exterior of the university museum behind trees in early autumn colors

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About Our Museum

First opened as a natural history museum in 1874, the University Museum at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has evolved into a teaching museum that represents the humanities, the sciences and the arts. While our focus is on southern Illinois, our humanities collection includes ethnographic materials that allow us to share the world with a diverse campus and a region that is isolated from urban centers. With roughly 70,000 objects in our care, the University Museum captures and illuminates the human story, opening a window on who we are and where we came from.

Open for the Summer Semester starting June 14, 2022.

Museum Hours

Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm
Saturday: 1pm - 4pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed

Free and open to all.

Public metered parking available across from the Student Center and beside Woody Hall.

Exhibits

North Hall

Mitchell & Continuum Galleries

  • People Places and Things: Art Speaks To Life!

    June 14 - July 30, 2022
    This exhibition of Chicago-based Nigerian artist Adedayo Laoye features works from the artists early career to modern works. Join the University Museum on this exploration of Adedayo’s works, as he blends his traditional styles and belief’s with modern themes.

Atrium Gallery

  • Distinguished Donors

    June 14 - July 30, 2022
    The University Museum has been fortunate enough to have the support from some truly amazing individuals. Select works from some of the Museum’s more distinguished donors will be on display.

South Hall

  • Southern Illinois Gallery
    Our Region
    Ongoing
    Our Region is an exhibition of Southern Illinois history, featuring artifacts from the University Museum and Center for Archaeological Investigations collections.

  • Lutes Gallery
    European Painting, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts
    Ongoing
    This exhibition highlights paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and furniture from Renaissance Europe selected from the collection of Carl W. Lutes.

  • Saluki Gallery
    Mid-century Modern
    March 22 – July 30, 2022
    The Mid-Century Modern Design movement was an American design movement that had a wide reaching influence on American culture and the Arts. Mid-Century Modern highlights the influence this movement had on product design and the arts, featuring selections from the Museum’s collection.

  • West Gallery
    Copious Creations: A Life Dedicated to Creativity
    June 14 - July 30, 2022
    Southern Illinois artist DJ Kennedy has been fortunate enough to lead a life emersed in the arts. From his vibrant and deeply creative paintings to his exquisite hand made pens; Mr. Kennedy has been able to create a body of work that has even made it to the desks of sitting US Presidents.

  • Hall of Art
    Paper Craft
    June 14 - July 30, 2022
    Since its discovery paper has been used in an endless number of applications. This seemingly simple object has managed to make its way into virtually every walk of life, From classrooms and offices to the walls of art galleries. After venturing through the University Museum’s collection, the Curators have managed to find some of the finest examples of the use of paper the Archive has to offer.

  • Study Gallery
    Iconic
    June 14 - July 30, 2022
    While spiritual beliefs may differ around the world, most of these groups create iconography to reflect their beliefs. The University Museum curators have scoured the Archives to bring you a collection of religious iconography from our various international collections.

  • International Gallery
    Global Menagerie
    January 11 – May 7, 2022
    Selected from the University Museum’s international collections, this presentation includes objects from around the world featuring animals and wildlife.

the siu museum presents the exhibition copious creations: a life dedicated to creativity: the works of DJ Kennedy from june 14th through July 30th, 2022.

 

the siu museum presents people places and things: art speaks to life: the works of adedayo laoye from june 14th through july 30th. there will be an opening reception on saturday, june 18th, between 4 and 7pm with an artist talk from 5 until 6pm

 

the siu museum presents mid-century modern, an exhibit of furniture and interior designs from the named movement from march 29 through july 30, 2022

Digital Exhibitions & Artist Talks

  • The Land That I Love
    Farming in Southern Illinois is rooted in the lives of the farmers who care for the land. The farms are more than crops and soil; they are Southern Illinois' heritage and its future.

  • Midwestern
    Drawn from his time intentionally lost on the backroads of the states he knows best, Justin Hamm’s work, visual and verbal, is equal parts inspection of the American mythos and testament against the worn-out adage that the Midwest is merely "flyover country".

  • The Art of Darkness
    Tim Atseff engaged in dual careers as an artist and as a journalist. Now, he has returned to his creative roots painting with an urgency that matches our times and time itself.

  • William H. Thielen
    An interview with the artist about his current exhibit "Double Whammy" and about his life in art

  • Conversation 2.0
    African art from the Reginald Petty African Art Collection and works of Edna Patterson-Petty

selected images from the digital exhibitions and artist talks videos