About
For 45 years, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art has surveyed the evolving contemporary art practice of artists active across Wisconsin. This tradition began in 1978 with the Wisconsin Biennial exhibition at the Madison Art Center and continued as a Triennial as the Art Center became the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. It is a cornerstone of MMoCA’s exhibition calendar.
As part of the Museum’s mission, MMoCA has regularly acquired artworks from these exhibitions, adding them to the permanent collection. 45 Years of Triennials: Acquisitions 1978–2022 showcases selected pieces from this collection, highlighting the evolving interests of Wisconsin artists. This exhibition runs in conjunction with the 2025 Wisconsin Triennial, showcasing the Museum’s rich history of supporting local artists. Many of the featured artists continue to actively contribute to the contemporary art dialogue across the state and the nation.
Programming & Events
Opening Celebration
Friday, May 2 • 5–9 PM
Artwork Labels
Learn more about each piece in this exhibition by reading the art work labels.
Support
Exhibitions in the Henry Street Gallery are generously funded through an endowment established by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. Lead sponsorship for the 2025 Wisconsin Triennial exhibitions is generously provided by Paul J. Reckwerdt and Ellen S. Rosner with additional support from the estate of Theodora “Teddy” Zehner. Major sponsorship for the 2025 Wisconsin Triennial series is provided by Paula and David Kraemer and Joe and Mary Ellyn Sensenbrenner. Supporting sponsorship is from Marc Vitale and Darcy Kind, Katie Howarth Ryan, Diane Seder and Bruce Rosen, Dane Arts with additional funds from the Frautschi and Rowland Foundations, Diane Ballweg, and the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, and Anne Neujahr Morrison and Jacob Morrison.