Experience Thousands of Years of History Through Art at Minneapolis Institute of Art

 

Minneapolis Institute of Art Invites an Exploration Through the World and History with Art

Minneapolis Institute of Art holds a vast and fascinating collection of art reaching back thousands of years. Our recent visit introduced us to incredible pieces within the museum's collection as we meander through exhibits threaded throughout the museum's three floors. Mia is full of so many treasures to behold easily inspiring repeat visits to explore more.

Mia's impressive African Art collection introduces visitors to a wide range of sculptures, instruments, ceremonial pieces, and more.

Exhibits seamlessly wind visitors through the ages reflecting on an intriguing array of cultures and their art. We began our journey wandering through a first floor special exhibit before spending quite a bit of time in the second floor galleries. We especially admired the collection of African Art on the second floor. The collection was rich with sculptures, headpieces, beadwork, ceremonial items, instruments including drums and gongs, and so much more.

Bronze and earthenware horses from China spoke to us through the ages in this Mia exhibit.

In addition to African Art, the second floor also unveiled an extensive collection of Asian Art. I was delighted to see some of my favorite pieces -- bronze and earthenware horses crafted in China. Absolutely stunning and just think of all of the ages these pieces have been around. Additionally, we enjoyed a gallery displaying Japanese scrolls exhibiting lyrically beautiful calligraphy.

Brilliant wool beaded blanket crafted by a Dakota or Apsaalooke artisan.

Also on the second floor, we discovered multiple galleries displaying multimedia Native American Art. The Native American Art Collection focused on both local tribes and others throughout the country as well as focusing on both past art and modern day. Yet another truly fascinating and moving series of exhibits that touched us. 

Contemporary Dakota Art by Holly Young Floral Legacy.

Incredibly, admittance to the Minneapolis Institute of Art is free. There are fees for special exhibits, but the range of art available for free exploring is incredible. 

As you can see, Mia's collections are quite vast. Eventually, we wound our way up to the third floor finding ourselves in the antiquities. Mia impressed this time with Greek and Roman art and artifacts exhibited on the third floor. One of my favorite pieces in this gallery is the Figure of Lar which is an ancient fresco from Pompeii. Pretty neat!

After viewing art from the antiquities, we began meandering through centuries of European Art. Soon, we explored American Art as well. Mia has such an amazing range of art including masters such as Monet, Rembrandt, Pissarro, Wyeth, and more as well as artists you may not be familiar with and some whose names have been lost to the ages.

Period Rooms at Minneapolis Institute of Art

If my family had to pick a favorite experience at Mia, I think we would all mention the Period Rooms. Threaded on the 2nd and 3rd floors, the period rooms capture snapshots of time and space. Walking inside each room invites you to walk through the decades and even centuries into moments of time. Truly fascinating! The Tudor Room was installed in 1923 as the first period room and still welcomes visitors to this day. Artifacts in this room are from England's Tudor and Elizabethan periods. The oak paneling remarkably dates to 1600.

Installed initially in 1923, Mia's Tudor Room has presented visitors with a room full of Tudor and Elizabethan period artifacts ever since.

The Wu Family Reception Hall was built in the early 1600s as the main ceremonial hall for an upper-class family. The hall maintained the family's setting for ceremonies honoring ancestors and for receiving guests. Mia purchased this reception room in 1996 and it became the first of its kind in a collection in the USA.

Built in the 1600s, the Wu Family Reception Hall once was the location of family
ceremonies to honor the ancestors and a formal room to welcome guests.

The period rooms deliver a truly intriguing experience while visiting Mia. Stepping into rooms from other eras complete with authentic artifacts is entirely captivating and an intriguing learning opportunity.

View of the Minneapolis skyline from the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

With a collection as grand and vast as that at Minneapolis Institute of Art, we barely scratched the surface of the creativity the museum holds. Additionally, the museum welcomes traveling exhibitions further expand offerings. The wide variety of art presented at the Minneapolis Institute of Art invites the public to enjoy new adventure upon new adventure sparking creative inspiration.