Chazen Museum of Art facts for kids

The Chazen Museum of Art is an art museum located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. It's a place where you can explore amazing artworks from different times and places. The Chazen Museum of Art is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums, which means it meets high standards for museums.

Quick facts for kids
Humanities Building and Elvehjem Art Center
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Location in Wisconsin
Location	750 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin
Built	1969
Architect	Elvehjem Building: Harry Weese, 1970 Chazen Building: Machado Silvetti 2011
Part of	Bascom Hill Historic District (ID74000065)
Designated CP	September 12, 1974

Discovering the Chazen Museum's Past

How the Museum Got Its Name

For many years, until 2005, this museum was known as the Elvehjem Museum of Art. It was named after Conrad Elvehjem. He was the 13th president of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Conrad Elvehjem was also a famous biochemist who studied nutrition.

In May 2005, the museum's name changed to the Chazen Museum of Art. This happened after a very generous gift of $20 million. This donation came from two university alumni, Simona and Jerome A. Chazen. Jerome A. Chazen was a founder of a well-known company called Liz Claiborne Inc. The original museum building, which opened in 1970, still keeps the Elvehjem name.

Growing Bigger and Better

In 2011, the Chazens made another big donation to the museum. This gift included $5 million for the museum building itself. They also gave $3 million to support art and art history teachers at the university. Plus, they donated 30 pieces of art, which were valued at $20 million.

A brand new building, designed by Machado & Silvetti Associates, opened in 2011. A bridge connects this new building to the older Conrad A. Elvehjem building. This addition doubled the size of the museum, giving more space for art.

New Leaders and Programs

After working as the museum's director for 30 years, Russell Panczenko retired in 2017. Amy Gilman then became the new director. She is still leading the museum today.

In 2018, the Association of Art Museum Directors started a special program. It helps college students from diverse backgrounds get paid internships in art museums. The Chazen Museum of Art was one of the first museums to join this important program.

Exploring the Museum's Art Collections

The Chazen Museum has many different kinds of art. You can see works by famous artists from all over the world.

European and American Art

The museum displays art from many European artists. These include Joan Miró, Auguste Rodin, and Salvador Dalí. You can also find pieces by Barbara Hepworth, René Magritte, and Thomas Gainsborough. Other European artists featured are Henry Moore and Eugène Boudin.

The museum also has a great collection of American artists' works. These include paintings by Mark Rothko and Andy Warhol. You can see many different types of art by Alexander Calder. There is also a copy of the Emancipation Memorial statue.

Diverse and Unique Artworks

Beyond these, the museum showcases many other interesting collections. You can find contemporary works by artists like Shusaku Arakawa. There are also regionalist paintings by John Steuart Curry. The museum features Russian Social Realist paintings too.

You can also admire beautiful glass art by René Lalique. A large part of the museum's paper art collection is the Van Vleck collection. This collection features many Japanese woodblock prints. These are special pictures made by carving designs into wood.

Music and Publishing at the Museum

For many years, the museum hosted chamber concerts. These concerts were called Sunday Afternoon Live from the Chazen. They used to be broadcast by Wisconsin Public Radio. While the radio broadcasts stopped in 2015, the concerts still happen monthly. You can now enjoy them live or watch them online through a webcast.

The Chazen Museum of Art is also the official home for Tandem Press. Tandem Press is a fine arts publisher located in Madison, Wisconsin. The museum keeps one print from every art edition that Tandem Press publishes. This helps preserve a record of their work.