Des Moines Art Center

Exhibition Opening Celebration: "Firelei Báez"
2025-06-12 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for the opening celebration of a new, traveling exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center, “Firelei Báez,” organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. This exhibition is the first North American survey dedicated to the richly layered work of Firelei Báez (b. 1981, Dominican Republic). Over the past 20 years, she has made work that explores the multilayered legacy of colonial histories and the African diaspora in the Caribbean and beyond.
“My works are propositions, meant to create alternate pasts and potential futures, questioning history and culture in order to provide a space for reassessing the present.” — Firelei Báez
Bring family and friends to celebrate with us and be the first to view the art! Enjoy live music from DJ Lizz of Latino Events Entertainment LLC. Dine on complimentary summer bites and seasonal dessert from Taste! to Go. Cash bar with beer, wine, and hibiscus margaritas available for purchase. Join us for 6 pm remarks in the Macomber Lobby.
Free; registration not required. This event will be documented with photography.
Firelei Báez (Dominican, born 1981)
“A Drexcyen chronocommons (To win the war you fought it sideways),” 2019
Two paintings, hand-painted wooden frame, perforated tarp, printed mesh, handmade paper over found objects, plants, and books
Courtesy the Joyner/Giuffrida Collection, ​San Francisco
Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York. Photo by Phoebe d’Heurle. © Firelei Báez
Support for this exhibition is provided by:

“Firelei Báez” is organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston and Eva Respini, Deputy Director and Director of Curatorial Programs, Vancouver Art Gallery (former Barbara Lee Chief Curator, ICA/Boston), with Tessa Bachi Haas, Assistant Curator. The presentation of “Firelei Báez” at the Des Moines Art Center has been coordinated by Associate Curator Elizabeth Gollnick.
Major support for “Firelei Báez” is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

This project is supported in part by Karen and Brian Conway, David and Jocelyne DeNunzio, Mathieu O. Gaulin, The Kotzubei-Beckmann Family Philanthropic Fund, Lise and Jeffrey Wilks, and an anonymous donor.
Additional support for the presentation of this exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center is provided by the Harriet S. and J. Locke Macomber Art Center Fund, Iowa Tourism Office and Iowa Arts Council, both a part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, and Laurie Wolf and Jeff Freude.

Youth Art Workshops
2025-06-13 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Looking for a fun and creative way to spark your child’s imagination this summer? Our one-day youth workshops offer kids a chance to explore painting, drawing, and mixed media in the Art Center studios—no experience needed! Led by experienced teaching artists, these hands-on, two-hour workshops are the perfect way to engage imaginations and practice artistic skills.
Visit the museum after the workshop for more art inspiration! Admission is always free.
STOPMOTION ANIMATION (AGES 6-8)
STOPMOTION ANIMATION (AGES 9-13)
Let your imagination run wild in this filmmaking workshop! Learn the basics of story creation and methods to create fantastic stop-motion animations. Students will make clay characters, props, and backdrops to populate their animations. Animation workshops encourage a fun, collaborative environment for the students involved.
PRINTING LAB (AGES 6-8)
PRINTING LAB (AGES 9-13)
Get ready for fun! In this workshop, students will take home several awesome examples of silk screen printing. Students learn how to “pull” their own screen prints using a selection of pre-made images and learn how to make multi-layered and colorful prints.
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Guided Tour: Expressions of Identity—LGBTQIA+ Artists
2025-06-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Explore how LGBTQIA+ artists have used their work to express identity, challenge norms, and share personal stories. This tour highlights artworks that reflect the diverse experiences and voices within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.

Guided Tour: Father's Day
2025-06-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Fathers have long played a vital role in shaping the lives of artists—offering guidance, inspiration, and unwavering support. This tour celebrates the influential fathers behind the scenes, highlighting the ways they challenged, encouraged, and uplifted the artists featured in our collections.
This is a special Sunday edition of guided tours at the Art Center, but remember, public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Photo: Brittany Brooke Crow

Art Center + The Avenues Collaboration: Art Rocks!
2025-06-17 10:30 - 12:30 | Chamberlain Park, 2134 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50314, United States
Children and families are invited to Chamberlin Park to create their own painted rocks to either hide within the Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand or bring home to share with friends or neighbors. The Art Center will provide materials and inspiration from their collections.
Artist Andy Goldsworthy is known for his site-specific installations involving natural materials and the passage of time. “Three Cairns,” his recognizable piece in the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections and located on the Art Center grounds, is his largest project in the Western Hemisphere. “Cairns” are stone structures, or markers, that identify a place of great importance. We invite you to ask, how can public art help identify and create important places in our community?
This event will take place at Chamberlain Park in Des Moines. Art Rocks! is free to participate in, and no registration is required.

"Firelei Báez" Exhibition Tour
2025-06-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Step into the intricate and thought-provoking world of “Firelei Báez” with a guided tour of the exhibition. Organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, this exhibition is the first North American survey dedicated to the richly layered work of artist Firelei Báez. Over the past 20 years, she has made work that explores the multilayered legacy of colonial histories and the African diaspora in the Caribbean and beyond.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Firelei Báez (Dominican, born 1981)
“A Drexcyen chronocommons (To win the war you fought it sideways),” 2019
Two paintings, hand-painted wooden frame, perforated tarp, printed mesh, handmade paper over found objects, plants, and books
Courtesy the Joyner/Giuffrida Collection, ​San Francisco
Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York. Photo by Phoebe d’Heurle. © Firelei Báez

Gallery Talk: “Life Mask: A Celebration of Gifts from the Dale Jansen Estate”
2025-06-26 17:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Associate Curator Ashton Cooper, Ph.D., for a gallery talk of the exhibition “Life Mask: A Celebration of Gifts from the Dale Jansen Estate.” This exhibition pays tribute to the late philanthropist, collector, and longtime Des Moines Art Center supporter Dale Jansen. Its title is borrowed from Bruce Nauman’s 1981 lithograph “Life Mask,” one of 65 artworks that were donated to the Art Center by Jansen through his estate.
Free; no registration required.
Ellsworth Kelly (American, 1923 – 2015)
Green Curve with a Radius of 20′, from portfolio “For Meyer Schapiro” (detail), 1974
Lithograph with embossing on Special Arjomari paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of the Estate of Dale Jansen, 2024.61

Guided Tours at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park
2025-06-27 - 2025-06-29 | Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
We’re thrilled to partner with the Des Moines Arts Festival to offer free guided tours of the celebrated John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park! Join us and learn more about the Sculpture Park during this fun annual event.
Tour times:
Friday, June 27 | 11 – 11:45 am
Saturday, June 28 | 11 – 11:45 am
Sunday, June 29 | 11 – 11:45 am
Tours will begin at the Northeast corner of the park, near the intersection of Grand Avenue and 13th Street in downtown Des Moines. Look for your guide near the large, expressive face sculptures by Ugo Rondinone, “moonrise. east. january” and “moonrise. east august.”
Free; no registration required.
Ugo Rondinone (Swiss, born 1964)
“moonrise. east. august,” 2006
Painted cast aluminum on steel plinth
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of John and Mary Pappajohn, 2015.20
Photo: Rich Sanders

Youth Art Workshops: Stuffie Making or Paint Experiments
2025-06-30 09:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Looking for a fun and creative way to spark your child’s imagination this summer? Our one-day youth workshops offer kids a chance to explore painting, drawing, and mixed media in the Art Center studios—no experience needed! Led by experienced teaching artists, these hands-on, two-hour workshops are the perfect way to engage imaginations and practice artistic skills.
Visit the museum after the workshop for more art inspiration! Admission is always free.
STUFFIE MAKING (AGES 6-8)
STUFFIE MAKING (AGES 9-13)
In this workshop, students will learn hand sewing skills and follow easy pattern-making instructions to make squishy stuffies spawned from their own imagination. Students will learn to sew bead embellishments and buttons onto their creations to create facial features and special details. At the end of the workshop, students will go home with a finished stuffed creation.
PAINT EXPERIMENTS (AGES 6-8)
PAINT EXPERIMENTS (AGES 9-13)
Get ready to learn creative new painting techniques in this fun workshop! Students will create textured paintings using everyday materials like bubble wrap, cardboard, dolls, and toy cars. Splatter painting and drip painting techniques will be explored—in addition, students will use homemade puffy paint to make dimensional paintings. If weather conditions allow, students will work on these projects outside.
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Youth Art Workshops: Paper Pillows or Painted Totes
2025-07-01 09:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Looking for a fun and creative way to spark your child’s imagination this summer? Our one-day youth workshops offer kids a chance to explore painting, drawing, and mixed media in the Art Center studios—no experience needed! Led by experienced teaching artists, these hands-on, two-hour workshops are the perfect way to engage imaginations and practice artistic skills.
Visit the museum after the workshop for more art inspiration! Admission is always free.
PAPER PILLOWS (AGES 6-8)
PAPER PILLOWS (AGES 9-13)
Who wouldn’t love a big, squishy sculpture constructed from their imaginations? Students will learn how to make a simple design, draw and cut out their plans, decorate, and stuff to make their incredible pillow creations. Students will go home with a paper pillow that is lightweight enough to hang from a string for wall decoration!
PAINTED TOTES (AGES 6-8)
PAINTED TOTES (AGES 9-13)
Show off your unique, artistic abilities with a tote bag you painted yourself! Students will create designs for their tote bags and paint them in their preferred style. If there’s time, students will learn embellishment techniques like adding beads and sewing patches.
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Guided Meditation Inspired by “Firelei Báez” - SOLD OUT
2025-07-12 12:30 - 13:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
You’re invited to join us for a brief guided meditation inspired by the exhibition “Firelei Báez,” prior to the exhibition tour at 1 pm. Enjoy a relaxing and inspiring meditation led by Des Moines artist Amy Putney Koenig within Firelei Báez’s incredible “A Drexcyen chronocommons (To win the war you fought it sideways)” installation before the docent led tour experience.
Free; registration required. *This event is sold out.
Photo: Brittany Brooke Crow

Guided Tour: Mystical Creatures and Magical Places
2025-07-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Explore how folklore, Greek and Roman gods, and spiritual and majestic places inspired the imagination and creativity of artists in the Art Center’s collections. On this tour, you’ll uncover the stories behind these artworks and be invited to dream up your own mythical creature or magical realm.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Carl Milles (Swedish, active United States, 1875 – 1955)
Man and Pegasus, 1949
Bronze
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Purchased with funds from Florence Call Cowles, 1949.151

Gallery Talk: "Firelei Báez" with Associate Curator Elizabeth Gollnick
2025-07-20 13:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Associate Curator Elizabeth Gollnick, Ph.D., for a gallery talk of the extraordinary exhibition “Firelei Báez.” Organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, this exhibition is the first North American survey dedicated to the richly layered work of artist Firelei Báez. Over the past 20 years, she has made work that explores the multilayered legacy of colonial histories and the African diaspora in the Caribbean and beyond.
Free; no registration required.
Firelei Báez (Dominican, born 1981)
“Untitled (Les tables de géographie réduites en un jeu de cartes),” 2022
Oil, acrylic, and inkjet on canvas
Collection of Deborah Beckmann and Jacob Kotzubei. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York. Photo by Jackie Furtado. © Firelei Báez

Exhibition Opening Celebration: “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett"
2025-07-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for the opening celebration of “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett,” a timely and groundbreaking entry into the Des Moines Art Center’s decades-long series presenting the best of Iowa-made art, and the first solo show by a quilt maker in the museum’s history. Based in Des Moines, Millett’s approach to textiles is literally multi-layered, employing traditional quilting techniques to create works that combine original patterns, a bright palette, and visual nods to Queer iconography and activism. This exhibition will feature various types of Millett’s textile art, including large quilts, garments, multi-paneled fabric collages, and an artist’s book made from fabric.
Take in the new show from the Art Center’s long-standing Iowa Artists exhibition series. Bring family and friends to kick off the evening with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and desserts from The Tangerine Food Company. Beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail (Lavender Vodka Lemonade) available for purchase. Live music provided by DJ Mollie Downs. Remarks from Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO, will take place at 6 pm.
This event is free; registration is not required. This event will be documented with photography.
Ben Millett (American, born 1979)
“Progress Pride Stars” (detail), 2023
Cotton fabric, batting, and thread; quilted by machine
Courtesy of the artist

“Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” Exhibition Tour
2025-08-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Learn more about the 2025 Iowa Artists exhibition at the Des Moines Art Center, featuring local quilt maker Ben Millett. Based in Des Moines, Millett’s approach to textiles is literally multi-layered, employing traditional quilting techniques to create works that combine original patterns, a bright palette, and visual nods to queer iconography and activism. “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” is a timely and groundbreaking entry into the Art Center’s decades-long series presenting the best of Iowa-made art, and the first solo show by a quilt maker in the museum’s history.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Ben Millett (American, born 1979)
“It’s Electric!,” 2024
Cotton fabric and thread, wool batting; quilted by machine
Courtesy of the artist

Community Access Teaching Artist Exhibition + Opening Reception
2025-08-22 16:30 - 18:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
The Des Moines Art Center’s Community Access Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! We invite the public to celebrate 25+ years of no-cost art experiences for our community by joining us August 22 – 24.
At the opening reception of the Community Access Teaching Artist Exhibition, enjoy artwork, original poetry, music, and complimentary refreshments. Gather in the Macomber Lobby as teaching artists will be in attendance to discuss their work. The exhibition will be on view August 22 – September 28, 2025 in the Adrienne and Charles Herbert Galleries, Education Wing
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Community Access Programming presenting sponsor: Charlotte and Fred Hubbell
Additional support provided by: Corteva Agriscience, HyVee, Iowa State Bank, Lincoln Savings Bank, Meier Bernstein Foundation, David J. Noble Foundation, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Prairie Meadows, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa, Voya Financial
Free; no registration required.

Community Access Teaching Artist Demonstrations and Art Activities
2025-08-23 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us in the Education Wing of the Art Center as Community Access Program teaching artists put on public art demonstrations and host a variety of hands-on art activities for all ages!
Demonstrations Schedule:
Working Around Chance, with Aron Johnston l Studio 6
Participants roll a die to choose shapes, colors, or techniques, inviting playful randomness into abstract compositions and sparking unexpected creativity.
Community Access and ASL Letter Cutting Workshop, with Amber Montoya l Studio 5
A hands on session celebrating Deaf culture: artists select printed ASL letters to cut out and arrange into names or words, blending visual art with sign-language identity.
Textured Self Portraits: Touch and Color, with Branscom Chavaque l Studio 2
Create self portraits using textured materials and vibrant hues to reflect personal identity and emotion, celebrating diversity and self-love.
Lego Stamp Art, with Victoria Story l Studio 1
Use LEGO bricks to create custom stamps and decorate canvas bags with playful shapes and colors, combining play and printmaking.

The Des Moines Art Center’s Community Access Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! We invite the public to celebrate 25+ years of no-cost art experiences for our community by joining us August 22 – 24.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Community Access Programming presenting sponsor: Charlotte and Fred Hubbell
Additional support provided by: Corteva Agriscience, HyVee, Iowa State Bank, Lincoln Savings Bank, Meier Bernstein Foundation, David J. Noble Foundation, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Prairie Meadows, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa, Voya Financial
Free; no registration required.

Gallery Talk with 2025 Iowa Artist Ben Millett and Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter
2025-08-23 13:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join our 2025 Iowa Artist Ben Millett and Des Moines Art Center Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter for a gallery talk about Millett’s solo exhibition on view in the lower Richard Meier galleries. Learn more about the exhibition and hear from Millett about his process and practice.
Based in Des Moines, Millett’s approach to textiles is literally multi-layered, employing traditional quilting techniques to create works that combine original patterns, a bright palette, and visual nods to queer iconography and activism. “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” is a timely and groundbreaking entry into the Art Center’s decades-long series presenting the best of Iowa-made art, and the first solo show by a quilt maker in the museum’s history.
Free; no registration required. Photo: Brittany Brooke Crow.

THREADS Dance Performance + Reception
2025-08-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Levitt Auditorium, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
The Art Center is a magnificent space for performances of all variety. Dating back to 1975, Penny Furgerson’s Gateway Dance Theatre tapped into the museum’s iconic architecture and inspiring artwork, and put their bodies in motion in powerful, challenging, and beautiful ways. Today, Swan Project honors the legacy of Gateway Dance Theatre and the spirit of art access and collaboration by activating the Art Center with THREADS, a multigenerational dance and video performance.
This contemporary dance performance has been produced in homage to the legacy of Gateway Dance Theatre by Sarah Jae, Izzy Kelai, Aminah Nalani, and Syd Furgerson. Stay after the performance for a reception.
The Des Moines Art Center’s Community Access Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! We invite the public to celebrate 25+ years of no-cost art experiences for our community by joining us August 22 – 24.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.

Community Access Programming presenting sponsor: Charlotte and Fred Hubbell
Additional support provided by: Corteva Agriscience, HyVee, Iowa State Bank, Lincoln Savings Bank, Meier Bernstein Foundation, David J. Noble Foundation, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Prairie Meadows, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa, Voya Financial
Free; no registration required. Seating in Levitt Auditorium will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Photo: Historic photo of Gateway Dance Theatre dancers in the I. M. Pei building circa 1976 by Dave Penney.

“Life Mask: A Celebration of Gifts from the Dale Jansen Estate” Exhibition Tour
2025-08-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a guided tour of the “Life Mask: A Celebration of Gifts from the Dale Jansen Estate” exhibition, on view in the John Brady Print Gallery April 25 through August 31, 2025. This exhibition pays tribute to the late philanthropist, collector, and longtime Des Moines Art Center supporter Dale Jansen. Its title is borrowed from Bruce Nauman’s 1981 lithograph “Life Mask,” one of 65 artworks that were donated to the Art Center by Jansen through his estate.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Bruce Nauman (American, born 1941)
“Life Mask,” 1981
Lithograph in black on Arches cover wove paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of the Estate of Dale Jansen, 2024.73

Coffee with a Curator
2025-09-05 09:30 - 11:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Members at the Curator’s Circle ($550) and above are invited to Coffee with a Curator, an exclusive event featuring a gallery talk and casual group discussion. Local artist Ben Millett and Des Moines Art Center Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter, who co-curated “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett,” will guide a limited in-person tour about the exhibition in the lower galleries of the Richard Meier building.
In vivid colors, Ben’s work introduces several themes in this presentation. His works inspire a direct dialogue around the importance and history of Queer pride, echoing multiple works in the galleries that tell stories of identity, visibility, and justice. It is a timely and groundbreaking entry into the museum’s decades-long series presenting the best of Iowa-made art, and the first solo show by a quilt maker in our history.
After the gallery talk, enjoy coffee and pastries with Ben, Laura, and your fellow members in the Art Center Café, presented by la mie.
Register by August 29. Space is limited.
Curator’s Circle+ members can RSVP by emailing Jess Lane, Gala and Development Events Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Become a member or upgrade your membership.
Pictured: Des Moines Art Center Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter and artist Ben Millett at the “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” exhibition opening. Photo: Brittany Brooke Crow.

“Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” Exhibition Tour
2025-09-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for one last chance to visit and learn about the exhibition “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa,” before the show closes on Sunday, September 7! Hear from an Art Center docent details about the exhibition and artworks on display in the A. H. Blank Gallery.
Organized in partnership with the Waterloo Center for the Arts (WCA), “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” showcases a selection of the rich holdings of Haitian Art in the WCA’s collection—the largest public collection of Haitian Art in both Iowa and the United States. This exhibition explores the vibrant diversity of Haitian artwork, featuring paintings, metalwork, sculpture, and drapos (beaded and sequined banners).
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.

“Firelei Báez” Exhibition Tour
2025-09-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
The presentation of “Firelei Báez” at the Des Moines Art Center closes on Sunday, September 21—join us for a guided exhibition tour one final time!
Organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, this exhibition is the first North American survey dedicated to the richly layered work of artist Firelei Báez. Over the past 20 years, she has made work that explores the multilayered legacy of colonial histories and the African diaspora in the Caribbean and beyond.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Firelei Báez (Dominican, born 1981)
“A Drexcyen chronocommons (To win the war you fought it sideways),” 2019
Two paintings, hand-painted wooden frame, perforated tarp, printed mesh, handmade paper over found objects, plants, and books
Courtesy the Joyner/Giuffrida Collection, ​San Francisco
Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York. Photo by Phoebe d’Heurle. © Firelei Báez

Ben Millett Hand Quilting in Art Center Galleries
2025-09-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
You’re invited to stop by and watch an artist at work in the Des Moines Art Center’s galleries! Ben Millett will be hand quilting in the “Iowa Artists 2025: Ben Millett” exhibition space for the afternoon. He will be working on adding accents to a previously assembled quilt, inspired by the textiles in his exhibition. Museum attendees are encouraged to ask questions and observe his process.
Free; no registration required. Photo: Jami Milne.

Connecting Through Art (Adults Impacted by Parkinson’s)
2025-09-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
The Des Moines Art Center is partnering with the American Parkinson Disease Association to offer classes specifically for adults of any age impacted by Parkinson’s Disease. Connecting Through Art uses creativity to help improve motor skills, boost emotional well-being, and enhance cognitive function. Sessions are split into two days, an art-making day taking place at a separate studio location in the Des Moines area, and an afternoon in the Des Moines Art Center galleries to discuss art and learn.
The gallery sessions will take place on the third Tuesday of every month at 2 pm and will take a conversational deep dive looking at one work of art, with a break for some gentle chair yoga mid-session. Participants are welcome to bring a caregiver. The docent-led gallery talk is followed by an informal gathering with coffee and tea. This program is free and registration is required.
REGISTER

2025 Gala: Chiaroscuro
2025-09-20 18:00 - 23:00 | IA
You’re invited to experience a night of art and celebration at the 2025 Des Moines Art Center Gala, an extraordinary event to support the Art Center in style! Enjoy an elegant cocktail reception before an exquisite dining experience in the Krause Gateway Center. Create unforgettable memories with fellow art enthusiasts as you dance the night away.
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Cocktail Hour | 6 pm
Dinner and Dessert l 7:30 pm
Dancing and Music | 9 – 11 pm
Your support of this dynamic event ensures the Art Center remains free and accessible to everyone, every day. With your help, we will continue to offer engaging exhibitions and exciting educational programs, building an inclusive space that stimulates creative, critical, and empathetic thinking.
2025 Gala Sponsorships are available now. Guarantee tickets to the event and maximize your brand by becoming a sponsor today. To pledge your support, please email Senior Director of Development Caleb Hegna at chegna@desmoinesartcenter.org or call 515.271.0338.
Patron packages ($2,700 per pair or $1,350 for an individual) and Individual tickets ($300) are on sale now!
PURCHASE TICKETS
For more information or questions about the gala, please contact Gala and Development Events Coordinator Jess Lane at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org or 515.271.0336.
Photo: Cameron Campbell
chi·a·ro·scu·ro
/kyärəˈsko͝orō/ noun
__________
The juxtaposition between light and dark in a pictorial work of art, from Italian, “chiaro” clear, light + “oscuro” obscure, dark.
At the Des Moines Art Center Chiaroscuro Gala, glamour and mystery intertwine to captivate partygoers at the black-and-white masquerade.

Guided Tour: Blue Star Welcome Week for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families
2025-09-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In celebration of Blue Star Welcome Week, the Art Center is offering a free guided tour titled “Sailor, Soldier, Airman, Artist.” Join us for this themed tour that asks the question, “How did the military experience influence mid-century modern artists?” with artist features such as Ellsworth Kelly (WWII), Sam Francis (WWII), or b. Robert Moore (son of a Vietnam veteran).
The Des Moines Art Center is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission every day to everyone. Hosting this guided tour during Blue Star Welcome Week, seeks to build support for the 600,000 military families who move to new communities each year. We invite all military personnel and family members to attend, whether new to the Des Moines community or not, to enjoy an afternoon at the Art Center.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
b. Robert Moore (American, born 1983)
“Kin to War” (detail), 2023
Acrylic, charcoal, saw dust, Ethiopian coffee, Ethiopian coffee burlap, polyurethane, oil pigment on Belgian Linen
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Purchased with funds from the Edmundson Art Foundation, Inc., 2023.24
Photo: Rich Sanders

“Aliza Nisenbaum: Día de los Muertos” Exhibition Tour
2025-10-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Aliza Nisenbaum is known for her vibrantly colored, large-scale portraits. She describes her paintings as a “montage of points in time.” Rather than depicting a specific moment, they capture the essence of the community she paints.
Last fall, the Art Center invited Nisenbaum to meet with pivotal Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) committee, learn about the event’s history, and photograph the 2024 celebration, as part of her two-year residency as the Toni and Tim Urban International Artist-in-Residence. View the exhibition and learn more about the works in “Aliza Nisenbaum: Día de los Muertos” during this guided tour.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Aliza Nisenbaum (Mexican and American, lives and works in New York, NY, born 1977)
“Mantilla” (detail), 2025
Oil on canvas
Courtesy of the artist, Anton Kern Gallery, and Regen Projects

“Robert Rauschenberg: Currents, 1970" Exhibition Tour
2025-10-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
This exhibition features 17 large-scale prints and a related sound piece from Robert Rauschenberg’s “Currents” series of 1970. Join us in the John Brady Print Gallery for a guided tour of the show.
During a tumultuous political moment in the US, the artist conceptualized the “Currents” project as an experience of immersion and overstimulation meant to jar viewers into action. “Currents” refers to current events as much as forces of nature — ocean currents, electrical currents — phenomena that can sweep someone away or jolt them into attention.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925 – 2008)
“Surface Series 52, from ‘Currents”’ (detail), 1970
Screenprint on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Lawrence Zicklin, New York, 1983.62.15
Photo: Rich Sanders

Gallery Talk: “Aliza Nisenbaum: Día de los Muertos” with Elizabeth Gollnick and Vince Valdez
2025-10-12 13:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Associate Curator Elizabeth Gollnick and longtime member of the Art Center’s Day of the Dead committee, Vince Valdez, for an engaging gallery talk that looks at Aliza Nisenbaum’s exuberant painting exhibition. As curator of the exhibition, Gollnick will speak about the residency in which Nisenbaum conceived of the Day of the Dead premise for the works, and Valdez, a photographer and documentarian who has contributed to the visuals and storytelling of the honorees for numerous Day of the Dead events, will offer his experiences being involved with the celebration at the Des Moines Art Center.
Aliza Nisenbaum is the 2024-2025 Toni and Tim Urban International Artist-in-Residence.
Free; no registration required.
