September-December

When I first entered the Quadracci Pavilion, I was struck by how the experience changes you. The soaring height, shifting light, and expansive views of the lake create a sense of anticipation. Before you encounter a single work of art, the building invites you to look up, slow down, and become more open to discovery.

How do we make a better world? This is the question at the core of the exhibition “The Shakers,” which explores the material world of the Shakers and their continuing influence on contemporary art and design.

While early Gold Rush prospectors panned for gold in riverbeds, by the time of this picture companies worked on an industrial scale, employing high-pressure hoses to erode the land in search of gold.

In the early 20th century, American artists looked for new ways to depict modern life, drawing inspiration both from European movements and the bustling streets of U.S. cities. Among them was Josephine Paddock.

For more than three decades, choreographer Reggie Wilson has explored how movement carries memory, belief, and cultural identity across generations. As founder and artistic director of the Brooklyn-based Fist & Heel Performance Group, he has developed an internationally recognized practice that blends African diasporic traditions with contemporary dance in what he describes as “post-African/Neo-HooDoo Modern”…

Joe and Ellen Checota have built their philanthropy around a simple idea: one gift can inspire many more. In 2025, the longtime Museum supporters made a transformational commitment to Milwaukee’s cultural community, awarding a $5 million challenge gift to the endowment of three institutions, including the Milwaukee Art Museum.

One of the first things you notice when you enter the Quadracci Pavilion is Alexander Calder’s “Red, Black and Blue,” suspended high above you. The colorful mobile is a natural fit for this soaring space, but its connection to the building goes beyond how well the two look together. Calder’s work actually has its own…

When the Santiago Calatrava-designed Quadracci Pavilion opened in 2001, it transformed the Milwaukee Art Museum physically, expanding gallery space and creating new opportunities for exhibitions and programs. But from the beginning, the visionaries who brought the project to life aspired to create something bigger than the building itself.

A new installation invites visitors to look beyond Milwaukee’s most recognizable landmark and discover the stories, ambitions, and community connections that continue to shape it today.

Donald Baumgartner believed Milwaukee deserved nothing short of the extraordinary. His vision and leadership helped make the Quadracci Pavilion possible and shaped the Museum and the city for generations to come. For nearly four decades, Donald W. Baumgartner shaped the Milwaukee Art Museum as a Trustee, Board Chair, Life Trustee, trusted advisor, and steadfast advocate.…