center docent will lead the group in collaborative discussion, focusing on one work of art. Following the gallery talk, guests are invited to an informal social time with coffee and tea.
Creative Aging is a free, monthly program at the Art Center. There are multiple registration times available; each program will last approximately 90 minutes. Registration is required; gallery seating is available.
REGISTER FOR 12 PM
REGISTER FOR 2 PM

Sculpture + Flow Yoga in the Courtyard
2026-06-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Connect art with mind and body at Sculpture + Flow – a serene, slow-paced yoga class in the tranquil Bookey Family Courtyard. Surrounded by the striking architecture of Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier, this unique experience invites you to move and breathe alongside the gentle shimmer of the Maytag Reflecting Pool and the iconic “Man and Pegasus” (1949) by Carl Milles.
Certified yoga instructor, Lily Allen-Duenas will guide art enthusiasts and yogis through an all-levels flow inspired by the harmony of art, water, and space. The class will close with a guided meditation beneath softly lit trees, offering a moment of calm connection and inner reflection amongst the works of art.
*Guests must bring their own yoga mats.
register

Summer Music Series: Saturdays in the Courtyard
2026-06-20 13:00 - 15:30 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Spend Saturday afternoon at the Art Center with our Summer Music Series! Every Saturday afternoon in June and July enjoy music in the beautiful Bookey Family Courtyard, with meals, treats, wine, and other beverages available for purchase from the Art Center Café. There will be different, local musicians performing in the courtyard each week.
For this Saturday, enjoy Shakedown Street, guitarists Daniel Mastrofski and JB Williams will perform music from The Grateful Dead.
Upcoming Dates:
June 27; July 11, 18, and 25. The Des Moines Art Center will be closed Saturday, July 4.
While you’re here, be sure to take in the magnificent art on view, including the “Artists Around a Table: Artmaking and Merrymaking, 1927-1952” exhibition in the John Brady Print Gallery.
*No outside food or drinks are allowed in the café or courtyard.
Photo: Melinda Mastrofski

Des Moines Art Center + The Avenues Collaboration: Stamp It!
2026-06-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Chamberlain Park, 2134 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50314, United States
The Des Moines Art Center is partnering with The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand for their “Art on The Avenues” celebration. Children and families are invited to Chamberlain Park to create their own nature-inspired artworks using blank postcards, stamps, ink, and natural materials gathered from the world around us. Experiment with texture, pattern, and mark-making to create one-of-a-kind prints, taking influence from the park itself.
Inspired by the Des Moines Art Center’s summer exhibition “Topographies: Mapping Being and Belonging,” this pop-up artmaking experience invites participants to create art using the textures and patterns of the natural world.
Free; no registration required.
