During your visit to this Rockford, Illinois attraction, explore the art museum’s permanent collections and special exhibitions throughout its three galleries as well as the Art Annex Library. In the Museum Store you can shop for gifts and keepsakes related to the Rockford Art Museum.
Rockford Art Museum Collection
The Rockford Art Museum’s permanent collection numbers over 17,000 works of art, by local, national and international artists with special emphasis on the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. Collections include Modern and Contemporary American Art, American Masters, Photography, Contemporary Glass and Outsider Art.
Modern and Contemporary American Art
The Modern and Contemporary Art Collection accounts for a third of the art museum’s entire collection. Within the Modern and Contemporary Collection are works by Ed Paschke, Warrington Colescott, Nicolas Africano and Phyllis Bramson. Of particular importance is the Francis and June Spiezer Collection, comprised of the works of Chicago artists of the 70s.
American Masters
Rockford Art Museum’s American Master’s Collection features a blend of styles that date from 1830 to 1940. Many works within the collection are by artists working the Midwest including: George Robertson, the first artist to have permanently settled in Rockford; Elbridge Ayer Burbank, producer of the only known painting of Geronimo from life; and Lorado Taft, founder of the Eagles Nest Colony in Oregon, Illinois.
Photography
The core of Rockford’s Photography Collection is the Gilbert Collection which includes more than 290 photographs donated to the art museum by Arnold Gilbert, collector and champion of photography as a fine art. Additionally, the Photography Collection holds works by Ansel Adams, Manuel Carrillo, Misha Gordin, Joseph Jachna, Yousuf Karsh and Brett Weston.
Contemporary Glass Art
The June and Francis Spiezer and Carol and Don Wiiken Collections form the core of Rockford’s Contemporary Glass Art Collection. Artists represented in the collection include Harvey Littleton, Ruth Brockmann, Janusz Walentynowicz, Joel Philip Myers, Bertil Vallien and Ulrica Hydman-Vallien.
Outsider Art
The Outsider Art Collection is made up of African American self-taught art from the Hager Collection. The 104-piece collection, gifted to the art museum in 1994, originated in the Deep South in isolated African American communities. Refining their skills through personal effort, trial and innovation, artists represented in the collection include Thornton Dial, Lonnie Holley, Joe Louis Light, Purvis Young, Shields Landon Jones, Stephen Warde Anderson and Gene Holmes.
Art Annex Library
Located across from the Museum’s art galleries, the Art Annex Library houses books related to the Rockford Art Museum, available to the public for enjoyment and research. Additionally, the Art Annex Library frequently features special art exhibits.
Be sure to stop by the Rockford Art Museum Store, located in front of the entrance to the Museum’s galleries. Gifts and keepsakes, many of which are made by local artists and artisans, are available to purchase.
Travel Tip
- The Rockford Art Museum is ADA compliant.