News, Stories and Media

The schedule continues University Museums' 50th anniversary celebration, paying homage to its conservation and preservation efforts. It celebrates the past, honors the present and looks to the next 50 years -- continuously offering programs that are free and accessible to all.

When it comes to designing art, artist Beth Lipman goes beyond simply creating. Lipman's research-driven process establishes art that not just connects to the people but the environment it resides in.

Madisyn Rostro was a University Museums intern at the Farm House Museum where she was able to try out different roles to figure out what area within the museum field was right for her. Madisyn co-curated three exhibitions, led tours, and worked closely with the collections.

The Christian Petersen Catalogue Raisonné presents a comprehensive digital record of over 1,200 known works by Christian Petersen, Iowa State University’s sculptor-in-residence from 1934 to 1955. The catalogue documents his evolution from die-cutter to fine art sculptor and highlights his enduring impact on campus through public and studio works that define Iowa State’s visual culture.

Sculpting an Icon: Christian Petersen’s Fountain of Four Seasons explores the creation, cultural significance, and enduring legacy of Petersen’s iconic sculpture. The collection includes curatorial insights, historical essays, student work, and illustrations that highlight Petersen’s contributions to Iowa State University and the wider community.

With Widgery’s fifty plus projects and over forty years of experience, Iowa State University was incredibly fortunate to have her and her team help to create both an interior and an exterior component for the Student Innovation Center. This building debuted in the fall of 2020 with intentions of being a “...bold experiment to change the face of education” as the director Jim Oliver states.

Christian Petersen: A Sense of Place in Campus Life highlights the legacy of Iowa State’s artist-in-residence from 1934 to 1955. The exhibition features sketches, models, and concept drawings that illustrate Petersen’s creation of iconic, site-specific sculptures reflecting the university’s land-grant mission and campus identity.

Visual artist and songwriter Terry Allen (b. 1943) is known internationally as a Renaissance man. With 12 albums of music and copious amounts of artwork in different mediums (drawing, sculpture, and mixed media), it made complete sense that Allen branched out with the installation of A Public Perception. This installation features eighteen neon signs stationed both inside and outside State Gymnasium on the Iowa State campus. This was the first “all neon” installation in Allen’s illustrious career.