Admire artifacts from Ancient Greece and Rome, paintings by European masters and sculptures by American greats at this extensive museum.
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is located in the city’s Cultural Center Historic District in midtown. It occupies one of the city's prettiest buildings, a specially designed beaux-arts Italian Renaissance-style complex designed in the 1920s. With a permanent collection worth over a billion U.S. dollars and excellent special exhibitions, this museum rivals the nation’s finest.
You’ll be in awe, gazing at the frescoes that decorate the museum’s grand marble court. Mexican artist Diego Rivera painted these scenes of American workers. Once controversial for their style and subject matter, today these frescoes are considered masterpieces. Make your way inside to see paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture and much more. There are more than 60,000 items in the various collections, so set aside at least a day to make the most of what’s here.
Be sure to check out the European galleries for masterpieces from the 1400s through the 1900s. You’ll find pieces by Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse and Degas. At the American Wing browse the collection of furniture, pottery and glasswork, which includes pieces dating from the 1700s. There are also paintings by such luminaries as John Singer Sargent and Childe Hassam. The General Motors Center for African American Artists was one of the first curatorial departments of its kind in the country’s major museums.
Move on to explore collections from around the globe: Africa, Oceania, Egypt and the Indigenous Americas. Those with an eye for the East will also enjoy the Arts of Asia and the Islamic World. These galleries feature statues, scrolls, clothing and items from the cultures of the region.
The museum also has several galleries dedicated to prints, drawings and photography, as well as a Department of Contemporary Art. There are two cafés and a museum shop.
Head to the DIA on Friday nights for live music, guided tours and workshops. These activities are free with admission.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is open Tuesday to Sunday. There’s a fee to park at all garages and lots in the area, the closest one being the Cultural Center garage. Alternatively, take the Detroit SMART bus from downtown.
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