Feature image: Courtesy of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
John Michael Kohler Arts Center Named No. 6 on ARTnews List of the 30 Best Art
Submitted
Sheboygan, WI — The John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) has been recognized by ARTnews as one of “The 30 Best Art Museums in the U.S.” Ranked No. 6 on the publication’s list, the Arts Center joins a group of internationally renowned institutions.
The recognition places the John Michael Kohler Arts Center alongside some of the country’s most respected museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago (No. 4), Getty Center in Los Angeles (No. 5) and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (No. 7). The ranking highlights JMKAC’s distinctive role in the national arts landscape and its longstanding commitment to presenting innovative contemporary art and creating meaningful experiences that connect art and community.
In its feature, ARTnews praised JMKAC as a destination museum worth traveling to, highlighting its exhibitions that cannot be experienced anywhere else, including recent exhibitions devoted to artists such as pictorial sweater knitter Sam Barsky and explorations of Midwestern grottoes—vernacular environments created from shells, fossils, geodes, and other materials. The article also recognized the Arts Center’s Arts/Industry residency, which provides artists with access to Kohler Co.’s industrial facilities and materials.
The publication also celebrated JMKAC’s Art Preserve, a one-of-a-kind facility dedicated to preserving and sharing the work of self-taught artists. The Art Preserve houses entire bodies of work by artists including Eugene von Bruenchenhein, whose imaginative creations include intricate crowns made from chicken bones and miniature thrones crafted for his wife. Through these collections and experiences, the Arts Center demonstrates how art can emerge from everyday life and how creativity can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized by ARTnews among the nation’s leading art museums,” said Amy Horst, Executive Director. “This acknowledgment reflects the creativity and vision of the artists we work with, the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the generosity of our supporters and community.”
This latest recognition from ARTnews underscores the JMKAC’s national impact and reinforces its position as one of America’s premier destinations for contemporary art.
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center extends its gratitude to the artists, visitors, members, donors, volunteers, and community partners whose support makes this achievement possible.
About the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Founded in 1967, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) is a nonprofit creative hub that supports the work of contemporary artists through original exhibitions, commissions, residencies, publications, and community programming across visual and performing arts. The only institution in the world that collects artist- built and artist home-based environments, JMKAC is a leading center for the research, preservation, and presentation of artists with wide-ranging practices and backgrounds from academically trained to self-taught and folk traditions, championing long-term relationships with artists and elevating work that has often been overlooked or under-recognized. JMKAC is a vital cultural resource that responds to the needs of its local and regional communities, preserving artistic heritage by uplifting contemporary voices and empowering future generations.
Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Locations
John Michael Kohler Arts Center: 608 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, WI
Art Preserve: 3636 Lower Falls Rd, Sheboygan, WI
Contact
Emily Shedal, Communications Specialist, JMKAC
EShedal@jmkac.org