Past Exhibitions

Free Opening Night Reception for "Dyed Well"

April 18, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Celebrate the opening of "Dyed Well" with exhibiting artist Emily Robertson and the Villa Terrace Art Museum.

RSVP Required: Artist Talk with Emily Robertson

July 24, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Meet exhibiting artist Emily Robertson and learn about her practice.

Plain Weaving Workshop

August 15, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Learn the basics of plain weaving at the Villa.

"Tension" Free Opening Night

October 20, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Experience Villa Artist-in-Residence Ryan Send's solo exhibition "Tension" for free on opening night as part of Gallery Night MKE.

RSVP - Free After Hours Tour of "Supernova"

September 14, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy art after hours with this free guided tour of "Supernova" on opening night! Must RSVP in advance.

Supernova Artist Panel Discussion

October 20, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Meet “Supernova” exhibiting artists Hope Wang and Keith Kaziak this Friday at the Villa Terrace Art Museum and learn about their work in their own words.

"A Different Kind of Garden" Free Opening Reception

June 08, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Join us for a free reception to celebrate the opening of "A Different Kind of Garden" by Villa Artist in Residence Cat Gilbert.

Cyanotype Workshop with Villa Artist Cat Gilbert

July 09, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Make cyanotype prints with Villa Artist in Residence Cat Gilbert!

Hammered Flower Art Workshop with Villa Artist Cat Gilbert

July 30, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Learn and create hammered flower art with Villa Artist in Residence Cat Gilbert!

Plein Air Painting with Villa Artist Cat Gilbert

August 06, 2023 – July 06, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Paint in the garden with Villa Artist in Residence Cat Gilbert!

Mestiere Biennale Member Preview

April 06, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Members get an exclusive hour to preview our inaugural "Mestiere Biennale" ahead of the public reception. Beat the crowd. Become a member.

Mestiere Biennale Opening Reception

April 06, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join us for opening reception of our inaugural "Mestiere Biennale," highlighting contemporary craft in Greater Milwaukee. It's free.

Mestiere Biennale Artist Panel

July 13, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join us for a discussion of the state of craft in Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin with the artists of "Mestiere" July 13.

Exclusive Member Preview: Grounded

October 27, 2022 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Museum members are invited to the members-only preview of "Grounded" Oct. 27. Explore the stories found in this contemporary exhibition before anyone else on opening night. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Grounded Opening Night

October 27, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

You're invited to the opening of our new contemporary sculpture exhibition: "Grounded." Join us Oct. 27 for a night of live music, food and art at the Villa Terrace. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Opening Reception for In the Parks with Olmsted: A Vision for Milwaukee

April 14, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join us in celebrating the opening of In the Parks with Olmsted: A Vision for Milwaukee, an exhibition presented by the Friends of the Villa Terrace.

Virginia Small: Olmsted's Enduring Green Legacies in Milwaukee

April 20, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Frederick Law Olmsted contributed far more to greater Milwaukee than the design of three parks and a green boulevard linking two of them.

Frederick Law Olmsted and “Parks for All”: Democracy, Equity, and Environmental Justice Panel Discussion

April 26, 2022 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Frederick Law Olmsted: Bringing Nature into the City and Creating Breathing Space for Democracy

May 07, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Event location: Diercks Hall, MSOE

Milwaukee Parks Foundation: Mission and Vision

May 11, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Newly Formed Milwaukee Parks Foundation Shares Their Mission & Vision.

Milwaukee County Parks - Challenges and A Path Forward

May 18, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A Virtual Presentation & Conversation with the Author: Hugh Howard

June 15, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The Trajectory Series: Gallery Day Walk-Through - Cancelled

April 18, 2020 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Walk through the exhibition with the curator and exhibiting artists.

Portia Cobb: Story as Technology

October 01, 2020 | 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Join us for a fun and intriguing look inside Portia Cobb's work featuring Cobb and curator Christopher Willey.

Portia Cobb: Story as Technology Live Discussion

October 08, 2020 – October 01, 2020 | 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Live group discussion with Portia Cobb about her work and conversation with Christopher Willey about story as technology.

Virtual Intro To Weaving Workshop

December 20, 2020 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Virtual Intro To Weaving Workshop Hosted by Marianne Fairbanks

Hyperlocal MKE: Meaning/Reframe

November 10, 2019 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Hyperlocal MKE is Milwaukee’s incubator for improvisation and interdisciplinary performance. Here they perform Meaning/Reframe in connection with our current exhibition "Measured Misalignments".

Measured Misalignments Dinner with In-Season Pop-Up Restaurant

January 25, 2020 | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

In this first-of-its-kind event, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum with In-Season Pop-Up Restaurant present a prix fixe tasting menu to mark the closing of Jeffrey Clancy's Measured Misalignments exhibition. Limited Seating - Reservations accepted through Tuesday, January 21.

House Tableau: Drop-In Sketch Day

December 14, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Drop in for a free sketch day hosted by exhibiting artist Ariana Huggett.

House Tableau: Drop-In Sketch Day

January 20, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Drop in for a free sketch day hosted by exhibiting artist Ariana Huggett.

David R. Harper: A Mouth-Shaped Room Opening Reception and Catalogue Release

July 11, 2019 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Artist talk with David R. Harper at 7:00 p.m.

A Mouth-Shaped Room in Sense and Sound with Present Music

August 27, 2019 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Present Music Ensemble flutist, Jennifer Clippert moves throughout multiple galleries, creating a unique atmosphere within each space that includes studies of bird sounds combined with Aboriginal voices.

Moving Pictures: Royal Portraiture and the Circulation of Ideas | Opening Talk

February 28, 2019 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Exhibition opening night talk with collector Jodi Eastberg and curator Lynne Harper.

Photography Lessons: A Talk with Dr. Sarah Anne Carter - RESCHEDULED - TBA

April 04, 2019 | 6:30 p.m.

A talk about the history of photography as it relates to object lessons.

Building a Collection: A Talk With John Eastberg

April 10, 2019 | 6:30 p.m.

John's talk focuses on the process of building a collection.

Curatorial Walk Through - Moving Images

May 08, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Walk through the exhibition with a curator!

High Tea on the Terrace: A Royal Affair

May 11, 2019 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Featuring live music, assorted teas, tea sandwiches and scones, with a special Mother's Day tour of our current exhibition "Moving Images: Royal Portraiture and the Circulation of Ideas," with curator Lynne Harper.

House of Risk | Opening Party

October 18, 2018 | 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Opening party with House of Risk Artists Sylvie Rosenthal and Vanessa Diaz Artist talk from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

House of Risk | Curatorial Walk Through

October 25, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Join a member of our curatorial team for a guided tour of our current exhibition House of Risk.

House of Risk | Curatorial Walk Through

November 07, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join a member of our curatorial team for a guided tour of our current exhibition House of Risk.

House of Risk | Curatorial Walk Through

December 05, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join a member of our curatorial team for a guided tour of our current exhibition House of Risk.

Kid's Workshop: Giant Charms

December 28, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Create a giant charm necklace as a talisman of your hopes and dreams for the future with exhibiting artist Sylvie Rosenthal.

House of Risk | Children’s Workshop

December 28, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Creating giant charm necklaces as talismans of our hopes and dreams for the future! Open to children 6 to 12 with their parents as “studio assistants.”

Curatorial Walk Through - House of Risk

January 09, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Tour our current exhibition House of Risk with a member of our curatorial team.

Sound of Risk - Reimagining Sound and Structure at the Villa Terrace

January 20, 2019 | 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sound installation and live performance by musicians David Collins and Andy Miller.

Play (things) | Opening Party

October 18, 2018 | 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Opening party in conjunction with the museum's exhibition House of Risk, featuring artists Sylvie Rosenthal and Vanessa Diaz House of Risk artist talk from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Look Here! Opening Reception

June 28, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Join Senior Curator Shana McCaw, Head, Digital Collections and Initiatives and DH Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Ann Hanlon, Head of Special Collections, Max Yela, and participating artist Marc Tasman for the opening of Look Here!

Walk and Talk Series

July 05, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Milwaukee Digital: Reinterpreting Local Spaces and Places Abigail Nye, head of UWM Archives, Ann Hanlon, head of UWM Libraries Digital Collections, and Look Here! artists Marc Tasman, Clayton Haggerty, and Jake Hill

Family Program: Traditional Korean Drumming

July 15, 2018 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Learn about traditional Korean drumming from instructor Saehee Chang, who is featured in Look Here! artist Laj Waghray’s short film in the exhibition.

“Look Here!” Walk & Talk Series

August 01, 2018 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

“Maps and Artifacts: Mining the Collections of the American Geographical Society Library.” Marcy Bidney, curator of the American Geographical Society Library, joins “Look Here!” artists Jill Sebastian, Nirmal Raja, Anja Notanja Sieger, and Madeline Martin.

“Look Here!” Curatorial Walk-Through

August 08, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of "Look Here!" by a member of our curatorial staff.

“Look Here!” Walk & Talk Series

August 08, 2018 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

"The Contents of Books: Reprocessing Pattern and Image.” Max Yela, head of UWM Libraries Special Collections, joins “Look Here!” artists Laj Waghray, Melissa Wagner-Lawler, and Stephanie Copoulos-Selle.

“Look Here!” Curatorial Walk-Through

August 23, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of "Look Here!" by a member of our curatorial staff.

Film Screening: On Hands by Laj Waghray

August 29, 2018 | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Join us for a viewing of Laj Waghray’s 75-minute film “On Hands,” made for the Look Here! Project, currently showing at Villa Terrace!

“Look Here!” Curatorial Walk-Through

September 05, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of "Look Here!" by a member of our curatorial staff.

Sopra Mare: A Performance by Rebecca Holderness and Andrew Miller

September 09, 2018 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A live performative reading of a selection of fictional letters along with music from Holderness and Miller’s installation in Look Here!. The performance features Angela Ianonne and other well-known Milwaukee actors. Performance starts at 6:00 p.m.

FOLD: Artists' Accordion Books - Curatorial Walk Through

May 09, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition by a member of our curatorial staff.