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On February 13, 2026, the Iowa State University Wind Ensemble gave the world premiere performance of a three-movement concerto composed by Dr. Michael Golemo (American, b. 1960) in response to Hive Mind, Beth Lipman's (American, b. 1971) monumental bronze and glass sculpture in the Anderson Sculpture Garden. Commissioned by University Museums in honor of Beverly and Warren Madden, the concert drew a large audience to the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall. This page documents the evening, including Beth Lipman's remarks to the audience, and a recording of the full performance.

This spring, University Museums presents Albert Paley: Origins, a look at the preparatory phase of artistic creation. The exhibition features a selection of objects from Paley's 50-year career, including a menagerie of zoo animals created for the St. Louis Zoo's huge Animals Always commission, completed in 2006.

When internationally acclaimed artist Beth Lipman created Hive Mind, her monumental bronze and glass sculpture celebrating Iowa State University's legacy of innovation, composer and conductor Dr. Michael Golemo heard music. On Friday, February 13, University Museums and the Department of Music and Theatre present the world premiere of Golemo's three-movement concerto inspired by Lipman's art, performed by the 60-member Iowa State University Wind Ensemble at Simon Estes Music Hall.

AMES, Iowa — University Museums at Iowa State University is opening "America 250: Prairie, Plows, and the People's College" on Feb. 2. The exhibition, on view through October 2026, explores the nation's 250th anniversary through more than 250 historical objects that parallel Iowa State's land-grant heritage and American history.

AMES, Iowa — University Museums at Iowa State University has opened "Tell Me a Story," an exhibition exploring how storytelling shapes human understanding across cultures, on Jan. 20 at the Brunnier Art Museum.

AMES, Iowa – Jan. 20, 2026 – University Museums at Iowa State University is opening Norwood Viviano’s Mapping Infrastructure / Mapping Agriculture at the Brunnier Art Museum on January 20, 2026. The exhibition, which runs through July 24, 2026, features artist Norwood Viviano's data-driven sculptures alongside the debut of the new commission for University Museums' permanent collection: two sculptures specifically designed to recognize Iowa State's legacy of agriculture and innovation.

Small Exhibition Highlights 3D Scanning and Materials Science Saving Depression-Era Legacy AMES, Iowa (December 2025) — University Museums presents "Terra Cotta Conservation in the Art on Campus Collection," an intimate exhibition in the Christian Petersen Art Museum showcasing the innovative technology and conservation science used to preserve Danish-American artist Christian Petersen's iconic terra cotta sculptures across Iowa State University's campus.

Explore all three University Museums locations in a single visit. Admission is always free, and donations are welcome. Check each museum's hours before planning your route, as schedules vary by location. You don't need to be a student to enjoy this adventure—all visitors are welcome.