Ten Distinct Galleries. One Amazing Experience.
Temporary Exhibitions
The Dennos Museum Center regularly presents new temporary exhibitions every 2-4 months, seeking to engage, entertain, and enlighten our campus and community audiences. No two visits are ever the same!
a growing legacy: recent inuit art acquisitions
NOVEMBER 4, 2022 — JUNE 1, 2023
The Dennos Museum Center’s Inuit art collection contains more than 2,000 works, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in the United States. We hope you enjoy this special selection of recent additions to the permanent art collection.
Teresa Dunn: us
JANUARY 21, 2023 — MAY 28, 2023
Teresa Dunn's recent narrative painting series brings voice to stories that people of color, individuals with complex cultural identities, and immigrants shared with her about their daily experience in America.
Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women
JANUARY 21, 2023 — MAY 19, 2023
This exhibition celebrates some of the critical roles Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo women fulfill in their families, their communities, the art world, and beyond. Rooted in contemporary and historical artworks, this traveling exhibition explores themes like mothering, making, art world success, spirituality, and continuity in visual culture across generations.
A RICH HISTORY: AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS FROM THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART
JANUARY 21, 2023 — APRIL 2, 2023
A Rich History highlights the growing legacy of important African American artists from the Muskegon Museum of Art's permanent art collection. Featuring over 75 years of artistic excellence and tradition, the collection ranges from abstraction and cubism to narrative painting and portraiture.
Ahavani Mullen: Across Centuries and the Earth
February 22 — May 14, 2023
In these four large-scale paintings, Mullen explores the ways in which subtle, ephemeral vibrations can be given form on a canvas, using energetically-charged paint to create fields of color, light, and texture.
Permanent Exhibitions
In addition to temporary galleries, the Dennos Museum Center curates six distinct permanent collection galleries with something for everyone to enjoy. From modern and contemporary Inuit art to the popular hands-on discovery gallery for children, bring your friends and family or enjoy a quiet moment in the galleries.
BARBARA AND DUDLEY SMITH WING FOR INUIT ART &
POWER FAMILY INUIT GALLERY
Since 1991, the Dennos Museum Center's core collection of Inuit art has been on permanent exhibit. The Power Family Inuit Gallery, named in 1995 for their generous support of Inuit art and the Dennos Museum Center's collection, has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to view, explore, and discuss contemporary Inuit art. With the opening of the Barbara & Dudley Smith Wing for Inuit Art in 2018, this unique collection of over 1,600 objects has additional capacity for exhibition, education, and programs.
DIANA AND RICHARD MILOCK WING
EUGENE A. JENNEMAN GALLERY
JANIS FAMILY PROMENADE
Thanks to a generous lead gift from Diana and Richard Milock, the Dennos Museum Center dedicated an additional 10,000 square feet of semi-permanent exhibition space in spring 2018. These galleries see selected rotations several times a year, drawn from a permanent collection of over 1,500 artworks by regional, national, and international artists.
THOMAS A. RUTKOWSKI DISCOVERY GALLERY
The Dennos Museum Center's 2,000 square foot Thomas A. Rutkowski Discovery Gallery offers over a dozen "hands-on" interactives related to the arts and sciences for children and adults. From a laser harp and a sound wall to a giant lightbright board, the gallery offers something for kids of all ages. The recent re-installation of the Gallery in 2018 focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM).
ZIMMERMAN SCULPTURE COURT
A beautiful sunken courtyard space centrally located in the museum, the Zimmerman sculpture court hosts art installations, highlights from the permanent collection, and event rentals and receptions.
Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Spread throughout the campuses of Northwestern Michigan College, the Dennos Museum Center's outdoor sculpture collection provides visitors with an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and enjoy 14 outdoor sculptures in beautiful Traverse City.
Traverse City Art Banner Project
The Traverse City Art Banner Project was the brainchild of former NMC Art Department Chair Paul Welch. These reproduction banners feature artwork by regional artists, former NMC art students, and the Dennos Museum Center permanent collections.
The project was supported by private donors who provide funding for printing and installation. Services provided by Britten Studios.
View Traverse City Art Banner Project locations in a larger map.
Support provided by:
