Drop-In Tours: Architecture and Collection Highlights
2026-08-16 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-23 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Discover works in the collection and highlights about the Museum’s architecture during a one-hour tour with a Museum docent. Join the tour in Windhover Hall, near the Museum’s main entrance and admissions desks.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door and online.

Special Thursday Nights at MAM Featuring Lakeside Lounge
2026-08-20 16:00 - 20:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Every Thursday night, meet up with friends for an artful evening together! Wander the galleries and ease into the weekend with live music and a bar in Windhover Hall.
In addition to Thursday Nights at MAM, join us for an evening of creative summer fun at the Milwaukee Art Museum, featuring a special Lakeside Lounge on the Baumgartner Terrace (weather permitting), open from 5–7:15 p.m, generously presented by Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Enjoy the Museum’s lakeside views, sip summer-inspired cocktails, and mix and mingle before joining the Karyn Olivier Artist Talk in Lubar Auditorium.
Admission for Thursday Nights at MAM is pay-what-you-wish. A Museum ticket is needed to enter the exhibitions and collection galleries. Get yours at the admissions desk when you arrive—the amount you pay is up to you.

Special Member Mingle with Lakeside Lounge + Artist Talk
2026-08-20 17:00 - 19:15 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join us for an evening of creative summer fun at the Milwaukee Art Museum featuring a special Lakeside Lounge on the Baumgartner Terrace (weather permitting), generously presented by Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Enjoy the Museum’s lakeside views and mix and mingle before taking part in an exclusive talk with artist Karyn Olivier.
At the Artist Talk, hear about Olivier’s work in honor of Vel R. Phillips at the newly created Vel R. Phillips Plaza in downtown Milwaukee. Olivier will discuss the installation, titled I Didn’t Do It Alone, her research-based practice, and how public art can shape our understanding of history, memory, and community.
5–6 p.m. | Member Mingle in Windhover Hall with a special Lakeside Lounge on Baumgartner Terrace presented by Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
Cash bar with snacks for purchase; one complimentary beverage for Art Advocate Members and above
6:15–7:15 p.m. | Artist Talk in Lubar Auditorium
Seating is first come, first served.
RSVP for the Mingle →
Questions? Contact Membership at membership@mam.org or 414-224-3284.
Not a Member?
Join today →

Artist Talk: Karyn Olivier
2026-08-20 18:15 - 19:15 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join internationally renowned artist Karyn Olivier for a special Artist Talk about her work in honor of Vel R. Phillips at the newly created Vel R. Phillips Plaza in downtown Milwaukee. Olivier will discuss the installation, titled I Didn’t Do It Alone, her research-based practice, and how public art can shape our understanding of history, memory, and community.
The Artist Talk series welcomes emerging, mid-career, and established artists to share what it means to live creatively. Discussing motivation, medium, and technique, artists reveal how and why their work expresses their ideas and perspectives. This talk is presented in partnership with the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development, the Bronzeville Center for the Arts, and Lynden Sculpture Garden.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission. On Thursday nights from 4 to 8 p.m., admission is pay-what-you-wish at the door. Tickets purchased online in advance are full price.

About Vel Phillips
Velvalea Hortense Rodgers “Vel” Phillips (1924–2018) was a Milwaukee civil rights leader, attorney, judge, and public servant. Raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood, she became the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, the first Black person and first woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council, and Wisconsin’s first Black judge. Throughout her career, Phillips advocated for civil rights and equal opportunity, leaving a lasting impact on Milwaukee and communities across the state.

About Karyn Olivier
Karyn Olivier (b. 1968, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) lives and works in Philadelphia. Through sculpture, installation, and public art, Olivier explores history, memory, and the ways people relate to shared spaces and objects. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania; Project Row Houses, Houston; Le Murate Progetti Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy; Marso Galería, Mexico City; the Whitney Biennial 2024 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Documenta 15, Kassel, Germany; Arte in Memoria Biennale, Rome; Gwangju Biennale, South Korea; and Busan Biennale, South Korea.

Bilingual Story Time in the Galleries: Sign Language
2026-08-22 10:30 - 11:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join us in the galleries for a special Story Time with Athena Cifax, a CODA (child of deaf adults) who brings her lived experience navigating deaf and hearing worlds into her storytelling with sign language, creating an engaging and inclusive experience for young audiences. Meet in Windhover Hall near the admission desks at 10:30 a.m. and travel with the reader through the galleries. After reading the story together, create a drawing inspired by the story and artwork.
This event is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission for kids 12 and under is free. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Drop-In Tours: New to the Collection
2026-08-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join a docent-led tour to explore recent acquisitions and works on view for the first time, including Truman Lowe’s Feather Canoe, a striking sculpture made from natural materials that seems to float in motion.

Thursday Nights at MAM
2026-08-27 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-03 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-10 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-17 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-24 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-01 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-08 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-15 16:00 - 20:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Every Thursday night, meet up with friends for an artful evening together! Wander the galleries and ease into the weekend with live music and a bar in Windhover Hall.
Admission for Thursday Nights at MAM is pay-what-you-wish. A Museum ticket is needed to enter the exhibitions and collection galleries. Get yours at the admissions desk when you arrive—the amount you pay is up to you.

Story Time in the Galleries
2026-08-29 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-09-05 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-09-12 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-09-26 10:30 - 11:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Every Saturday morning, join us in the galleries to hear a story and make art together. Meet in Windhover Hall near the admission desks at 10:30 a.m. and travel with the reader through the galleries. Then, listen to a story in front of a work of art before creating an artwork inspired by what you have seen and heard.
This event is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission for kids 12 and under is free. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Gallery Talk, Outdoor Walk, and Performance
2026-08-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join us for an engaging talk, walk, and performance celebrating nature and inspired by Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings, 1770–1850. The experience features a gallery talk led by Timothy “Tim” Vargo, Southeast Wisconsin Conservation Collaborative Coordinator with the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, in the exhibition, followed by a guided walk outdoors where Vargo will make connections between exhibition themes, our local environment, and trumpeter swans! We will end our experience at the Milwaukee premiere of Swans, a free outdoor performance at the Veterans Park lagoon, created by artist Jess Bass and composer Lia Kohl, using the park’s swan pedal boats as a stage. The performance will feature wing sculptures and choreography, as well as an octet of brass players performing from the boats. This portion of the afternoon is presented by Out There, a Milwaukee-based experimental performance series curating strange sounds in unique spaces.
The experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door or online. The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its program sponsors.

Lineup
1 p.m. | Gallery talk
Start in Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings, 1770–1850, at 1:30 p.m. walk to Veterans Park for the performance
2 p.m. | Performance
Outdoor performance of Swans at Veterans Park

Story Time in the Galleries
2026-09-19 10:30 - 11:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Every Saturday morning, join us in the galleries to hear a story and make art together. Meet at the north end of Baumgartner Galleria at 10:30 a.m. and travel with the reader through the galleries. Then, listen to a story in front of a work of art before creating an artwork inspired by what you have seen and heard.
This event is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission for kids 12 and under is free. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Member Preview Day + Celebration: “The Shakers: A World in the Making”
2026-09-24 10:00 - 20:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
As a Member, enjoy early access to The Shakers: A World in the Making, a landmark exhibition about design, ideas, and how we live. Through historic objects and contemporary installations, the exhibition explores how Shakers values, craftsmanship, and innovation continue to influence the ways we live today. In the evening, join us for live music and a cash bar in Windhover Hall before a special introduction to the exhibition at 6:15 p.m. led by Shoshana Resnikoff, Demmer Curator of 20th and 21st Century Design.

Lineup
10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Member-only exhibition access
5 p.m. | Member Preview Celebration
Live music and cash bar with snacks available for purchase; one complimentary beverage for Art Advocate Members and above
6:15 p.m. | Opening talk in Lubar Auditorium
Seating is first come, first served
Let us know that you are joining the evening celebration below.
I’ll be there! →

Not a Member? Join today for access to this and other exclusive events. Call the membership team at 414-224-3284.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its exhibition sponsors.
This exhibition was organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Vitra Design Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, and the Wüstenrot Foundation, in collaboration with Shaker Museum, Chatham, New York.

Gallery Talk: “The Shakers”
2026-09-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join Shoshana Resnikoff, Demmer Curator of 20th and 21st Century Design, for a one-hour exploration of themes and topics in the exhibition The Shakers: A World in the Making.
The Shakers: A World in the Making is organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Vitra Design Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, and the Wüstenrot Foundation, in collaboration with Shaker Museum, Chatham, New York.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door or online. The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its exhibition sponsors.

Slow Art Saturday
2026-10-03 10:30 - 11:30 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Explore a single work of art from the Museum’s collection in depth with Amy Kirschke, Barbara Brown Lee Senior Director of Learning and Engagement, during this program that encourages presence and promotes well-being.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door or online.

Creatives Night
2026-10-08 17:00 - 20:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Creativity thrives in community. Join us for Creatives Night, an evening dedicated to bringing together artists, designers, makers, and creative professionals from across the region. Meet new people, exchange ideas, discover new perspectives, and celebrate the strength of Midwest’s creative industries! Enjoy live music, explore the galleries, and experience The Shakers: A World in a Making and Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings through guided tours. Grab a drink from the cash bar, purchase snacks, and take in the energy of a creative community coming together in one place.
RSVP by October 1 to community@mam.org. The first 200 RSVPs will receive a complimentary drink ticket.

Event lineup
5–8 p.m. | Live music in Windhover Hall
Cash bar with snacks for purchase
5:30–6:15 p.m. | Tour of The Shakers
6:15–6:30 p.m. | Remarks from Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director
6:45–7:30 p.m. | Tour of Seeking Revelations

The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its exhibition sponsors.

Studio Sundays: Día de los Muertos
2026-10-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Gather with family and friends to celebrate the beauty and tradition of Día de los Muertos. Spend a fun-filled afternoon together enjoying hands-on art activities and performances, adding to a community ofrenda, and more!

Member Mingle + Expert Series
2026-10-15 17:00 - 19:15 | Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Join your fellow Members in Windhover Hall for an evening of mingling and conversation. Following the Member Mingle, gather together in Lubar Auditorium for a conversation exploring the main themes in Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings, featuring the authors of the exhibition catalogue.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its exhibition sponsors.

Lineup
5–6 p.m. | Member Mingle in Windhover Hall
Cash bar with snacks for purchase; one complimentary beverage for Art Advocate Members and above
6:15-7:15 p.m. | Expert Series in Lubar Auditorium
Seating is first come, first served.
RSVP for the Mingle →

Questions? Contact membership at membership@mam.org or 414-224-3284.
Not a Member?
Join today →

Expert Series: “Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings”
2026-10-15 18:15 - 19:15 | WI
Join us for a conversation exploring the main themes in Seeking Revelation: German Romantic Prints and Drawings, featuring the authors of the exhibition catalogue. Learn more about how forest management practices, beliefs about art and religion, and travel shaped how the Romantics viewed their national identity and their relationship to nature and the divine.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Museum admission is pay-what-you-wish on Thursday nights from 4 to 8 p.m. The Milwaukee Art Museum is grateful to its exhibition sponsors.
