Des Moines Art Center

“Bill Owens: Work and Leisure” Gallery Talk with Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter
2026-02-01 13:30 (America/Chicago) | 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

Member Event: Coffee with a Curator
2026-02-06 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 led by Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter.
Laura will guide a limited in-person tour focused on new acquisitions to the permanent collection in the Richard Meier Galleries.
After the gallery talk, enjoy coffee and pastries with Laura and your fellow members in the Art Center Café.
Register by January 30. Space is limited. Send your RSVP to Jess Lane, Gala and Development Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Mohammed Sami (Iraqi, active London, born 1984)
“War at Home,” 2024
Mixed media on linen
Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections; purchased with funds from the Kyle and Sharon Krause Family Art Acquisition Fund, 2025.40

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

Art Workshop: Calligraphy - Love Letters
2026-02-11 18:30 - 21:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Love is in the air and what better way to show those feelings than giving a one-of-a-kind letter to those you care about most. In this workshop, students will learn calligraphy basics and simple poetry composition for the first part of the class and then create and decorate a love letter for Valentine’s Day to share with your close ones.
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.

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: In the Company of Love with Lucy Shay Solarz (SOLD OUT)
2026-02-12 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for this exciting and unique 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 Art Center Café.
As a Valentine’s Day treat, join with loved ones at the Art Center Café for a specially curated menu by Now Now Design Director and foodie, Lucy Shay Solarz and music from DJ Eight Ten. This four-course prix fixe draws from the tradition of still life, where familiar forms are elevated through composition, material, and restraint. Each dish celebrates love as a social practice — designed to be shared, observed, and enjoyed together in good company.
$125/person; all-inclusive.
Upcoming Date:
February 26: Levantine Dinner (Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine) with Rick Lozier.
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.
This event is sold out. To be put on a waitlist, please call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Photo by Rick Lozier.

Exhibition Opening Celebration: “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films”
2026-02-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for the opening celebration of “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films” in the Anna K. Meredith Gallery!
An immersive installation of moving images, “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model” presents Austrian artist Maria Lassnig’s (1919-2014) hand-drawn animated films from the 1970s. Lassnig’s animations are populated by a cast of zany characters, frequently including Lassnig herself, who engage in physical comedy and slapstick antics while addressing the complexities of relationships, sexuality, grief, artistic creation, and embodiment.
Bring family and friends to view the artwork, and kick off the evening with complimentary lite bites from Taste! to Go. Cash bar featuring beer and wine, a Dirty Shirley specialty cocktail, and a Shirley Temple mocktail. 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.
Maria Lassnig (Austrian, 1919-2014)
“Selfportrait,” 1971
© Maria Lassnig Foundation/Courtesy sixpackfilm

Social Saturday: Love it or Leave it!
2026-02-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s February Social Saturday event: Love it or Leave it! Whether you’re a fan of vibrant abstract paintings, or prefer minimalist artwork, there is something for everyone throughout the galleries. We invite you to engage in conversations about the art that inspires you — those pieces that speak to your heart — and those that challenge you — that you might just want to leave behind.
Come dressed in festive reds and pinks or somber blacks and grays in celebration of the duality of the day. Join in on the interactive “Hearts for Art” activity by leaving a heart at the foot of your favorite piece in the museum and explore to see what your fellow guests have chosen as theirs. Enjoy crafts in the Art School studios, a free guided tour, treats in the Café, and so much more!
Schedule of Events:
11:15 – 11:30 am | Storytime
Levitt Auditorium
11 – 11:30 am | Love it or Leave it Gallery Talk
Lowest gallery of the Richard Meier building
Gallery talk with Senior Curator Laura Burkhalter and Senior Director of Museum Learning, Engagement, and Community Access Jill Featherstone; each staff member will give their take on a work on view in the Art Center — one who loves the work, one who would ‘leave it.’
1 pm – 2 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
1:30 pm l Conversation in Levitt Auditorium
Exploring Maria Lassnig’s New York Years: Conversation with Artist Hans Werner Poschauko, Lassnig’s Long-Time Assistant, and Exhibition Curator Ashton Cooper. Register on the Art Center’s website calendar.
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Museum Galleries
Hearts for Art: Pick up paper hearts in the Macomber Lobby; leave red/pink hearts on the gallery floor in front of an artwork you love. (Please do not attempt to put a heart on/touching the artwork.)
Art School Studios
Smile! Stop by the studio for a photobooth activity. Get your photo taken with your Social Saturday group or individually by a professional teaching artist – photos will be emailed to recipients. Or try your hand at henna mandala drawing!
Art Center Café
Check out Valentine’s Day specials in the Art Center Café. Special deals for Art Center members!
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)
“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.

Art Workshop: Acrylic Pour Painting (Ages 9 - 14)
2026-02-22 12:30 - 14:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Create colorful, expressive fluid art in this one-day workshop! Students will learn several different pour painting techniques, like marbling and the Dutch Pour method, while taking inspiration from artists like Sam Gilliam and Helen Frankenthaler.
register for ages 9-11
register for ages 12-14
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.

Art Center Café, Dinner with Friends: Levantine Dinner with Rick Lozier (SOLD OUT)
2026-02-26 17:00 | The Art Center Café, 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join us for this exciting and unique 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 Art Center Café.
Enjoy a delicious menu of Levantine Dinner (Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine) designed by local photographer and teacher, Rick Lozier. Lozier created this menu after his travels through the Middle East, inspired by simple foods that can be found in our everyday lives. This four-course meal includes specially curated cocktails, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. Live music provided by Steve Tyler and Friends.
$100/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.
This event is sold out. To be put on a waitlist, please call 515.271.0313 or email cafe@desmoinesartcenter.org.
Photo by Rick Lozier.

"Bill Owens: Work and Leisure" Exhibition Tour
2026-03-07 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

Art Workshop: Ukrainian Pysanky Egg Decoration
2026-03-08 10:30 - 13:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Learn the art of Pysanky decoration in this fun workshop. Pysanka, coming from the verb pysaty meaning “to write” or “to inscribe”, is a Ukrainian egg decorating technique used to make traditional folk designs and writings that uses beeswax in a hot wax-resist. Ukrainians have been decorating eggs with highly symbolic and colorful motifs for countless generations. Different villages had specialized motifs, but some common imagery includes depictions of the sun, birds, a ladder, the tree of life, flowers, and geometric designs.
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 Workshop: Making Pom Poms (Ages 7 - 11)
2026-03-08 12:30 - 14:30 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
We’re making pom poms! Get ready to make some fluffy, fuzzy, floof balls. In this one-day workshop, students will use yarn to make pom poms both large and small and turn them into fun scarves, rugs, or cute animal figurines.
Register for ages 7 – 8
Register for ages 9 – 11
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.

Director’s Circle Member Event: Treasures from the Vault
2026-03-11 17:30 - 19:00 | 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 pleased to invite Director’s Circle members and special guests to Treasures from the Vault with Kelly Baum, John and Mary Pappajohn Director and CEO. At this exclusive behind-the-scenes showing and conversation, Kelly will highlight a selection of unique works brought out from the vault just for this evening.
After the viewing, mingle with fellow Art Center patrons, and enjoy lite bites and drinks in the Art Center Café.
Registration required by March 4. Space is limited. Director’s Circle members send your RSVP to Jess Lane, Gala and Development Coordinator at jlane@desmoinesartcenter.org.

Social Saturday: Entirely Kids
2026-03-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Join the Des Moines Art Center’s March Social Saturday event: Entirely Kids! Come play, create, and explore during a lively afternoon of art and discovery! Designed especially for children and families, this playful, high-energy event invites our creative community to explore, make, and discover together throughout the Art Center museum galleries and Art School studios.
Throughout the day, young visitors and their grown-ups can enjoy hands-on art making, gallery experiences, interactive workshops, scheduled storytime, and performances. With a rhythm of planned activities and space to explore in between, Social Saturday: Entirely Kids encourages curiosity, connection, and shared discovery — while helping kids practice being thoughtful, engaged museum visitors.
Schedule of Events:
11:15 – 11:30 am | Storytime
Levitt Auditorium
12 – 12:30 pm | Pied Piper: Artsoundscape
Levitt Auditorium
1 – 1:45 pm | Pied Piper: All-Together Orchestra
Levitt Auditorium
1 – 2 pm | Guided Tour (all ages)
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
1:45 – 2 pm | Large group Hokey Pokey
Meet in the Macomber Lobby
Drop-in Activities (11 am – 2 pm):
Museum Galleries
Exploring Together: Scavenger Hunt
Macomber Lobby
Free pie fries from Pie Bird Pies (to celebrate Pi Day 3/14; while supplies last)
Complimentary sketchbook provided by Community Choice Credit Union (while supplies last)
Art School Studios
Explore creativity and your inner artist! Pastel portrait drawing (Studios 1 and 2), and collaborative sculpture making (Studios 5 and 6)
Museum Shop
Visit the Museum Shop for creative gifts and unique finds for young and old alike. Art Center members receive 10% off every day. Shop during museum hours or online anytime.
Art Center Café
Stop by for a sit-down lunch, or grab a coffee to go during Entirely Kids Day. 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)
“Camille Henrot: Tuesday” (Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Gallery – closes March 29!)
“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 and videography.
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.

This program is part of the Principal® Foundation Youth Learning and Engagement Initiative.

Thank you to our March Social Saturday sponsor Community Choice Credit Union. Stop by their table for a complimentary sketchbook, available for the first 200 kids who visit their table in the Macomber Lobby.

“Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films” Exhibition Tour
2026-03-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50312, United States
Enjoy a free guided tour of the exhibition, “Honey, You’re a Wonderful Model: Maria Lassnig’s Animated Films.” An immersive installation of moving images, this show presents Austrian artist Maria Lassnig’s (1919-2014) hand-drawn animated films from the 1970s. Her animations are populated by a cast of zany characters, frequently including Lassnig herself, who engage in physical comedy and slapstick antics while addressing the complexities of relationships, sexuality, grief, artistic creation, and embodiment.
Public guided tours are offered every Saturday from 1 – 2 pm. Free; no registration required.
Maria Lassnig (Austrian, 1919-2014)
“Encounter,” 1970 (film still)
© Maria Lassnig Foundation/Courtesy sixpackfilm

Social Saturday: Plot Twist
2026-04-11 11:00 - 14:00 | 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

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

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.
