Visual Arts at St. Thomas

The AMAA’s collection of Asmat art is one of the largest in North American with nearly 3,000 works. It was originally formed by the American Crosier Father and Brothers, under the leadership of Bishop Sowada who used anthropological approaches to renew cultural traditions and encourage artistic production in Asmat. This Catholic religious Order first arrived in Asmat in 1958 and acquired objects through purchase, trade, and as gifts. In 2007, the collection was given to the University of St. Thomas to educate our community and the broader public about Asmat. The museum opened in 2012 and is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus.

Visit the American Museum of Asmat Art website for additional information.

Mission

The American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas engages students and the global community through preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the art of Asmat people, in order to expand human understanding and promote intercultural awareness.

Vision

The vision of the American Museum of Asmat Art at St. Thomas is to be a preeminent teaching collection, interdisciplinary in nature and programmatically diverse, that promotes global understanding of Asmat art and culture consistent with the mission and values of the University of St. Thomas.

The AMAA is divided into two sections. The objects on permanent display include Asmat ancestor poles (bis), a spirit canoe (wuramon), and other large-scale works such as shields and body masks. The rest of the gallery is dedicated to rotating exhibitions based on different aspects of Asmat art and culture.

The AMAA forms an integral part of the University’s broader commitment to foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and the artistic achievements of all humanity.

Academic Year Hours
10 a.m. - 4 p.m Tuesday & Wednesday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m Thursday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m Friday
12 p.m. - 4 p.m Saturday
Closed Sunday & Monday

Summer Hours:
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursday - Saturday
Closed Sunday, Monday & Wednesday

Scheduled Closings
The AMAA is closed for all major U.S. holidays, St. Thomas breaks, during final exams week, January Term, and in June for installation.

Groups wishing to schedule a visit may contact Gretchen Burau, Museum Director in advance of their visit.

Location

The AMAA is on the second floor of the Anderson Student Center. at the University of St. Thomas.

Parking

Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests are also welcome to park in the Anderson Parking Facility and the Morrison Parking Ramp.

Learn more about objects in the AMAA collection.

The Department of Art History Gallery is committed to providing an exhibition program that fosters dialogue centered around the issues of contemporary and historical art and architectural topics to encourage paths of inquiry and intercultural understanding to advance the common good.

Location

The Department of Art History Gallery is located on the first floor of the O'Shaughnessy Educational Center (OEC) in St. Paul.

Hours

• Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Sunday Closed

Parking

Street parking is available in non-permit areas along Cleveland Avenue and Summit Avenue. Guests may also park in the Tommie East Parking Garage.

Who can submit a proposal?
We welcome artists to submit proposals to exhibit their work in our gallery. Scheduled two years in advance, our Art Exhibition Program presents two major displays during the academic year (September through December and February through May). We welcome all emerging and established artists, working in all mediums, to submit solo and/or group proposals.

Application Cycle and Timeline
Proposals for exhibitions in 2025 and beyond are now being accepted on a rolling basis.

Proposal Guidelines
To submit a digital proposal, please include the following:

• Letter of introduction stating intent/exhibition proposal (PDF format and up to 3 pages total)
• Résumé/CV: Your current résumé/CV (or that of each artist involved), up to two pages per artist
• Artist Statement
• Digital images: In JPEG format, 72 dpi, 600 pixels in longest direction
• Image list: title, date, medium, dimensions for each
• Contact information: phone number and email address

Digital proposals only, please. Do not mail anything.

Send all questions and submissions to:
Marria Thompson
Department of Art History Gallery Curator
ArtHistoryGallery@stthomas.edu

Printable/shareable PDF of above information

The University of St. Thomas Art Collection seeks to bring the visual arts to the university, providing an enriching and engaging experience for all students, scholars, and community members. Diverse in scope, the collection fosters critical thinking about global cultures and the material world.

With historical oil paintings, large scale outdoor sculptures, intricate African carvings and more, the University of St. Thomas Art Collection has over 1,500 works of art that you can search and explore.

During Fall 2019, students in Professor Vanessa Rousseau's Museum Studies: Collections (ARTH 250) explored the Greco-Roman coins from the University of St. Thomas Art Collection. This hands-on project allowed the students to work with objects, metadata, and digital exhibitions while creating an online database that serves as a valuable resource for the collection.