Walker Art Center

For the gallery in Liverpool, see Walker Art Gallery.
Walker Art Center
Map
Established1927 (1927)
Location725 Vineland Place
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates44°58′05″N 93°17′19″W / 44.96806°N 93.28861°W / 44.96806; -93.28861
TypeArt center
DirectorMary Ceruti
Websitewalkerart.org

The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in the U.S.: together with the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Cowles Conservatory, it has an annual attendance of around 700,000 visitors.[1][2] The museum's permanent collection includes over 13,000 modern and contemporary art pieces, including books, costumes, drawings, media works, paintings, photography, prints, and sculpture.[3]

The Walker Art Center began in 1879 as an art gallery in the home of lumber baron Thomas Barlow Walker.[4] Walker formally established his collection as the Walker Art Gallery in 1927.[5] With the support of the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration, the Walker Art Gallery became the Walker Art Center in January 1940. The Walker celebrated its 75th anniversary as a public art center in 2015.[6][7]

The Walker's new building, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes and opened in 1971, saw a major expansion in 2005. Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron's addition included an additional gallery space, a theater, restaurant, shop, and a special events space.[8]

  1. ^ Abbe, Mary (2015-11-30). "Walker Art Center: 75th anniversary a 'banner year' with strong attendance, art gifts". Star Tribune. Avista Capital Partners. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  2. ^ Walker Art Center, "History", Walker Art Center Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
  3. ^ Walker Art Center, "Walker Collections", Walker Art Center
  4. ^ Abbe, Mary (June 29, 1997). "Walker turns 70 (again) and celebrates". Star Tribune. p. E7.
  5. ^ Huber, Molly. "Walker, Thomas Barlow (T.B.), (1840–1928)", Minnesota Historical Society, 08 July 2015. Retrieved on 14 April 2015.
  6. ^ Rash, John (January 30, 2015). "The Walker's WPA roots are still relevant today". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  7. ^ "Walker Art Center Marks 75th Anniversary with Major Institutional Advancements Including Campus Renovation, New Staff Appointments, and Expanded Cross-Disciplinary Programming". Walker Art Center. March 31, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-20.
  8. ^ Ouroussoff, Nicolai. "An Expansion Gives New Life to an Old Box", The New York Times, Minneapolis, 15 April 2005. Retrieved on 14 April 2016.