
August 28, 2025
Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
“The Des Moines Art Center is an art museum with an extensive collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art and mixed media. It was established in 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa.” - Wikipedia
I took advantage of some free time to visit the Des Moines Art Center. I’ve visited the museum a few times, the last in 2023 when part of the museum was being remodeled. I’ve always enjoyed my visits.
There were three specials exhibits, the first featuring the works of Firelei Baez, the second featuring Iowa artist, Ben Millett, and the third featuring Haitian art in Iowa. I’m not an art critic and therefore will not delve into whether I liked or didn’t like each exhibition. That said, I can usually find something I like at any art museum/exhibit.
I do need to keep track of current exhibitions and not wait two years to visit this nice museum again.
Des Moines Art Center
Untitled (Market Scene with Madan Sara); 1990-2000; Ezene Domond; Oil on Canvas; Part of the Haitian Artists in Iowa Exhibit.
Bridge in Snow; 1894; Childe Hassam; Oil on Canvas.
In the Spring; ca. 1905; Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones; Oil on Canvas
Untitled (United States Marine Hospital); 2019; Firelei Baez; Oil, acrylic, inkjet, and salt on canvas. Part of special exhibition.
Man Without a Country; 2014-15; Firelei Baez; Gouache, ink, and chine-colle on 225 deaccessioned book pages; Part of the special exhibition.
Part of the special exhibition by Firelei Baez.
Part of the special exhibition by Firelei Baez.
On Rest and Resistance, Because We Love You (To All Those Stolen From Among Us); 2020; Firelei Baez; Oil and acrylic on canvas; part of the special exhibition.
Untitled; 2022; Firelei Baez; Oil, acrylic, and inkjet on canvas; part of the special exhibition.
(Once We Have Torn Shit Down, We Will Inevitably See More and See Differently and Feel a New Sense of Wanting and Being and Becoming); 2014; Firelei Baez; Acrylic, gouache, muslin, and plywood; part of the special exhibition.
Linyon (Las Fuerzas Opresivas Del Pasado Se Vuelven Fragiles Y Debilitadas); 2024; Firelei Baez; Oil, acrylic, acrylic polymer, and inkjet on canvas; part of the special exhibition.
Basin; 2012; El Anatsui; Found aluminum and copper wire.
Summer No. 2; 1957; Sam Francis; Oil on Canvas.
Wall Drawing #601, Forms Derived From a Cube (25 Variations); 1989; Sol LeWitt; Color in wash.
The Great Pyramid; 1969; Roy Lichtenstein; Oil and magna on canvas.
Yellow Blue; 1963; Ellsworth Kelly; Oil on Canvas.
Red Screamer; 1966; Gene Davis; Acrylic on canvas.
Brick Blossom; 1981; Charles Simonds; Clay, sand, and sticks.
Klown; 1978; Robert Arneson, Glazed ceramic.
Between; 1985; Joan Mitchell; Oil on Canvas.
Holy Red; 1960; Alexander Calder; Painted sheet metal and steel wire.
Not Everyone Wears a Rainbow; 2023; Ben Millett; Cotton fabric, batting, and thread; quilted by machine. Part of the special exhibition.
Spinning Into Control; 2019; Ben Millett; Cotton fabric and batting, poly thread; part of the special exhibition.
If I Had Said Yes; 2025; Ben Millett; Cotton fabric, batting, and thread; quilted by machine and hand; part of the special exhibition.
Say Gay!; 2023; Ben Millett; Cotton fabric, wool batting, poly thread; quilted by machine; part of the special exhibition.
Quilted coats by Ben Millett. Part of the special exhibition.
Ode to Ellsworth -1 and Ode to Ellsworth 1; 2024; Ben Millett; Cotton fabric, batting, and thread; quilted by machine and hand; part of the special exhibition.
Untitled; 1987-88; Anselm Kiefer; Oil, acrylic, emulsion, ash, lead objects, ballet shoes, and treated lead pieces on canvas.
Ada's Garden; 2000; Alex Katz; Oil on canvas.