Walker Art Center Museum
Contemporary art museum and sculpture garden in Minneapolis
A Minneapolis contemporary art institution, the Walker Art Center hosts rotating exhibitions and performance programmes and anchors the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home to large public works including Spoonbridge and Cherry.
Walker Art Center at a Glance#
Address: 725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403, United States
Website: https://walkerart.org/
Hours: Wed-Sun 11am-5pm (verify special late-night openings)
Admission: General admission $15-25 (varies by exhibition), free for Walker members
About Walker Art Center#
The Walker Art Center is a major museum of contemporary art in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with indoor galleries, performance spaces and an extensive adjacent outdoor Sculpture Garden. The institution focuses on contemporary visual art, design, dance, film and public programming and is regionally and nationally prominent.
The Sculpture Garden next to the museum includes large-scale outdoor works and is home to the well-known Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain-sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The garden provides year-round public access to outdoor artworks and landscaping.
Founded in the early 20th century as a regional art institution and transformed into a contemporary arts centre in later decades, the Walker has developed notable exhibition and performance programmes and facilities that support interdisciplinary work. It remains a focal point for contemporary arts in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The Walker and its Sculpture Garden sit just north of downtown Minneapolis adjacent to Loring Park, forming part of a cultural cluster that includes other museums and public parks.
- Focus: The Walker is a leading U.S. institution for contemporary art and is directly connected to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, a large outdoor public collection.
- Iconic work: The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture is an iconic landmark of the garden and a popular photo subject, especially in summer when the cherry is often used as a fountain feature.
What to See#
- Galleries: Indoor galleries present rotating exhibitions of contemporary visual art, performance and media, organised across multiple gallery floors.
- Sculpture Garden: The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an adjacent outdoor park that features major works including the Spoonbridge and Cherry fountain-sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
- Public programs: On-site performance spaces and the Walker’s public programs host film, music and dance events alongside visual-art exhibitions.
How to Get to Walker Art Center#
The Walker is a short walk from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park area. From downtown Minneapolis take local buses or a 10-15 minute taxi/ride; on-site parking is limited-public transit or rideshare recommended.
Tips for Visiting Walker Art Center#
- Reserve timed tickets for popular exhibitions-the Walker's blockbuster shows can sell out.
- Check the calendar for outdoor sculpture park events and free concerts; the park is a highlight in summer.
- The museum's restaurant and rooftop spaces are good for a break-views of Minneapolis are particularly nice in late afternoon.
Best Time to Visit Walker Art Center#
Best May-September for sculpture park programming and comfortable city weather.
Weather & Climate near Walker Art Center#
Walker Art Center's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -16°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (756 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -16° - -5° | -17° | 24 mm | partly cloudy | 88% | 3.4 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.1h |
| February | Poor | -12° - -1° | -12° | 19 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 3.4 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.3h |
| March | Acceptable | -5° - 5° | -4° | 46 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 2° - 15° | 6° | 59 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 3.9 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.3h |
| May | Very Good | 9° - 22° | 16° | 86 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 3.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 14.6h |
| June | Very Good | 14° - 27° | 21° | 110 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 15.3h |
| July | Excellent | 17° - 29° | 23° | 104 mm | some cloud | 70% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.0h |
| August | Very Good | 16° - 28° | 22° | 105 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 2.6 m/s | 1.5 very high | 13.8h |
| September | Excellent | 10° - 22° | 16° | 75 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 3.0 m/s | 1.0 high | 12.4h |
| October | Very Good | 4° - 16° | 8° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.8h |
| November | Acceptable | -4° - 5° | -3° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.5 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| December | Poor | -12° - -3° | -13° | 25 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
