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!
NMC Student Art Exhibition
April 11 — May 25, 2025
The NMC Art Department is pleased to announce an expanded student show this year, with juried work from both Northwestern Michigan College students along with selected artwork from regional high school students.
2025 Northwest Michigan Regional Juried Exhibition
January 24 — May 25, 2025
The Dennos Museum Center invites artists in Northwest Michigan to submit up to two (2) artworks to be juried for the 2025 Northwest Michigan Regional Juried Exhibition. Held regularly at the Museum for over 30 years, the exhibition features artwork made by regional artists over the last year and juried by an arts professional outside of the region.
Small Expressions
January 24 — May 25, 2025
Small Expressions is an annual juried exhibition showcasing contemporary small-scale works using fiber techniques in any media. Small in scale but visually compelling, the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) Small Expressions exhibit features work that speaks to the intricacy of expression, intimacy of design, thoughtful communication, and visual excitement.
A style all our own: canadian woodland artists
September 27, 2024 — May 25, 2025
In the early 1960s, young Indigenous artists from the Great Lakes region created a unique style of painting known as the Woodland School of Art. Early members of this prolific art community included Norval Morrisseau, Carl Ray, Roy Thomas, Sam Ash, Jackson Beardy, and Daphne Odjig. Perhaps the best-known of the group is Norval Morrisseau, who is often referred to as the “Father of the Woodland School.”
This current exhibition features almost half of the entire Woodland print collection originally exhibited and purchased by NMC in the mid-1970s.
Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection
September 27, 2024 — September 28, 2025
On display is an exceptionally engaging array of works by contemporary Japanese ceramic artists, a sampler of the great diversity of styles, forms, glazes, and ages, some functional, some sculptural, some traditional and some avant-garde. The appeal of these works is unmistakable to everyone from first-time visitors to ceramic artists - and children too.
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).
AUDIO DESCRIPTIONS
Dinosaur by William Allen
Friends of the Triassic by Brianne Farley
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.
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