Campus Treasures

There once was a time when to see the great art of the world, one would need to travel a distance or stay head down in a book. But today, some of America’s universities are bringing original, renowned artwork closer to college students and communities than ever before—right to the heart of campus. University museums have rich histories and reasons for being, and each one boasts its own onsite masterpieces and awe-inspiring design. From SMU’s ode to Spanish art to IU Bloomington’s extensive collection, here are four campus art museums to discover now.

1. The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

Indiana University, Bloomington

The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, Bloomington

Centrally located on the Indiana University campus, The Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art displays more than 47,000 pieces of artwork spanning the world and centuries. Celebrated architect I.M. Pei designed the museum’s building, which features striking geometric and modernist details emblematic of Pei’s other projects (including the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and The Louvre’s glass pyramid entrance).

Today, the museum serves as a teaching and learning hub for students and faculty, with four new learning centers and frequent visits from K-12 students throughout Southern Indiana. Visitors particularly enjoy the ancient jewelry collection and The Arts of Africa gallery, along with pieces from famed names like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Kay Sage. Be sure to check their calendar for robust programming.

2. The University of Arizona Museum of Art

The University of Arizona, Tucson

The University of Arizona Museum of Art at The University of Arizona, Tucson

The origins of this museum’s permanent collection date back to 1942, when University of Arizona student Charles Leonard Pfeiffer sold his valuable stamp collection to purchase 100 artworks for the school. The art collection soon grew with several donated works from the Kress Foundation, and shortly thereafter, construction began on a dedicated art building. Today that building resides on campus in the “Arts Oasis,” surrounded by the College of Fine Arts schools of Music; Theater, Film & Television; and Art, along with the Marroney and Tornabene Theatres.

The museum’s permanent collection features masterpieces across time periods and artistic styles, including highlights like The Altarpiece from Ciudad Rodrigo, Edward Hopper’s The City, and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Red Canna. Every summer the museum hosts its Vault Show, rotating permanent collection works for viewing, and this year’s theme—”BIG/little”—ensures a fun display of scale. This fall is another great time to visit—The Art of Performance is an exhibit celebrating art across the genres of dance, music, and theater.

3. McMullen Museum of Art

Boston College

McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Brighton Campus

Opened as the Boston College Museum of Art in 1993, this museum was renamed the McMullen Museum of Art in 1996 in recognition of benefactors John and Jacqueline McMullen. Housed in the former residence of the cardinal of the Archdiocese of Boston, the 23,000-square-foot Renaissance Revival building today features a 7,000-square-foot glass atrium, a large roof terrace, and three gallery spaces, including an open-plan sculpture gallery.

New McMullen Museum spaces at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue, on Brighton Campus.

It all serves as the site for cultural enrichment and as a continuous channel for education—the museum has produced more than eighty-five exhibitions and published over fifty-five catalogues to date, curated and edited by a faculty team in collaboration with scholars from around the world. Notable displays include John La Farge’s 1889 stained glass triptych of St. John the Evangelist, Christ Preaching, and St. Paul at the museum’s entrance; nineteenth-century American landscapes; twentieth-century photography; Old Master paintings, and more.

4. Meadows Museum

Southern Methodist University, Dallas

Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, Dallas

This museum, opened in 1965, is the leading U.S. institution centered on the study and presentation of the art of Spain, serving as one of the most comprehensive displays of Spanish art outside of Spain. The collection features works from the 10th to the 21st centuries, including medieval objects, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures, and paintings by major artists, such as Joan Miró (Queen Louise of Prussia), Pablo Picasso (Still Life in a Landscape), and Salvadore Dalí (The Fish Man). Now in its own 66,000 square foot building at the entrance to campus, the museum serves as a prominent welcome to university visitors—especially with its outdoor plaza and sculpture garden.

Designed by Dallas-based Swiss architect Thomas Krähenbühl, the plaza features four overlooks at which to enjoy the sculptures. Those works include Sho, a 13-foot sculpture by contemporary Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, and Santiago Calatrava’s moving sculpture Wave, one of the most photographed sites on campus. In 2021 the museum team established The Custard Institute for Spanish Art and Culture, helping to build on the museum’s academic engagement through lectures, programs, and research support via travel grants and fellowships.

This story appears in One Adventures Issue: 12, Berkley One’s digital magazine celebrating creators, experiences and stories. Read the issue here.

Want even more One Adventures? Read our other issues: Issue 01; Issue 02; Issue 03; Issue 04; Issue 05; Issue 06; Issue 07; Issue 08; Issue 09; Issue 10; Issue 11; Issue 12

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