The James Watrous Gallery is a place to explore and learn about art from Wisconsin. Our focus is sharing the work of Wisconsin artists past and present and investigating ideas at the intersection of the sciences, arts, and letters. Solo exhibits present a significant body of artwork by a single artist, while our curated shows often draw connections between art and other disciplines. We strive to create a welcoming environment that encourages engagement and inquiry.
The James Watrous Gallery is closed until Overture Center for the Arts can re-open. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram and Facebook; we’ll be showcasing some the artists whose shows have been rescheduled due to the pandemic, as well as some of the artists who’ve shown with us over the years.
Although our Collections and Connections: 150 Years of the Wisconsin Academy exhibition closed early, you can click the link below for a video tour. This show featured an imaginative recreation of the lost natural history specimens, or “cabinet,” collected in the 19th century by several of the Academy’s founders.
Free and open to the public, the James Watrous Gallery is located on Overture Center’s third floor. Gallery hours are noon-5pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday and noon-8pm on Friday and Saturday, or by appointment.
The Watrous Gallery is a program of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, which improves life in Wisconsin through programs that explore, explain, and sustain Wisconsin thought and culture. For more information on James Watrous Gallery exhibitions and Wisconsin Academy Talks, a regular lecture series in Overture Center for the Arts, click here.
