Art Admirer

Art Around Every Corner

Art abounds in numerous mediums in Iowa City’s Curious Communities, from murals on the outside of downtown buildings to handcrafted pieces inside retail stores.

Unleash Your Creative Side

Stop inside Iowa Artisans Gallery located in the historic Paul-Helen Building, which supports American-made work encompassing wall art, glass, clay, jewelry, wood and fiber mediums. Browse the current exhibit featuring local or Midwest artists and find a unique art piece to give as a gift, for the home or just for fun. Then breeze through the pedestrian mall to see the Benchmark project, where each public bench reflects the work of a local artist.

A short 10-minute walk later, you can step into the University of Iowa’s Stanley Museum of Art. See Jackson Pollock’s 1943 masterpiece Mural along with other rotating exhibits featuring African art and sculpture. It is 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.

Next, venture on to the Iowa River Landing for lunch at Backpocket Brewing. Walk off your lunch by following the Sculpture Walk. This showcases eleven original sculptures, each by an Iowa artist and based on a work in the Iowa Writer’s Library, located in the Coralville Hyatt (pamphlets are available at the Welcome Center and online). Then stop in for coffee at Midnight Coffee to see local art on the walls or simply take a seat and savor the day.

For those who prefer hands-on art activities, North Liberty’s Big Picture Gallery & Studio offers classes and workshops in painting, drawing, ceramics for both kids and adults.