WATKINS GRAND FOYER
Enjoy One of Our Exhibitions While You Shop or Register for a class in the Watkins Grand Foyer
The Frank E. Watkins Grand Foyer Gallery is near the main entrance to our building by the main desk and World’s Window Gift Store. It features ongoing changing exhibitions, in addition to exhibitions that are planned to interpret and expand upon the permanent collection and focus on Midwest Art, American Crafts, and Haitian and Caribbean Art.
NOW DISPLAYING
BRENT HOUZENGA:
TIME AGAIN
On view December 2, 2025 - March 1, 2026
Accomplished muralist, installation artist, and educator Brent Houzenga is a New Orleans-based artist originally from Fulton, IL. His career as an artist began while he was living in Des Moines. His work has been featured in publications such as Time Out Chicago, Art+Design New Orleans, and the Rizzoli book Stickers: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art. He is also the subject of an independent documentary
film titled Brent Houzenga: Hybrid Pioneer, part of the
Made in Iowa film series.
Houzenga’s influences include punk rock, street art, comic books, mysticism, and psychology. He is known for his portraits of anonymous people painted with a Pop aesthetic. Time Again will feature new
portraits of historical figures, some of them tying Iowa into its narrative.
CLOSING RECEPTION
& GALLERY TALK
Friday, February 27 | 5:30-7:30pm
Waktins Grand Foyer
Free Admission
TURTLE WISDOM: PERSONAL, POLITICAL, PLAYFUL
by Betty LaDuke
On view September 30 - February 15
The works of Betty LaDuke have many times graced the walls of the Waterloo Center for the Arts. This new body of work is 21 shaped, carved, and painted wood panels that are based on artist sketches drawn decades ago during travels in African, Latin American, and Asian countries. The themes speak to dreams, dreamers, expectations, love, hope, nostalgia, and resilience. The exhibition is supplemented by major LaDuke paintings and prints from the WCA collection.