MOWA is a different kind of museum. We believe that where we live is important and we are passionate about Wisconsin. Everything we exhibit and talk about has been made by an artist with deep connections to the state. With a vital focus on contemporary and emerging art, the museum is home to a growing collection and an array of programs that are fast becoming a national model for the exploration of regional identity or, as we like to say, “the art of place.”
The museum’s primary venue which opened in 2013 rests along the Milwaukee River in downtown West Bend.
The museum satellite MOWA | DTN opened in 2019 in Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel in downtown Milwaukee’s cultural district. Exhibitions of new and emerging art have helped make the Saint Kate one of the most dynamic and highly rated hotels in the Midwest.