The following list is a selection of past exhibitions presented by University Museums beginning with the most recent and ending with the inaugural exhibitions in 1975. For additional information about any of these exhibitions or to inquire about exhibitions not listed, please contact Lynette Pohlman, director and chief curator.
If no parenthetical location follows the exhibition title, the exhibition was held in the Brunnier Art Museum. Acronyms used in parentheses indicate alternative museum locations: CPAM (Christian Petersen Art Museum), ASG (Anderson Sculpture Garden), FHM (Farm House Museum).
| Exhibition title | Exhibition dates |
|---|---|
| George Washington Carver | Jan. - July 2024 |
| Tom Stancliffe | August - December 2023 |
| Telling Tales: Exploring Narrative Art in the Permanent Collection | January 17 to July 23, 2023 |
| Reflections of Iowa: The History of Iowa Questers through Glass | August 24, 2022 to July 23, 2023 |
| Harriet Bart: Material Alchemy (CPAM) Gallery Guide | January 25 to July 21, 2023 |
| Joyce J. Scott: Messages | January 17 to May 14, 2023 |
| John Buck: Prints and Sculptures from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation | August 24 to December 18, 2022 |
| Altered Landscapes | August 24, to December 18, 2022 |
| Double Take: Insights on Figural Expression (CPAM) Gallery Guide | August 22 - December 16, 2022 |
| All the Evils... Christian Petersen and the Art of War (CPAM) | January 18 to December 16, 2022 |
| From Time Immemorial: Art as Commemoration (CPAM) | August 2020 to December 2022 |
| Arts and Craftsman: Simplicity, Honesty, and Truth to Materials (FHM) | January 31 to October 31, 2022 |
| Collecting Craft: Studio and Contemporary Makers from the Permanent Collection | January 19 - July 22, 2022 |
| Julie W Chang: Vibrant Matter (CPAM) Gallery Guide | January 18 - July 22, 2022 |
| Ginnever: Transforming Perspectives (ASG) | March 2020 - July 2022 |
| Studio to Contemporary Glass: 1960s to Today | September 7, 2021 - July 1, 2022 |
| Ginnever: Folded Forms (CPAM) | August 23 - December 17, 2021 |
| Arte Cubano | August 25 - November 21, 2021 |
| Flicker and Flame: Whale Oil and Kerosene Lamps (FHM) | February 8 - October 29, 2021 |
| Perceptions of Identity: Paintings by Rose Frantzen (CPAM) Gallery Guide | January 25 - July 30, 2021 |
| Compelling Ground: Landscapes, Environments, and Peoples of Iowa | January 25 - July 23, 2021 |
| Creating Global Understanding: World Languages and Cultures and University Museums (CPAM) Gallery Guide | January 13 - July 31, 2020 |
| Artists in Iowa: The First Century | September 19 - December 22, 2019 |
| Force of Nature: The Art of Susan Chrysler White (CPAM) | August 26 - December 19, 2019 |
| Timeless: Love and Romance in the Victorian Era (FHM) | January 16 - November 1, 2019 |
| Designed for a Modern Life (CPAM) | October 25, 2018 - June 28, 2019 |
| Unpacked: Refugee Baggage (CPAM) | September 4 - October 19, 2018 |
| In Focus: Daguerreotypes, Tintypes and Photographs from the Farm House Museum Collection (FHM) | January 16 - October 31, 2018 |
| Manuel Neri: Ambiguity, Mystery And Allure (CPAM) | January 8 - May 18, 2018 |
| Face Value: Portraits of Leaders (CPAM) | March 19 - 28, 2018 |
| Amy N. Worthen: The World in Perspective, Prints & Drawings | August 22-December 17, 2017 |
| GAME ART VS. ART GAME (CPAM) | August 21-December 15, 2017 |
| Parallels: The Architecture of Impermanence | January 17-July 30, 2017 |
| Creative by Nature: The Bohan Collection of Inuit Art | January 17-July 30, 2017 |
| Elements of Wonder: The Public Art of Norie Sato (CPAM) Gallery Guide | August 22 - December 16, 2016 |
| Memories from the Fields: The Landscapes of Gary Ernest Smith Gallery Guide | August 23, 2016 – January 6, 2017 |
| (Re)discovering S(h)elves (CPAM) Gallery Guide | August 24 -December 18, 2015 |
| From Dawn to Dusk: Paintings by Gary Bowling Gallery Guide | January 12 – July 31, 2016 |
| 40/40 Gallery Guide | August 25, 2015 –December 19, 2015 |
| Gwynn Murrill Sculptures: A Walk on the Wild Side (ASG) | July, 2014 - July 24, 2016 |
| Coherence: An Immersive Laser Installation by Dan Corson (CPAM) Gallery Guide | March 2 -May 29, 2015 |
| Ever Changing Land: The Art of Ellen Wagener | January 12 -July 31, 2015 |
| Beauty Through Experiment: The Ceramics of Wedgwood | August 26, 2014 –July 31, 2015 |
| In Pursuit of Wildlife Conservation: The Art of Jay N. Darling and Maynard Reece | August 27 -March 21, 2014 |
Illuminating Perception Explorations of Light and Shadow by Mac Adams (CPAM) Gallery Guide | October 24, 2013 -August 1, 2014 |
| Cabinet of Curiosities (CPAM) | August 20-May 2013 |
| Post-Pop Redux: Material Based Art by Andy Magee (CPAM) | August 20,2012- April 24, 2013 |
| HOT/COOL: Contemporary Studio Glass Sculpture from the Permanent Collection | August 22, 2012-May 5, 2013 |
| Terry Allen: Public Art Studies from Notebooks (CPAM) | January 9-May 4, 2012 |
| Realitès: The Lyric Sculpture of William King (ASG) Gallery Guide | August 24, 2010-July, 2012 |
| All the Evils: Christian Petersen and the Art of War (CPAM) | August 24-February 26, 2010 |
| Witness to Waste: The Prints of Jay N. Darling | January 12-August 6, 2010 |
| Polyphonic Abstraction: Paintings and Maquettes by Bill Barrett (CPAM) Gallery Guide | January 11-August 6, 2010 |
| Priscilla Sage: Fifty Years of Sculpting, 1958-2008 | August 26, 2008-January 5, 2009 |
| Morrill Act of July 2, 1862: Land Grant Act and the People’s College (CPAM) | March 22-April 27, 2008 |
| Albert Paley: Portals and Gates (BAM, CPAM & Hometown Perry, Iowa) | August 20, 2007-March 9, 2008 |
| Christian Petersen: Urban Artist, 1900-1933 (CPAM) | March 22-August 8, 2007 |
Rodin: In His Own Words Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation | January 9 - April 29, 2007 |
| When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Follow: Grant Wood and Christian Petersen Murals | September 12-November 27, 2006 |
| Obsessed: Images of Weather | August 22 - January 3, 2007 |
| Grant Wood's Main Street | January 13-August 7, 2004 |
| The Age of Brilliance | April 4-August 9, 2003 |
| (art)n Virtual Visions: Three Decades of Collaboration | October 24, 2002-January 5,2003 |
| An Eye for Life: John Bloom Retrospective | August 27, 2002-January 5, 2003 |
| The Public Works of Art Project in Iowa | August 28-November 25, 2001 |
| The Stonewares of Charles Fergus Binns: Father of American Studio Ceramics | August 22-October 8, 2000 |
| Christian Petersen, Sculptor | August 22- December 31, 2000 |
| Land of Fragile Giants (Washington D.C. - Capital & US Dept of Interior Museum) | 1999 - 2000 |
| in a man’s brain: images of women | September 6, 1997-January 4, 1998 |
| N.C. Wyeth: What’s Your Point of View? | May 9-August 13, 1997 |
The Mural Studio The University Mural, Unlimited Possibilities Ames High School Mural, Proof of Our Presence An exhibition that documented the process of creating a major public work of art on campus | August 27-December 12, 1996 |
Land of the Fragile Giants: Landscapes, Environments and Peoples of the Loess Hills | August 22, 1995 - January 5, 1996 |
| Interpretations of the Interpretations: Photographic Explorations by King Au of Iowa State University's Art on Campus Collection | March 30 - August 13, 1995 |
| Clearly Art: Pilchuck's Glass Legacy | September 3-October 30, 1994 |
| Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora Mace: Recent Sculpture | April 15-October 20, 1993 |
| Centuries of Fascination: Art about Livestock | July 24-October 25, 1990 |
| People: Sculptures by William King | April 27-July 15, 1990 |
| Stephen Proctor: For the Gathering of Light | April 25-August 4, 1989 |
| Perspectives: Josh Simpson: Planets and Tektites | May 10 - July 29, 1988 |
| Perspectives: Emiko Higo | April 25 - August 9, 1987 |
| Comparisons and Contrasts: Five Contemporary Studio Glass Artists | January 16 - March 1, 1987 |
Images of the Universe: The Artist's Vision Dual exhibitions that were shown together and toured internationally | May 1 - July 27, 1986 |
Images of the Universe: The Scientist's View Dual exhibitions that were shown together and toured internationally | May 1 - July 27, 1986 |
Iowa State Art Pottery: 1919-1930 First major exhibition of the art pottery of Iowa State College | March 1 - April 27, 1986 |
Newcomb Pottery: An Enterprise for Southern Women: 1895-1940 Major art pottery exhibition in conjunction with the exhibition of Iowa State College art pottery | March 1 - April 27, 1986 |
| Dale Chihuly: A Decade in Glass | February 9 - March 23, 1986 |
Harvey K. Littleton: A Retrospective Exhibition Exhibition of the father of the studio glass movement that toured through five US museums | February 10 - April 7, 1985 |
Building Brooklyn Bridge: The Design and Construction,1867-1883 Exhibition highlighting the art, technology, and science of suspension bridge design, in homage to the career of Henry Brunnier | December 1, 1984 - January 13, 1985 |
American Porcelain Nationally touring exhibition of ceramic artists from around the United States | October 7 - November 15, 1981 |
| I Wear the Morning Star | September 8-October 2, 1977 |
Australian Aboriginal Art International exhibition hosted at the Brunnier Art Museum (then Brunnier Gallery), Phoenix Art Museum, and the Australian Embassy in Washington DC | November 2-28, 1976 |
Grant Wood and Marvin Cone Early retrospective exhibition of Grant Wood and Marvin Cone, friends and artists both from Cedar Rapids, IA | May 8-30, 1976 |
Selections from the Ann and Henry Brunnier Permanent Collection One of four inaugural exhibitions at the opening of the Brunnier Gallery | September 19, 1975-Janary 24, 1976 |
American Artists of the Western Frontier One of four inaugural exhibitions at the opening of the Brunnier Gallery | September 19-October 30, 1975 |
Selections from J.W. Fisher Collection One of four inaugural exhibitions at the opening of the Brunnier Gallery | September 19-October 30, 1975 |
Clarence Carter One of four inaugural exhibitions at the opening of the Brunnier Gallery | September 19-November 2, 1975 |