MAM Events

Story Time in the Galleries
2026-02-07 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-14 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-21 10:30 - 11:00, 2026-02-28 10:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Sponsored by
Four-Four Foundation
Anonymous donor

Drop-In Art Making: Kohl’s Art Studio
2026-02-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-14 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-20 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-21 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-22 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-27 10:00 - 16:00 and 2 more dates
Drop in for family art-making activities inspired by the Museum’s collection and exhibitions. The studio project changes each month to highlight new mediums and techniques.
Access to the Kohl’s Art Studio is included with Museum admission, which is free for kids 12 and under. Admission tickets are available at the door or online.

Support by

Drop-In Tours: Architecture and Collection Highlights
2026-02-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-01 14:00 - 15:00
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.

Event Showcase
2026-02-10 16:00 - 20:00
Discover what’s possible when you host your event at one of Milwaukee’s most iconic venues!
Join us for an exclusive showcase at the Milwaukee Art Museum and explore our stunning event spaces; perfect for weddings, corporate gatherings, and milestone celebrations. Meet top local vendors, sample curated bites, and experience inspired room setups that will spark your ideas for your next event. Our talented events team will be on hand to help you envision how your celebration can come to life at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Register now →

Free Day + Celebration!
2026-02-12 10:00 - 20:00
Love is in the air—and in the galleries! Bring your valentine, galentine, or palentine for a day of free admission, creative activities, and heart-filled fun. Celebrate love in all its forms: love of art, love of culture, love of history, and love of being together.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin.

Play Date with Art: Small and Big
2026-02-13 10:00 - 12:00
Make big things small and small things big with us during February’s Play Date with Art! Experience creativity on a new scale and learn about artists like Claes Oldenburg who turned everyday objects into monumental works of art. Then join in the sing-alongs at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. This monthly program is designed especially for visitors ages five and under (with an adult).
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Kids 12 and under always receive free admission, thanks to an anonymous donor. Tickets are available at the door or online.

Sponsored by
Four-Four Foundation
Anonymous donor

Slow Art Saturday
2026-02-14 10:30 - 11:30
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.

Open with Special Hours
2026-02-16 10:00 - 17:00
Visit the Museum during special hours to explore the galleries, recharge in the café, and treat yourself in the store. Don’t forget, admission is always free for kids 12 and under, thanks to an anonymous donor.

See what’s on →

Exhibition Preview Luncheon
2026-02-17 11:30 - 13:30
Join Dr. Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director, and the Museum’s curators for a special luncheon as they present a sneak peak of the upcoming exhibitions opening at the Milwaukee Art Museum in the year ahead.
RSVP by Tuesday, February 3, at rsvp@mam.org or 414-224-3259. Not a Benefactor level Member? Join today or upgrade your membership for access to this and other exclusive events. Call the membership team at 414-224-3284.

Image: Carl Wilhelm Kolbe the Elder (German, 1759–1835), Cow in the Reeds (Die Kuh im Schilfe) (detail), ca. 1800/03. Etching. Plate: 11 15/16 × 16 1/2 in. (30.32 × 41.91 cm); sheet: 16 15/16 × 22 13/16 in. (43.02 × 57.94 cm). Purchase, René von Schleinitz Memorial Fund M2001.171. Photo by John R. Glembin

Thursday Nights at MAM
2026-02-19 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-26 16:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-05 16:00 - 20:00
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.

MAM After Dark: Hearts on Fire
2026-02-20 19:00 - 23:00
Turn up the heat at MAM After Dark: Hearts on Fire—a high-energy evening where expression meets the dance floor. Let the pulse of live salsa music spark your moves as the museum transforms into a vibrant celebration of art, rhythm, romance, and connection. New to salsa? We’ve got you covered with guided instruction to get you moving like a pro in no time. Between songs, wander the galleries, create your own work of art with local Artist Francesca Mason, and soak in the electric atmosphere—this is After Dark at its most fiery.
Looking for a VIP experience? Elevate your night by becoming a Museum Member! Members receive discounted tickets and access to a private lounge with Member only entertainment and experiences.
Dress to impress with bold colors and romantic flair. If it makes your heart race, it’s perfect for the night.

Event lineup
7–8 PM | Orquesta Ayala salsa band
7–11 PM | Art-making activity with artist Francesca Mason
8–8:30 PM | Salsa dance performance and instruction
8:30–9:15 PM | Orquesta Ayala salsa band
9:15–9:45 PM | Dance performance and instruction
9:45–11 PM | Orquesta Ayala salsa band
Member exclusives include Member lounge access and cocktail tasting.
Buy tickets →

Presenting sponsor

Media sponsor

Artist Talk: Willie Cole
2026-02-26 18:15 - 19:15
Join us for the next event in our Artist Talk series, featuring the dynamic American sculptor, printmaker, designer, perceptual engineer, and visual artist Willie Cole. In this compelling talk, Cole will share how he transforms everyday found objects into powerful works of art, drawing inspiration from traditional African imagery and cultural references.
This drop-in experience is included with Museum admission and is free for Members. Admission tickets are available at the door or online.

About the artist
Willie Cole is an acclaimed artist known for transforming everyday objects like irons, shoes, and bicycle parts into striking sculptures and installations. His work explores themes of consumer culture, heritage, and identity, blending influences from African American imagery, Dada, and pop culture. A signature element in his art is the steam iron, symbolizing both creativity and cultural history.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Cole studied fine arts in New York and Boston and has received prestigious awards, including the David C. Driskell Prize. His work is featured in the Milwaukee Art Museum’s collection and in major museums worldwide, such as MoMA, the Whitney, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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 will reveal how and why their work expresses their emotions and ideas.

Program sponsors
Milwaukee Art Museum’s African American Art Alliance
Image: Willie Cole (American, b. 1955), Domestic Dancers (detail), 1998. Scorches on canvas. 76 × 73 1/2 in. (193.04 × 186.69 cm). Gift of the African American Art Alliance with additional support from Delta Memorial Endowment Fund, Inc. of the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and LaMarr and Lynda J. Franklin M1999.1. Photo by Larry Sanders. © Willie Cole

Coffee with the Director
2026-03-05 14:00 - 15:00
Meet Dr. Kim Sajet, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director, and learn more about her vision for the Museum’s exciting next chapter.
RSVP by Tuesday, February 19, at rsvp@mam.org or 414-224-3259. Not a Benefactor level Member? Join today or upgrade your membership for access to this and other exclusive events. Call the membership team at 414-224-3284.

Image: Photo by Kat Schleicher
