Figge Art Museum

Figge Art Museum is a premier art museum located in Davenport, Iowa, overlooking the Mississippi River. The museum is named after Stephen Vincent Benét's friend, Margaret Davenport, and Daniel Figge, a John Deere executive, who donated generously to the museum. It is situated near the River Music Experience and the Quad City Botanical Center, making it a part of the vibrant Quad Cities cultural scene, which includes Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. The museum's collection and exhibitions have been influenced by the works of renowned artists such as Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, and John Steuart Curry, who were associated with the Regionalist art movement.

● History

The Figge Art Museum was established in 1925 as the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery, with a collection of American art and European art donated by Charles Francis Anthes and Violet Anthes. Over the years, the museum has undergone several transformations, including a major renovation in 2005, which was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council. The museum's history is also closely tied to the Quad Cities community, with notable supporters including John Deere, Alcoa, and the Riverboat Development Authority. The museum has hosted exhibitions featuring the works of famous artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt, who were associated with the Impressionist movement.

● Collections

The Figge Art Museum's collection includes over 4,000 works of art, spanning from the 19th century to the present, with a focus on American art, European art, and Ceramic art. The collection features works by notable artists such as Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry, Marvin Cone, and Nan Wood Graham, who were associated with the Regionalist art movement. The museum also has an extensive collection of Ceramic art, including works by Maria Martinez, Helen Frankenthaler, and Peter Voulkos, who were influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement. Additionally, the museum's collection includes works by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco, who were associated with the Mexican Muralism movement.

● Architecture

The Figge Art Museum's building was designed by David Chipperfield and opened in 2005, featuring a stunning glass and steel design that overlooks the Mississippi River. The building's design was influenced by the works of famous architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, who were associated with the Modernist architecture movement. The museum's architecture has been recognized with several awards, including the American Institute of Architects' Honor Award and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Preservation Award. The building's design has also been compared to other notable buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

● Exhibitions

The Figge Art Museum hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, featuring works from its permanent collection as well as traveling exhibitions from other museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum has hosted exhibitions featuring the works of famous artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Braque, who were associated with the Post-Impressionist movement. The museum has also hosted exhibitions featuring the works of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns, who were associated with the Pop Art movement. Additionally, the museum has hosted exhibitions featuring the works of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco, who were associated with the Mexican Muralism movement.

● Education

The Figge Art Museum offers a variety of educational programs for adults and children, including art classes, workshops, and lectures. The museum's education programs are designed to promote art appreciation and art education, and are supported by organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council. The museum also partners with local schools and universities, including Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, and the University of Iowa, to provide art education and cultural enrichment programs. The museum's education programs have been recognized with several awards, including the American Alliance of Museums' Excellence in Education Award and the National Art Education Association's Distinguished Service Award.