Walker Art Center, Contemporary art museum in Lowry Hill, Minneapolis, United States
The Walker Art Center is a museum for contemporary art in Lowry Hill, Minneapolis, featuring ten gallery rooms, a cinema and several event spaces within a modernist building. The architecture connects different levels through open transitions and wide corridors that direct the view toward artworks from changing perspectives.
The institution originated in 1879 as a private gallery in the residence of lumber magnate Thomas Barlow Walker and opened officially as the Walker Art Gallery for the public in 1927. The 2005 expansion by Herzog & de Meuron added new spaces and connected the building directly to Hennepin Avenue.
The name honors Thomas Barlow Walker, whose private collection formed the foundation and who made the museum accessible to the public. Visitors find works from film, video, performance and digital art alongside traditional media, showing the range of contemporary forms of expression.
The building is fully accessible by wheelchair, so all galleries and the cinema can be reached without obstacles. Opening occurs from Tuesday through Sunday, with rooms remaining accessible until 21:00 on Thursdays.
The gray aluminum facade displays irregularly shaped panels that reflect light and shadow differently depending on the time of day. Glass transitions connect the different building sections and create visual sightlines between interior and exterior space.
Location: Minneapolis
Inception: 1927
Founders: T. B. Walker
Architects: Edward Larrabee Barnes
Official opening: 1927
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: 1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
Opening Hours: Tuesday,Wednesday,Sunday 11:00-17:00; Friday,Saturday 11:00-18:00; Thursday 11:00-21:00
Phone: +16123757600
Website: https://walkerart.org
GPS coordinates: 44.96806,-93.28861
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25
Jacques Herzog co-founded Herzog & de Meuron with Pierre de Meuron, an architecture firm that has completed projects across multiple continents. The portfolio includes museums, stadiums, residential buildings and cultural centers in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each project responds to its specific urban context with tailored architectural solutions. Completed works include the conversion of the Tate Modern in London, the National Stadium in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, and the Pérez Art Museum in Miami. The buildings feature experimental facade treatments and innovative use of materials. Herzog & de Meuron received the Pritzker Prize in 2001.
Minneapolis offers a rich mix of cultural attractions and outdoor spaces that draw visitors year-round. Art lovers can explore the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where galleries hold works spanning thousands of years, or visit the Walker Art Center to see modern and contemporary pieces. Just outside, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden displays large-scale works in the open air, including the well-known Spoonbridge and Cherry. The Weisman Art Museum, with its gleaming steel exterior designed by Frank Gehry, adds another dimension to the city's art scene. Beyond museums, the Chain of Lakes invites walking and cycling, while Minnehaha Park centers on a 53-foot (16-meter) waterfall that has drawn people to its banks for generations. Downtown, the Foshay Tower rises in Art Deco style, offering views from its observation deck, and the enclosed Skyway system connects buildings across several blocks. Theater stages like the Orpheum and Guthrie host performances throughout the year. Sports fans head to Target Field for baseball or U.S. Bank Stadium for football. The Mill City Museum, set in a former flour mill, tells the story of the industry that shaped Minneapolis, while Fort Snelling marks the military heritage of the region. Together, these places paint a full picture of a city that balances history, creativity, and the outdoors.
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