Overlooking the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, the Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. The building itself is a wonder of architectural design—its sleek lines, lustrous green glass façade, and arresting interior spaces create an artistic haven along the riverfront. With 17 to 23 rotating exhibitions on view every year, as well as the 4,000-piece permanent collection, there’s always plenty to see.
“Your summer bucket list starts here,” says Figge Co-Senior Curator Vanessa Sage. “Whether you’re drawn to expressive prints, creative murals, curious cats, or the story behind our iconic building, there’s something new and exciting around every corner.”
Shoes Through the Centuries
Currently, the Figge is hosting five fascinating exhibitions to entice viewers. Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, on view through August 24, blends fashion, gaming, architecture, and sustainability. Showcasing the evolution of footwear, Future Now offers a fascinating glimpse into the art and technological innovations behind past, present, and future footwear. Items range from early wooden shoe forms and 19th-century embroidered slippers, to 20th-century fashionable decorated heels and air-cushioned boots, to recent innovations like 3D-printed shoes, mushroom leather sneakers, and digital designs created for virtual reality.
Co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, the exhibition features designers Rem D. Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Mr. Bailey, and Salehe Bembury, as well as collaborations with Rick Owens, Stella McCartney, and PlayStation.
Northern European Artworks
The Golden Age: Featuring Northern European Works from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art, on view through April 2027, features an exceptional selection of 16th- and 17th-century Northern Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. The Figge was one of 10 museums selected for the National Gallery’s Across the Nation initiative, which brings its collection to museums across the country. The Golden Age pairs work from the Figge’s collection with National Gallery works, and includes period textiles, jewelry, and decorative arts.
Felines in Art
On view through January 4, 2026, CATS! centers around our favorite felines, with cat-inspired art from across the globe in a range of mediums, including printmaking, sculpture, paintings, and video. Playful cat silhouettes accent the exhibition wall, with poetic excerpts and meditations on feline behavior illustrating humanity’s long attraction to cats. Ancient Peruvian cat sculptures, Egyptian statues of feline deities, massive foo lion sculptures, brightly colored abstracts, and a video installation all celebrate the beauty, majesty, and mischievousness of wild and domestic cats.
German Expressionists
On view through December 7, Fever Dreams: German Expressionism showcases stunning, emotionally impactful work on paper by a group of young artists active in Europe during the early 20th century, including Käthe Kollwitz, Arthur Segal, and Ludwig Meidner. Characterized by simplified shapes and gestural marks, German Expressionists interpreted the world boldly, reacting against old systems of oppression and prioritizing the emotional impact of their work over strict realism.
20th Anniversary of the Riverfront Site
Model Museum, on view through August 31, marks the 20th anniversary of the Figge Art Museum’s opening. Featuring original drawings, photographs, and architectural models, the exhibition highlights British architect David Chipperfield’s creative journey as he responded to the riverfront site, the needs of the institution, and the surrounding community.
The exhibition also features the recently finished Leo Villareal installation, Evanescent Field. Thoughtfully integrated into the building’s exterior, Evanescent Field is the largest public artwork in Iowa and the largest light sculpture in the Midwest. A world-renowned artist, Villareal designed The Bay Lights in San Francisco and Illuminated River in London.
Crystal Bridges at the Figge
On view through September 28, Chain Re.ac.tion pairs works from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with pieces from the Figge’s collection. Community partners and local artists interpret these pairings and collaborate to create original murals inspired by their responses. Visitors are encouraged to engage with the murals and reflect on the pairings through interactive prompts at art-making stations within the exhibition.
For more information, visit FiggeArtMuseum.org. The Figge offers free admission on Thursdays 5–8 p.m. and the second Saturday of every month.