Walker Art Center Tours

Visit Walker Art Center to see work by Warhol, Picasso, Moore and many other world-renowned artists, alongside many lesser known but equally intriguing works of art. Outside you may recognize the spoon bridge with cherry-shaped fountain that appears in so many travel brochures about the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. This eye-catching structure is part of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden on the same grounds.

The Walker Art Center came from humble beginnings in 1927 when a local lumber baron opened a room of his house to the public to show his favorite paintings. His name was Thomas Walker. From the 1940s the focus of the museum shifted to modern visual art.

More than 600,000 people per year visit the 17-acre (seven-hectare) complex, with parks, art center and sculpture garden. After browsing the famous paintings, enjoy some more unusual works at the museum’s special selection of fringe art. See draft versions of finished artworks at the Visual Arts Study Collection. 

Moving-image art, which is an art form that includes film, digital animations and new media, is strongly represented as well. The Ruben/Bentson Film and Video Study Collection maintains nearly 900 productions, from the old silent films to post-World War II American experimental films, among others. Full film screenings are common during the day, or come back at night to watch performance art in dance, theater and music.

The Walker Art Center is near downtown Minneapolis. The center is open daily and Thursday nights, but is closed Mondays. Gallery admission is free for children under 18 and on the first Saturday of each month for everyone. This is when activities are organized, including art classes and films aimed at younger children and their parents. Download a free audio guide to your cell phone, or join a free gallery or sculpture garden tour on the weekends.