Pieces of art from all over the world come together to create a comprehensive, reflective, and interpretive collection at the Tweed Museum of Art. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the Tweed Museum of Art is one of the highlights of the University of Minnesota Duluth and the city of Duluth.
History
In 1950, the widow of George P. Tweed, Alice Tweed Tuohy, gave the University of Minnesota Duluth their magnificent home. The initial reason to donate the Tweed home to the University of Minnesota Duluth was to provide the general community with the Tweed’s extensive 500 piece art collection, which would educate and enrich the public’s lives.
The Teed home became an official museum facility that was run under the direction of the University of Minnesota Duluth. Then, in 1958 Mrs. Tweed and Bernice Brickson, Mrs. Tweed’s daughter, donated a large sum of funds to create an expansion and renovation of the museum. Since 1958, the Tweed Museum of Art has been renovated four times.
Currently, the Tweed Museum of Art has a total approximate space of 33,000 square feet. Approximately 15,000 square feet of the total museum space is used to house the Tweed Museum of Art’s official and permanent art collection.
Permanent Attractions
The Tweed Museum of Art has over 8.000 pieces of art within their permanent art collection. The Museum’s permanent art collection represents a variety of art forms, time periods, and regions in the world.
Works on Paper is the most diverse and comprehensive exhibit within the Tweed Museum of Art’s permanent art collection. Works on Paper includes a variety of art forms including European engravings, Modernist drawings, Pop art prints, and post-World War II abstracts. One of the highlighted pieces of art within this attraction is The Unknown Masterpiece from Pablo Picasso.
Contemporary Art displays a vibrant collection of artwork. Some of the highlighted artists within this exhibit include Nicholas Africano, Akio Takamori, Alec Soth, Frank Big Bear, and Kara Walker.
Glenn C. Nelson Ceramics Collection showcases the ceramic art collection Glenn C. Nelson acquired throughout his life. Nelson taught art at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 1956 to 1975. He is also recognized as the author of the six editions of The Potter’s Handbook. Some of the featured artists within this exhibit include Bernard Leach, Shoji Hamada, Lucie Rie, and Walter Hyleck.
The Potlatch Collection of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Illustrations displays a variety of artwork displaying the “Mountie” that was used as an advertising symbol throughout the 1900s. Over 400 images have used the “Mountie” as a symbol for their message.
American Art displays a variety of American art, including American Indian art. A variety of art forms, such as quilting, painting, and portraits, come together to create this comprehensive exhibit.
European Art features a variety European artwork mostly from Mrs. Alice Tweed’s original collection that accompanied her donation of the Tweed home to the University of Minnesota Duluth. The art within this exhibit focuses on the time period of 16th century to 19th century.
University of Minnesota Duluth, 1201 Ordean Ct, Duluth, MN 55812, Phone: 218-726-8222