east front of museum with sky reflected in the glass

Visit

Our beautiful building is a cultural and social center where you can explore, unwind, meet, and create. Everyone is welcome.

Two students thoughtfully viewing artwork

Explore

Spark your curiosity with something new or stop by and see your old favorites.                                                                                                                                  

A group of three university students look at a large African mask

Discover

The world-class art collection provides exciting opportunities for teaching, learning, and research.                                                                            

Two women sitting on a green couch having a conversation

Events

There’s always something exciting going on at your art museum. Find out what’s coming up on the calendar.

Multiple bookmarks and copies of a red book fanned out with the text "Beloved. A novel by Toni Morrison."

NEA Big Read | Free Book Pick Up

The NEA Big Read is here in Iowa City! 📚

Get your free copy of Beloved by Toni Morrison and be a part of this community-wide reading event. Available to pick up at 12 different locations across Iowa City. From February to May, our community will celebrate Beloved with a full calendar of events.

Iron sculpture depicting a four-legged animal with long, curving horns

Mellon Symposium on Museum Ethics and Provenance Research

May 1 - May 3, 2025

The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art presents a three-day symposium this May that will showcase the museum's recent advancements in restitution and provenance research while engaging in insightful conversations with field experts on ethical museum practices and the critical exploration of cultural heritage.

Gallery Hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.–​​​​​​​4:30 p.m.​​​​​​​
Sunday: 12:00–4:30 p.m.

Admission to the museum building will end 5 minutes before gallery closing.

Office Hours

Monday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Current Exhibitions

Recent Acquisitions

it's a fine thing

Homecoming

Aerial view of museum with campus recreation center on left and Main Library on right

The Building

Nestled between the Main Library and Campus Recreation and Wellness Center on the west side of Gibson Square Park, the new Stanley Museum of Art is a hub of learning and research for the University of Iowa and the state. The three-story, state-of-the-art building, designed by BNIM of Des Moines, Iowa, includes a range of flexible spaces for research, education, and exhibitions, and is ideally suited to serve as a center for interdisciplinary teaching, discovery, and community building.

Upcoming Events

Write at the Stanley promotional image

Write at the Stanley

Sunday, May 25, 2025 2:30pm to 4:15pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Spring Semester!Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece.Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry. Teen...
Iowa City Philharmonic Performance promotional image

Iowa City Philharmonic Performance

Sunday, June 1, 2025 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
Immerse yourself in a captivating orchestral performance by the Iowa City Philharmonic Orchestra at the Stanley Museum of Art. Experience an afternoon of classical and contemporary pieces performed live in the lobby, where music meets visual art.The event is free and open to all, but seating is limited. Registration is strongly recommended to ensure a reserved seat: https://uiowa.doubleknot.com/event/iowa-city-philharmonic/3094317Program1. John Adams (b. 1947)‘Shaking and Trembling,’ ‘Shaker...
2025 Downtown Summer Gallery Walk promotional image

2025 Downtown Summer Gallery Walk

Friday, June 6, 2025 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Stanley Museum of Art
The Iowa City Gallery Walk is back for another year! For over 25 years, this event has taken over downtown and filled your favorite businesses with wonderful works of art. Make an evening of it and grab a bite to eat, shop, and gallery walk in beautiful downtown Iowa City! The 2025 Downtown Summer Gallery Walk is Friday, June 6th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. This FREE event is open to everyone to enjoy a self-guided tour of shops, galleries, and other locations that have curated featured artists and...
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