Davenport’s Figge Art Museum to Open Five New Exhibits This Summer
This summer, the Figge Art Museum (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) has five fascinating new exhibitions for visitors to enjoy. From the story of the museum’s building to powerful artwork from the past, playful pieces featuring cats, and a creative project made with help from the community, there’s something for everyone.
Mark your calendar for these:
Fever Dreams: German Expressionism
June 21, 2025 – December 7, 2025
This exhibition presents the work of artists active in Europe during the early 20th century, including Käthe Kollwitz, Arthur Segal, and Ludwig Meidner, who put their inner visions to paper in defiance of tradition and political injustice. German Expressionism began when a group of young artists sought to boldly interpret the world around them as an act of freedom and a political statement in opposition to the “old, established forces.”
In a time of war, revolution, and persecution, this artwork is often emotionally fraught and holds an expressive power that remains as strong today as it was a century ago. This exhibition will feature loans from the David and Sarojini Johnson Print Collection. The Figge Art Museum is partnering with the German American Heritage Center and Museum (GAHC + M) for programming during the exhibition run. The GAHC + M (712 W. 2nd St., Davenport) will have a companion exhibition of German Expressionist prints at their museum.
Ella Iranyi, Austrian, 1888-1942, A Maiden, n.d., City of Davenport Art Collection
Cats!
June 21, 2025 – January 4, 2026
This exhibition explores artwork featuring fascinating felines from the museum collection and on loan. Beloved by many humans for their mischievous nature, companionship, and beauty, cats were featured prominently in the visual art of various cultures— whether transformed into Ancient Egyptian deities or as the subject of internet memes—and they continue to act as artistic muses.
This exhibit will explore artwork featuring cats in a range of mediums, including printmaking, sculpture, paintings, and video, with a special section focusing on their wild counterparts. Visitors will be encouraged to participate in interactive elements showing how our feline friends continue to inspire us.
Tomoo Inagaki, Smiling Cat, mid-20th century, Woodblock print, City of Davenport Art Collections, Friends of Art Acquisition Fund
Chain Re·ac·tion
June 21, 2025 – September 28, 2025
Chain Reaction is a process in which the products themselves promote or spread the reaction. At the Figge, that process begins with a creative spark: works from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art are thoughtfully paired with pieces from the Figge’s own collection.
From there, the Figge passed the baton to community partner organizations and local artists, who interpret these pairings and collaborate to create original murals inspired by their responses. These new works will take center stage in the Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery, where the chain reaction continues. Visitors are invited to engage with the murals, reflect on the pairings, and add their own voices through commentary, interactive prompts, and art-making activities—creating a continuous cycle of inspiration, reflection, and response.
The Golden Age: Featuring Northern European Works from the Collection of the National Gallery of Art
Starting June 28, the Figge will present masterpieces by Northern Renaissance and Baroque artists, including Anthony Van Dyck, Frans Hals, and Lucas Cranach the Elder, on loan from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. As just one of 10 museums selected for the National Gallery’s “Across the Nation” initiative to share the nation’s collection with museums across the country, the Figge brings an exceptional selection of 16th and 17th-century European artworks to the Quad Cities – pieces typically seen only in major cities like Chicago.
The Figge’s own Northern European paintings will be paired with National Gallery works in four thematic sections: Portraiture, History, Still Life, and Genre Scenes. Period textiles, jewelry, and decorative arts will enhance this immersive experience.
This partnership showcases the technical brilliance and cultural vibrancy of Northern European painting, and will be on display through April 4, 2027.
The newly lit Figge Art Museum, courtesy of the permanent Leo Villareal installation, “Evanescent Field.”
Model Museum
July 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025
In 1999, representatives from the Davenport Museum of Art selected Sir David Chipperfield—then an emerging force in contemporary architecture—from a pool of six firms to design a new museum on the Davenport riverfront. Six years later, the completed building opened to widespread acclaim, celebrated for its clean lines, luminous green glass façade, and dramatic interior spaces.
This exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Figge Art Museum’s opening and explores the creative journey behind its design—from Chipperfield’s earliest sketches to the final architectural vision. Featuring original drawings, photographs, and models, the display highlights how the architect responded to the riverfront site, the needs of the institution, and the surrounding community.
The exhibition also examines the recent addition of Leo Villareal’s Evanescent Field, and how it has been thoughtfully integrated into the building’s exterior.
“Your summer bucket list starts here,” Figge Co-Senior Curator Vanessa Sage said in a news release. “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.”
For more information on the museum, click HERE.
Sir David Chipperfield, architect of the Figge Art Museum, which opened Aug. 6, 2005.
