Peppermint Trail at the Art Center
2025-12-13 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Visit the Des Moines Art Center during The Avenues’ annual Peppermint Trail to sample yummy holiday treats while doing some of your gift buying for the art lovers on your list. The Museum Shop has all sorts of unique and fun gifts for everyone in your life! Visit the galleries to view the current exhibitions, and at 1 pm enjoy a guided tour by an Art Center docent with the theme of ‘Family and Gathering.’
Stop by the Art Center Café for lunch or a sweet treat! In addition to their regular menu items, enjoy a Peppermint Mocha or Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Café hours on Saturday are from 10 am – 4 pm.
The museum galleries and shop will be open from 10 am – 5 pm. Admission to the museum and the guided tour are free.

Guided Tour: Family and Gathering
2025-12-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Explore how artists capture the warmth, complexity, and beauty of coming together. This docent-led tour invites visitors of all ages to reflect on family, community, and shared moments through works by artists such as Mary Cassatt, Alex Katz, and Alfredo Ramos Martinez.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Mary Cassatt (American, active France, 1844 – 1926)
“Nicolle and Her Mother” (detail), ca. 1900
Pastel on paper
Purchased with funds from the Coffin Fine Arts Trust; Nathan Emory Coffin Collection of the Des Moines Art Center, 1966.21

Art Spectrums
2025-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
The purpose of Art Spectrums is to enable children and teens with autism, along with their families, to enjoy the Des Moines Art Center and make memories with art. In this program, kids, ages 5 – 18, on the autism spectrum and their family members explore and make art together. Participants will visit and discuss a work of art in the museum for inspiration. Next, attendees make their own artwork in the studio, inspired by what they discovered in the Art Center galleries.
Art Spectrums is a free, monthly program, and registration is required.
REGISTER

Art, Grief, and Healing: Life After Suicide Loss
2025-12-14 13:00 - 15:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
In partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Iowa Chapter, we invite members of the community to come together for a program in support of Life After Suicide Loss. These sessions are in recognition of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
This gathering blends a curated art tour with guided creative expression and activities. Through reflection, art-making, and shared moments of remembrance, participants are invited to process grief, honor loved ones lost to suicide, and find connection within community.
Participants are invited to bring a photo or small item of their loved one to place on the community remembrance table if they wish.
Pictured: Instructor Sage Love is a researcher, writer, death doula, and mental health advocate whose work centers on suicide loss and living with bipolar II disorder. They serve as the LGBTQ+ Chair for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Iowa Chapter.
Free; no registration required.

Gallery Talk: “Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations”
2025-12-14 13:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter for a gallery talk about the exhibition “Manuel Alvarez Bravo: Collaborations,” on view in the Anna K. Meredith Gallery. With over 100 photographs and ephemera, this exhibition illustrates that working with others was a central part of Bravo’s creative process.
Free; no registration required.
Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902 – 2002)
“Caja de visiones (Box of Visions)” (detail), 1931
Gelatin silver print
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Purchased with funds from Craig and Kimberly Shadur, 2024.11
Photo: Rich Sanders

Creative Aging: Gallery Series (Ages 55+)
2025-12-16 12:00, 2026-01-06 12:00, 2026-01-20 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

Museum Highlights Tour
2025-12-26 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-27 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.

Museum Highlights Tour
2025-12-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Happy New Year’s Eve Des Moines! 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!
Arrive early and treat yourself to lunch at the Art Center Café to bring in the New Year!
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.

"Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations" Exhibition Tour
2026-01-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Step into the fascinating world of “Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations” with a guided tour of the exhibition. With over 100 photographs and ephemera, “Manuel Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations” illustrates that working with others was a central part of the artist’s creative process. Manuel Álvarez Bravo is sometimes called the father of Mexican photography, but he did not reach the heights of his field on his own. He achieved his place in history through conversations and connections with some of the greatest minds of the 20th century in Mexico and abroad.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Manuel Álvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902-2002)
“Lola Álvarez Bravo y estructura metalica (Lola Álvarez Bravo and a Metal Structure),” 1930s
Gelatin silver print
Colección Archivo Manuel Álvarez Bravo

Homeschool Day
2026-01-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Make art a family adventure this winter! Each week for the month of January, homeschool students and parents are welcome to explore new ways of looking at art through guided gallery experiences, fun activities, and hands-on art projects. Each week will have a different theme!
Programs are offered separately for:

Ages 5 – 8
Ages 9 – 12
Parents/guardians

Infants are welcome to attend with parents. Currently, we are unable to accommodate children ages 2 – 4 (we hope to offer this in the future). Class size is limited to 12 students per age group.
Join us in this session: “Reset – Finding the Heart in Art.” Students and parents will participate in separate age-appropriate sessions using guided meditation, mindful movement, and close looking in the galleries to explore the senses and create art centered on relaxation and well-being.
register

Social Saturday: SNOW DAY
2026-01-10 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s inaugural Social Saturday event and celebrate all things comfy and cozy with a SNOW DAY theme! Come in out of the cold as we warm up with hot chocolate in the Art Center Café, create snowmen prints in the Art School studios, enjoy a film screening in the auditorium, take a free guided tour in the galleries, peruse the current exhibitions, and more.
Guests are invited to wear their coziest clothes, bundle up for sweater weather, and escape into joy and warmth at the Art Center.
Schedule of Events:
11:15 – 11:45 am | Storytime
Levitt Auditorium
12 pm – 1:45 pm | Film “Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint”
Levitt Auditorium
Feed your eyes and soul! Discover (or rediscover) an artist who was working for the whole picture of life — Hilma af Klint, a trailblazing artist born in Sweden in 1862. Inspired by spiritualism, modern science, and nature, she asked, “How do we achieve a truly content and fulfilled life?” in director Halina Dyrschka’s 2019 film.
1 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Art School Studios
Open house, open access! Go behind the scenes of our art school for art-making demonstrations by teaching artists, and visitors can participate in a make-and-take printmaking activity.
Macomber Lobby
Complimentary hand massages provided by therapists from Body Wisdom Massage Therapy School. First come, first served.
Take a break and enjoy board games and puzzles next to the Museum Shop.
Art Center Café
Relax with delicious meals, sweet treats, hot cocoa, and a variety of wines and drinks in the café. Special deals for Art Center members!
See our special exhibitions before they close!
“Aliza Nisenbaum: Dí de los Muertos” (A.H. Blank Gallery) (last weekend on view!)
“Manual Álvarez Bravo: Collaborations” (Anna K. Meredith Gallery)
“Camille Henrot: Tuesday” (Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery)
“Bill Owens: Work and Leisure” (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.

Homeschool Day
2026-01-15 10:30 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Make art a family adventure this winter! Each week for the month of January, homeschool students and parents are welcome to explore new ways of looking at art through guided gallery experiences, fun activities, and hands-on art projects. Each week will have a different theme!
Programs are offered separately for:

Ages 5 – 8
Ages 9 – 12
Parents/guardians

Infants are welcome to attend with parents. Currently, we are unable to accommodate children ages 2 – 4 (we hope to offer this in the future). Class size is limited to 12 students per age group.
Join us in this session: “Play – Creating Fun in the Museum.” Experience the museum in a whole new way! Students will enjoy gallery games and imaginative artmaking designed to spark curiosity and joy, while parents explore new approaches to engage with art at home and in the museum.
THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY.

Museum Shop: Sip ‘n’ Shop
2026-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Museum Shop for an evening of wine and shopping at this special customer appreciation event! Bring a friend and enjoy complimentary wine and light snacks. Art Center members receive double discounts on regularly priced merchandise.
Interested in saving 20% in the Museum Shop during Double Discount sales? Become a Member today! Art Center members receive a year-round 10% discount in the Museum Shop, plus a 20% discount to all studio classes and workshops. Members also enjoy invitations to behind-the-scenes experiences and events.
Museum Shop hours

Exhibition Opening Celebration: "Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other"
2026-01-16 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 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.
Bring family and friends to view the artwork, and kick off the evening with complimentary lite bites and delicious desserts. Beer and wine available for purchase. 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.
Henry Payer (Ho Chunk, born 1986)
“Wandering Winnebago No. 5” (detail)
Mixed media
Courtesy of the artist

"Bill Owens: Work and Leisure" Exhibition Tour
2026-01-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for a look back through history and community in the exhibition, “Bill Owens: Work and Leisure.” Enjoy a free guided tour in the John Brady Print Gallery of the photographs from artist Bill Owens. As seen through Owens’ lens, the subjects of these photos invite us into their homes, share a day at the office, and take us along to several kinds of parties.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
“Karate is a highly competitive sport, like tennis or boxing. It’s on one. For $30 a month a kid can get some good mental and physical training. He can learn coordination, balance, timing and self-defense.” Livermore, California, from the “Leisure” series, 1974 (printed 1999)
Gelatin silver print
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections: The Jeff Perry Photography Collection given in honor of Myron and Jacqueline Blank, 2024.120

Conversation with Henry Payer (2026 Iowa Artist) and Beth Gollnick
2026-01-17 14:00 | Levitt Auditorium, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Des Moines Art Center Associate Curator Beth Gollnick and our 2026 Iowa Artist Henry Payer for an insightful conversation that traverses Payer’s multi-media practice, exploring the importance of Ho-Chunk traditions and Western popular culture in his work, as well as the themes compelling his practice, including history, relocation, and resilience. Payer’s exhibition, l“Aagakinak Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” is on view at the Art Center through June 17.
This lecture is supported by the Margaret Ann (Dudie) Ash Fund.
Free; registration required. Image: Henry Payer.
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.

Art Workshop: Make A Chia Planter (Ages 7 - 11)
2026-01-18 09:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Make a lush, sprouting sculpture and add some greenery to your winter months! Chia Pets are ceramic planters that grow curly sprouting seeds that look like hair. These funny sculptures can be made to look like your favorite pet or a self-portrait bust – they’ll look bald at first, but in a few weeks, they’ll have a full head of hair!
Students can pick up their fired ceramic sculptures about two weeks after the end of class. They will go home with detailed instructions and an ample amount of chia seeds to grow. Scholarships for classes and materials are available on our website.
Register for ages 7 – 8
Register for ages 9 – 11

Homeschool Day
2026-01-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Make art a family adventure this winter! Each week for the month of January, homeschool students and parents are welcome to explore new ways of looking at art through guided gallery experiences, fun activities, and hands-on art projects. Each week will have a different theme!
Programs are offered separately for:

Ages 5 – 8
Ages 9 – 12
Parents/guardians

Infants are welcome to attend with parents. Currently, we are unable to accommodate children ages 2 – 4 (we hope to offer this in the future). Class size is limited to 12 students per age group.
Join us in this session: “Connect – Talking Through Art.” What stories can art tell? Students and parents will separately practice observation and storytelling through guided gallery activities, then express their ideas through creative projects such as mini comics or collaborative writing prompts.
THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY.

Museum Highlights Tour
2026-01-24 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

Creative Aging: Studio Series (Ages 55+)
2026-01-27 14:00 - 15:30 | 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. In addition to our monthly Creative Aging gallery series, these studio series sessions will offer a social atmosphere and a variety of exploratory projects to try out materials and techniques with the support of an experienced teaching artist. Projects like leaf printings inspired by nature, wreath design, candle making, handmade jewelry, or painted flowerpots are just some of the programs to look forward to.
Materials, tools, and guidance will be provided. Cost of the class is $30 ($24 for Art Center members).
register

Sculpture + Flow - Candlelit Yoga
2026-01-28 17:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Connect art with mind, body, and soul under the gentle glow of candlelight at Sculpture + Flow — a serene, slow-paced yoga class in the Cowles Sculpture Court in the I.M. Pei Building. Certified yoga instructor, Lily Allen-Duenas will lead art enthusiasts and yogis through an all-levels flow artfully inspired by works in the gallery.
After mindfully moving through a flowing sequence of poses, we’ll practice stillness among the sculptures in a guided meditation under soft illumination.
Guests must bring their own yoga mats. Food and drinks are not allowed in the museum galleries.? Water will be provided after the class.
Schedule:
5:30 pm l Check-in
6 – 7 pm l Candlelit Yoga Class
• 45-minute Slow Flow
• 15-minute Guided Meditation
Art Center Member Ticket: $25
Non-Member Ticket: $35
Registration required by January 20.
Art Center members, login at the top left of the registration page to sign into your member account and receive your discount. Not a member? Join today!
QUESTIONS? Contact Jess Lane, Gala and Development Events Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.

Homeschool Day
2026-01-29 10:30 - 12:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Make art a family adventure this winter! Each week for the month of January, homeschool students and parents are welcome to explore new ways of looking at art through guided gallery experiences, fun activities, and hands-on art projects. Each week will have a different theme!
Programs are offered separately for:

Ages 5 – 8
Ages 9 – 12
Parents/guardians

Infants are welcome to attend with parents. Currently, we are unable to accommodate children ages 2 – 4 (we hope to offer this in the future). Class size is limited to 12 students per age group.
Join us in this session: “Inspire – Exploring Ideas and Mediums.” Students will explore how artists develop ideas and experiment with materials to create their own expressive works. Parents will reflect on the creative process and try new approaches for inspiring artistic exploration at home.
THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY.

“Bill Owens: Work and Leisure” Gallery Talk with Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter
2026-02-01 13:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter for a gallery talk about the exhibition “Bill Owens: Work and Leisure,” on view in the John Brady Print Gallery through April 19. Take a trip down memory lane appreciating Owens’ photographs from the 1970s and early ‘80s.
Free; no registration required.
Bill Owens (American, born 1938)
“Hornets football, Tri-Valley area, Northern California,” from the “Leisure” series, ca. 1975, printed later
Gelatin silver print
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; Gift of Dr. Steven and Yasemin Miller, 2022.55

Art Workshop: Valentines Day Cards (Ages 7 - 11)
2026-02-08 12:30 - 14:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Show the people in your life how much you care about them with a hand-crafted valentine! This one-day workshop will show students methods of making pop-up Valentine’s Day cards using materials often used for scrapbooking: fancy paper, decorative scissors and hole punches, stamps, and stencils.
Students will bring home their finished valentines. Scholarships for classes and materials are available on our website.
register for ages 7-8
register for ages 9-11

"Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer" Gallery Talk with Associate Curator Beth Gollnick
2026-02-08 13:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join Associate Curator Beth Gollnick for a gallery talk about the exhibition “Iowa Artists 2026: Henry Payer: Aagakinąk Haciwi: We Live Opposite Each Other” on view in the A. H. Blank Gallery and Kyle J. and Sharon Krause Atrium in the Richard Meier building. 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.
Free; no registration required.
Henry Payer, Ho-Chunk (b. 1986)
“Superman Moving the Winnebago Back to Nebraska,” 2025
Flashe and acrylic on BFK Rives paper
Courtesy of the artist
