Museum Shop: Exhibition Catalog Sale
2025-02-04 - 2025-02-09 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Take advantage of deep discounts on past Art Center exhibition catalogs, including (for this week only) our Des Moines Art Center Collects book! Explore books displayed in the Macomber Lobby throughout the week-long sale and pick up a few new pieces for your library or coffee table. Limits will apply to all purchases and no additional discounts can be used.
Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter will be available from 12 – 2 pm on Tuesday, February 4 and Sunday, February 9 to answer questions and sign catalogs she has participated in creating.

Exhibition Celebration: "Time Travelers"
2025-02-21 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a celebration of our new exhibition, “Time Travelers.” The artists in “Time Travelers” create work that explores philosophical views about the past, the human relationship with time, and the various points in between. This exhibition is grounded in two ambitious, large-scale installations, both part of the Art Center’s permanent collections: Mika Rottenberg’s “Cheese” and Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn’s “The Boat People.”
Bring family and friends to celebrate with us and view the art! Dine on complimentary cuisine from The Eggroll Ladies, plus light bites and desserts provided by The Tangerine Food Company. Cash bar available. Remarks from the exhibition curator and John and Mary Pappajohn Director will take place at 6 pm.
Free; registration not required. This event will be documented with photography.
Mika Rottenberg (Argentine, born 1976)
“Cheese,” 2008
Mixed media
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Melva Bucksbaum and Raymond Learsy, 2015.41.1-.205
Photo: Rich Sanders
Support for this exhibition is provided by:

"Time Travelers" Exhibition Tour
2025-02-22 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-04-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Step into the thought-provoking world of “Time Travelers” with a guided tour of this captivating exhibition. Explore artworks that delve into the complexities of memory, history, and imagination, reimagining elements of the past while contemplating our collective future. This tour features highlights from the exhibition and the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on how the past continues to shape our present.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Mika Rottenberg (Argentine, born 1976)
“Cheese,” 2008
Mixed media
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Melva Bucksbaum and Raymond Learsy, 2015.41.1-.205
Photo: Rich Sanders

Director's Circle Member Event with Director Kelly Baum
2025-03-06 17:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In appreciation of your generous Director’s Circle membership and commitment to the Des Moines Art Center, we invite you to an exclusive conversation and reception with John and Mary Pappajohn Director, Kelly Baum, Ph.D.
Kelly will highlight a recent art acquisition and share exciting information about the Art Center’s new five-year strategic plan. Anchored by four priorities, “Be a Welcoming Home for All,” “Bring the World to Iowa, and Iowa to the World,” “Grow our Revenue Streams Sustainably,” and “Champion Caretaking and Stewardship,” this strategic plan will focus the institution’s priorities in the next five years and set the stage for its long-term growth, success, and dynamism, allowing it to do more and be more for the communities of Central Iowa and beyond.
Mingle with fellow members and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks by The Tangerine Food Company.
Free; registration required. Space is limited. RSVP by February 27 by emailing Gala and Development Events Coordinator Jess Lane at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.

"Figments & Phantoms" Exhibition Tour
2025-03-08 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 “Figments & Phantoms” exhibition in the John Brady Print Gallery. Figments and phantoms exist in our imaginations, but artists can bring them to life. In this exhibition, the body (or its absence) becomes haunting and strange.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Kiki Smith (American, born 1954)
“My Blue Lake,” 1995
Photogravure and lithograph on paper
Des Moines Art Center’s Louise Noun Collection of Art by Women, 1995.64
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders

"Op Art: Abstract Illusion" Exhibition Tour
2025-03-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Step into the mesmerizing world of Op Art with a guided tour of the current exhibition “Op Art: Abstract Illusion.” This tour takes a closer look at the groundbreaking works of the 1960s and 70s that challenged perceptions and captivated audiences worldwide. Explore how artists used contrasting colors, optical illusions, and dynamic patterns to create disorienting and playful sensory effects.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Bill Komodore (American, 1932 – 2012)
“Circe #10,” 1965-1966
Screenprint on paper
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Purchased with funds from Rose F. Rosenfield, 1967.42
Photo Credit: Rich Sanders

Gallery Talk: Experience of the Vietnamese Coming to America with Vinh Nguyen
2025-04-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for this unique gallery talk at the Des Moines Art Center—“Experience of the Vietnamese Coming to America” with Vinh Nguyen, President of Vietnamese American Community in Iowa. Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter will introduce the program and highlight three works in the permanent collections that are relevant to the Vietnamese diaspora: Pao Houa Her’s “Hmong Veteran, from ‘Attention’ series,” Danh Vo’s “Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma,” and (from the current exhibition “Time Travelers”) Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn’s “The Boat People.”
Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam War in the early 1960s. Growing up in a family of 10 brothers and sisters, he developed a strong sense of collaboration for success and helping others at a young age. Soon after the Vietnam War came to an end on April 30, 1975, life in South Vietnam changed completely as the government tried to put socialism and communism into practice. In summer 1981, Nguyen’s parents decided to have him escape from Vietnam to seek freedom and opportunities for his future. He was smuggled out of Vietnam along with another 134 Vietnamese on a tiny, less than seaworthy boat, but their vessel was fortunate enough to be finally saved by an oil tanker, and they were sent to a refugee camp in Thailand. He later was accepted by the United States and resettled in Des Moines, Iowa.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Image: Vinh Nguyen

Member Double Discount Days
2025-05-01 - 2025-05-11 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Attention Art Center members! Stop by the Museum Shop for the perfect Mother’s Day, graduation, or other unique celebration gifts during Double Discount Days. Members receive 20% off regularly priced merchandise, and we have something for everyone: home décor, jewelry, books, accessories, art supplies, and more.
Visiting the museum galleries? Enjoy the spring weather and take a break in our beautiful Bookey Family Courtyard and Macomber Lobby with a snack or beverage from the Museum Shop’s selections, including beer and wine.
Interested in saving 20% in the Museum Shop during Double Discount days? Become a Member today! Art Center members also receive a year-round 20% discount to all studio classes and workshops, a 10% discount in the Museum Shop every day (plus several Double Discount events throughout the year), and invitations to behind-the-scenes membership experiences and events.
Museum Shop hours

“Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” Exhibition Tour
2025-05-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Learn more about the exhibition in the A. H. Blank Gallery, “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa.” Organized in partnership with the Waterloo Center for the Arts (WCA), this exhibition 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. The show explores a 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.
Myrlande Constant (Haitian, born 1968)
“Dambalah Wedo Et Ayda Voir Preeace” (detail), 2000-2010
Sequined flag
On loan from the Waterloo Center for the Arts Haitian Collection, 2015.0109, Gift of Ted Frankel and Bill Gilmore

Member Gallery Talk
2025-05-13 17:30 | 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 an exclusive curator-led gallery talk and reception on the upcoming exhibition “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa.” We will be joined by Associate Curator Beth Gollnick Ph.D, Chawne Paige, Executive Director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts, and Petrouchka Moïse Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Cultural & Community-based Digital Curator, Grinnell College Libraries.
This exhibition explores the vibrant diversity of Haitian artwork, featuring paintings, metalwork, sculpture, and drapos (beaded and sequined banners). Rooted in historical themes, it considers the influence of the African diaspora and the enduring impact of colonialism on the Haitian people. The exhibition maps spheres of influence between artists of different generations and explores imagery in which spiritual traditions intersect with everyday life. Thousands of miles from the island of Haiti, Iowa has become a beacon for the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.
After the gallery talk, enjoy refreshments by The Tangerine Food Company.
Free; registration required by May 6. Space is limited.
register now
Curator’s Circle+ members can RSVP by emailing Jess Lane, Gala and Development Events Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org
Questions? Contact Jess Lane, Gala and Development Events Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org. If your membership has lapsed, renew in person or online at https://desmoinesartcenter.org/support/membership/.
Frantz Zéphirin (Haitian, born 1968)
Le Dieu, La Vie, La Mort II (detail)
Oil on canvas. 30 x 24 inches
Courtesy of the Waterloo Center of the Arts

“Life Mask: A Celebration of Gifts from the Dale Jansen Estate” Exhibition Tour
2025-05-17 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

Bilingual Cooking Class: Haitian Flavors/Gou Ayisyen
2025-05-30 18:00 - 21:00 | IA
Join us for a unique culinary experience! Inspired by the exhibition “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa,” this bilingual class (Spanish/English) is perfect for food lovers eager to expand their cooking skills and connect with Haitian culture through its rich and flavorful cuisine.
Hosted by chef Jerry and Helene Thomas, 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 $70.
*Thank you to those who took advantage of the generous donor’s BOGO ticket deal. This offer is now sold out. Single tickets are still available.
REGISTER

Art Workshop: Stone Setting - SOLD OUT
2025-06-02 18:00 - 2025-06-05 21:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In this four-day workshop, students will create two stone settings on two separate rings, one readymade, and the other handmade. One of the stone settings will be a bezel-set cabochon and the other a handmade prong setting. With only 12 hours of making time, students will be encouraged to work at a faster pace; therefore, soldering and fabrication skills are required for this workshop. Tuition includes access to open studio hours. Scholarships for classes and materials are offered on our application page.
REGISTER
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Youth Art Workshops
2025-06-11 | 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.
MASK-MAKING (AGES 6-8)
MASK-MAKING (AGES 9-13)
Play pretend in this workshop by creating masks to fit your inner wild child! Students will use a variety of materials like cardboard, pompoms, beads, and paint to make the masks of their dreams.
FIDGET LAB (AGES 6-8)
FIDGET LAB (AGES 9-13)
It’s slime time! In this class, students will make their own colorful fidgets, including hand-built Lego spinners. Students will make slime and incorporate various colors and textured additives to make it their own. Everyone will go home with several useable fidgets.
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Director's Circle Preview of “Firelei Báez”
2025-06-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In appreciation of their generosity and commitment to the Des Moines Art Center, we invite Director’s Circle members to an exclusive exhibition preview and private reception of the “Firelei Báez” exhibition with John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO Kelly Baum.
After the preview, mingle with fellow members and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks by The Tangerine Food Company.
Space is limited and open to Director’s Circle members. RSVP by June 4 to Jess Lane, Gala and Development Events Coordinator, at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Firelei Báez (Dominican, born 1981)
“A Drexcyen chronocommons (To win the war you fought it sideways)” (detail), 2019.
Two paintings, hand-painted wooden frame, perforated tarp, printed mesh, handmade paper over found objects, plants, books, Oman incense, and palo santo.
The Joyner/Giuffrida Collection. Image courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, New York.
Photo by Phoebe d’Heurle. © Firelei Báez

Art Workshop: Ash Painting
2025-06-11 18:00 - 21:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join fellow students for this one-day workshop of making your own paints and drawing materials out of ash. Students will start by utilizing burnt log charcoal and ash to create a textured, naturally pigmented painting, which will be sealed and ready to take home by the end of the 3-hour class.
REGISTER
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.

Youth Art Workshops
2025-06-12 | 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.
CLAY MINIATURES (AGES 6-8)
CLAY MINIATURES (AGES 9-13)
Explore the versatility of polymer clay! Polymer clay starts as a soft and pliable material making it easy for kids to work with, but it hardens when it’s baked and can be used to make fun, miniature sculptures and beads for jewelry making. Students will make several creations out of polymer clay and take them home to bake at 230 degrees for 30 minutes.
PUPPET PLAYHOUSE (AGES 6-8)
PUPPET PLAYHOUSE (AGES 9-13)
Unleash your theatrical side in this cool little workshop! Students will use the first part of the class to make their own puppet characters and collaborate with other students to put on a puppet show for the class.
Des Moines Art Center members receive a 20% discount on all classes, camps, and workshops! Become a member today.

Exhibition Opening Celebration: "Firelei Báez"
2025-06-12 17:00 - 19:00 | 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
