The Fifth Muse by Norie Sato, an Art in State Buildings Project for Marston Hall. Photo by Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University.
Iowa State University is home to one of the largest campus public art programs in the United States. Over 2,500 public works of art make up the Art on Campus Collection, and are located across campus in buildings, courtyards, open spaces and classrooms. Iowa State’s public art is not required to be beautiful, but it is required to be intellectually relevant to the contemporary campus and utilized in curricula. The Art on Campus Collection and Program, formalized in 1980, includes acquisition, care and maintenance in addition to scholarship and educational programming.
Click here to to see the Summer 2022 Central Campus Scavenger Hunt of the Art on Campus Collection. Did you complete it? Let us know what you think!
Cost
The cost is free; donations are appreciated.
Hours
Indoor works of art are viewable during building hours. Outdoor works of art are viewable all hours every day.
Address
The Art on Campus Collection is located on the exterior and interior of buildings across campus at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
View Online Digital Map
View printable map (2019)
Parking
Memorial Union Parking Ramp
2229 Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa 50011
Armory – Lot 21
2519 Osborn Drive
Ames, Iowa 50011
East Campus Parking Deck
500 Wallace Road
Ames, Iowa 50011
Be part of preserving campus heritage
Celebrate and protect our remarkable Art on Campus Collection and cultural assets! Here’s how you can help:
REPORT CONDITION ISSUES OR VANDALISM: Get in touch right away if something doesn’t look right about a public work of art on campus. Call the University Museums at 515.294.3342 or email sydney21@iastate.edu.