Detroit Institute of Arts

This place was very cool! Absolutely massive, 3 floors and dozens of hallways packed to the brim with artifacts, sculptures, and paintings. We saw historical art from Italy, France, and Britain. There are also sections about Native Americans, Africans, the Chinese, and the Japanese. It's pretty easy to get sucked in and lost throughout the multiple rooms. Everything is very spacious and amazing to look at. There is also a little café that serves drinks and small foods. It's $7 for parking and it's a little confusing to get inside and purchase tickets, but it's very fun once you're inside. For two people it was $30, very cheap especially for today. This place seems like it'd be great for field trips and group exploring. We loved it!

I had a great experience. I went to the 7 mile + Livernois art exhibit. It was very crowded and I noticed that people weren't obeying the employees which had a few employees irritated because people weren't listening and kept crossing the white tape. It was great to see the community show support for Tiff Massey. I'll be back to explore the entire museum.

World-class and world classics. Pricelss artwork and just down the street. Where in the world can you go to see a VanGough, not wait and be 3 feet away. Worth a trip every week. Great staff, service and experience.

I loved this place and I wish I had more time to explore. Complimentary coat check. Clean. Warm inside. I highly recommend to visit while in Detroit.

This was such a beautiful historic place! I was not there long enough to visit all of the exhibits, but I will be back! It's just a large, beautifully structured building with so much to see that you really need enough time to spend the day there.

Fabulous museum filled with history, culture, and modern art! We had lunch in the cafe within the atrium and it was very peaceful and beautiful. We spent about it 3 hours here but easily could’ve spent upwards of 5+ hours. I cannot wait to go back, everything was fabulous and so fascinating!! Make sure you eat before going as you’re not allowed to bring food and drink inside the exhibit halls.

What a lovely museum experience. The collection is wonderful, including some beautiful and important impressionist art. The Buddhist and Hindu rooms were well designed and while small, contained some lovely pieces. The Diego Rivera mural was the centerpiece, figuratively and literally. Wow. Great lavender latte at the cafe.

Beautifully composed art galleries. However the workers made the experience a bit uncomfortable - me and my two friends were looking around the entrance because of the beautiful architecture there and one of the workers came up to us and said we need to go through the check in line again. When we told her we didn’t exit the building she misunderstood and said we still need to go through check in again. Once we explained again she said alright but said she “saw us darting around”, whatever that means… When we returned to that same area again the women who was sitting near the entrance made sure to get up and walk across the room as if to have us in her vision. Just because we’re younger doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to comfortably exist in a museum admiring art. Normalize artistic interest in youth please

My second time here! This is definitely one of the top five art museums in the country. Literally almost on par with Chicago! They have three huge floors full of everything you can think of. We were there for over 4 hours and we could have went a lot slower. Definitely a treasure! Use your AAA card to get a pretty heavy discount. Also if you are a resident of the local Detroit Metro counties, you get in for free. Parking is pretty easy. There's plenty of street parking and there is a secure lot behind the art museum with electric car charging. This was great! There are a couple of cafes as well and one of them is in a indoor courtyard. Great way to chill with a cup of coffee!

What a priceless experience! This building houses more art than I could possibly describe here! From paintings, to sculpture, to fabrics, and a wall where you can draw and leave your work- this beautiful museum has it all! Don't miss the Diego Rivera space. Travel here alone or with a group! You can purchase lunch here as well! They offer street, metered parking.

This was top three art museums I've ever been to. I've been to Detroit many times and for some reason never visited the art museum. We brought our 1 1/2 year old with us and I was really impressed with the art as well as all the interactive activities they had. The amount of art here was incredible. I will say there wasn't too many contemporary pieces, but again the amount of art as well as the rooms decorated/styled to fit the era, it truly transported you. I highly recommend this to anyone traveling to Detroit. What a top museum!

This museum is always so fun- the only issue I have is that some members of the staff can be rude. I checked a backpack today, it was just a regular school backpack and when I handed it to the lady at the counter she told me that next time I need to "downsize my things" this was rude. There's a reason there is a place to check bags and backpacks. I would have no issue carrying around my backpack but they make you check them and then when you do they complain to you. It wasn't a huge bag. I've also noticed that while I look at the art work here and I'm pretty far away the staff has yelled at me to step back even though I'm not close to it, I thought that was strange.

7/1/23 It's been a while since I've been to a museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts is a great spot to check out. There wasn't any street parking so we parked in the parking lot across from the DIA. You should plan to be here the whole day if you wanna see all the exhibits. I personally love reading all the signs and history tidbits whenever I'm in a museum so I could have been there all day ad night if I really wanted to digest everything! There's so many works of art: paintings, furniture, vases, chests, sculptures, tea sets...the list goes on and on. The different exhibits from different periods in history are so unique and beautifully curated. I'm only sorry that I wasn't able to see and experience everything since the museum is so immense! One thing that did throw me off was that the Van Gogh paintings all have some sensor around it and when you get too close, there's a loud voice that yells something along the lines of "YOU ARE TOO CLOSE, STAND BACK" to which I jumped and kinda screamed since I wasn't expecting that haha. We did stop by the cafe for a small snack before leaving. It is pricey to say the least, but the area it is in beautiful. I'm looking forward to coming back to the DIA.

I have heard so much about this place after moving to Michigan almost 10 years ago and I've finally made it! The DIA was honestly more than I expected not going to lie. You can easily make a whole day out of exploring this place and even coming back to do it again as they update periodically. There is a cafe inside with plenty of seating to relax and take a break. Such a beautiful place with so much to see, definitely looking forward to my next visit. There is a lot across from the main entrance with parking for $7.

I love taking advantage of the free admission to the DIA for living in Wayne, Oakland or Macon counties. This building itself is gorgeous, an artwork in its own right. And Rivera court is absolutely stunning. I've also seen a few films in the film theater before, and I love the quality of films they choose to show.

Quite simply the best Art museum you could experience, in these United States. Definitely plan ahead if you want meaningfully engage emotionally and spiritually with DIA, because you will not be able to fully experience everything they have to offer in one visit. I lived in DC and experienced the Smithsonian's but DIA has one of the most impressive collections you are likely to engage with. Get lost in the genius (and warnings) of Diego's murals. Interested in Impressionism, maybe feeling for some Van Gogh? He's on display (sometimes even his self portrait (call ahead)). Instead of listing the multitude of fabulous, and breathtaking, art from indigenous to Asian and African artists I best save my thumbs and your eyes, from reading this post and implore you to go see it for yourself. This is also why I'm not posting any pics hehe, don't want to spoil anything. Trust me and thank me later. Wayne county residents get in for FREE so if your new to the area and looking for an art filled weekend start here!

Researching for this Detroit trip, I saw plenty of people hyping up this museum. It lives up to the hype! Aside from the art being beautiful and varied, the setup for each display is thoughtful and crates a great experience and mood as you go from room to room. We couldn't get through all of it before it closed for the day. Would have spent an hour more there.

Always a treat. My favorite annual exhibit is The Ofrendas. There's always something new/ contemporary to see along with the amazing classics. I love the Kresge Court for a glass of wine. The film theatre is a treasure as well. Especially the annual short film festival.

I don't even know where to begin. Museums, especially art museums, hold a very special place in my heart. I get giddy like a kid on a playground from just imagining what can be hiding within the museum's walls. When I arrived at the Detroit Institute of Arts this was no different. It was a cloudy, chilly day. Perfect for a trip to the museum. I came primarily for a work meeting, but the icing on the cake was having a little time to explore. I have to start by saying how sweet the ladies that were taking tickets were. Seriously, they started my visit off with a giant smile. Great work! For my meeting with a colleague, we met at Kresge Court located right in the middle of the museum on the first floor. They had great wifi, coffee, and lunch offerings. We both got some work done and enjoyed a tasty lunch. I've written a separate review on that so I'll point you there for more information. The museum itself is enormous and stretches over two floors. I love that you can move from one exhibit to the next very easily. Everything flowed really well and the variety of art inside was amazing. There was everything from the famous self portrait of Vincent van Gogh and paintings by the legendary Pablo Picasso to sculptures made from all kinds of different materials and even beautifully crafted giant stained glass pieces. The diversity of mediums featured throughout can leave you with your jar on the floor. I wish I could have spent an entire day here and I will if I ever get the chance to visit again... and I sure hope so. I know I only got a glimpse. Definitely make the time to go. You won't be disappointed, instead you'll find yourself inspired.

Made a trip here recently with family and friends and was very happy with our visit. Easy to get to from the western burbs. $7 to park was a fair price to pay as the lot was across the street from the rear entrance to the building. Free to get in as we were Wayne and Oakland county residents. Very friendly staff. Far too many exhibits to see in one day so we plan on going back. Something for all ages. DIA cafe is a small, quiet space allowing you to enjoy a coffee, pastry, or other refreshment. The Kresge Court has a nice selection of hot or cold foods including soups, sandwiches, salads, and daily specials. We enjoyed our meal there. I had not been here in a very long time and was very pleased with the trip. Am looking forward to venturing back and seeing some of what we missed. Definitely a go to place in my book.

My daughter is a fan of arts and world culture, so for her 18th birthday, we came here. She loved the new After Cubism exhibit and the Asian and African displays. After a very long time since being here, I am so glad to be back and share this experience with her

I wish I had more time in this museum so that I could see all the different exhibits, but from the 2/3rds that I was able to visit, the collection here is spectacular. I really appreciate the ticket lady letting us know about all the different types of discounts they offered. Was able to participate in the AAA discount offered =) Also, I hope to make it back earlier next time to enjoy the cafe in there, it looks like a nice place to relax and have a meal.

Original Van Gogh's (including his self portrait), Degas, Cezanne, Diego Rivera and more! Over 65,000 works of art to admire. DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) has it all. Beautiful galleries and sections on 3 levels include British, Dutch, African, Egyptian, Roman, Middle East etc.. The Great Hall that leads onto the Rivera Court features full length draw dropping wall to wall murals by master Diego Rivera. There are two dining options inside; Cafe DIA and the Kresge Court (named after S.S. Kresge founder who began opening his dime stores in 1899. He would go on to rename them to K-Mart! Lively way to spend the day here. There are also outdoor sculptures and a garden walk too. Don't count this art museum out. It's 1 of the top 10 art galleries in the US and has a lot to offer that other galleries don't have!

My first time here and I was impressed with the variety of the collections. DIA has been around since the 1880s. You can definitely spend multiple days here. I couldn't follow the map if my life depended on it. My party stumbled on the Native American art looking for a bathroom. The highlight for us was the chapel that was brought over from France in the 1920s. They built it into the wall. You can see the outside of it in the courtyard. The museum store has a some really nice items. I bought a game for family game night.

I can't believe I haven't written a review for the DIA yet! This is truly one of the best art museums I've ever been to, and I love that it's located in my backyard! You could come here 10 times and still have so much left to explore and properly enjoy here as there are so many wings and exhibits to marvel at throughout this building! There is something for everyone at the DIA and they are also always bringing in special exhibits as well to pique your interest! The DIA is beautiful and I love that it is free for Oakland County (and many other SE Michigan county residents) to check out - with a few exclusions, often for the special exhibits! It is located on beautiful Woodward and is so architecturally beautiful that you'll often find photoshoots happening outside of the DIA as well! One of my favorite events that the DIA puts on is their Oscar Shorts viewings at the theater they have! I go every year to watch the Oscar Shorts here, which over the years have turned into individual sessions breaking down the categories of animated, documentary, and live action. Sometimes you will find a few combined so you can pick and choose and/or have to schedule more than one afternoon/evening to watch all the shorts! Either way though, I really enjoy that the DIA offers this event and so much more!

A fantastic spot in Detroit! A lot of art and history behind the art! Floors and different rooms of art all from different time periods! The DIA is a must see, plan to spend a day to see everything! Cute museum store inside and two different places to eat at!

Did you know that Wayne country residents get in free? Me either! I found this out when I was buying tickets to the Van Gogh exhibit at the DIA. This exhibit does have a price tag, but it's less expensive being a Wayne country resident. Today, we enjoyed the Van Gogh exhibit. It's the 100 year anniversary of the first Van Gogh purchased by the DIA. Additionally, the DIA was the first museum in the US to purchase his work too. What a honor to have this beautiful exhibit in the city of Detroit. Check this exhibit out before it leaves the city on 1/22/23.

The DIA is a gorgeous staple of Detroit which boasts some of the most organic and authentic artwork that encompasses so many cultures. They also have live performances of rotating performers most Friday nights. Last night we had the pleasure of seeing a group of musicians from Ghana. They were incredible! Everyone in the room felt the passion. It was so neat to be at the DIA in the evening, and I can't wait for another show and to see their next art display! My work team has also brought our classes for a field trip and the students enjoyed it!

I made a day trip from Cleveland to Detroit to visit the DIA for the Van Gogh in America exhibit and I had a great visit. Getting to DIA in mid-morning I found that the dedicated lot was full so I hunted for nearby street parking; I ended up a block away and downloaded the Park Detroit app to pay for the parking, which also allowed me to add time to the parking spot while in the museum. Entering DIA I was greeted and helped by the wonderful staff. I managed to get a time slot for the Van Gogh exhibit at 1pm. If going to the exhibit you are required to check your coat and any bags you are carrying at the free coat check. All of the staff I dealt with during my visit were excellent and very helpful. With time until the exhibit I managed to explore the whole rest of the DIA and it is a fascinating museum with a wide ranging collection. The museum seems to be several different buildings that have been combined and that results in a number of atmospheres from some large halls to complex warrens of galleries. Some of the architecture is interesting and worth viewing on their own. The collection on display is good, with some strengths such as the older pieces with the modern or contemporary collection being a bit limited. The African-American galleries were closed so I was unable to visit them. I did enjoy the Picasso gallery which showed the progression of his works and his influence on other artists. The highlight of the visit was the Van Gogh exhibit which was extensive and interesting, with plenty of information available from the supplied catalog and the on call audio pieces. I would have liked more information on the art labels; I do understand that with the large number of people coming through the exhibit this could have been problematic. I did appreciate the work that went into assembling the large number of Van Gogh works in a single location; if you want to appreciate the true genius of Van Gogh it is well worth your time to visit. Overall a great visit thanks to an exceptional exhibit. If you went to the Interactive Van Gogh and were disappointed this is the way to see what Van Gogh is really all about. All I can say is if at all possible get to the DIA before the Van Gogh exhibit is over.

Best art museum in the US. Beautiful buildings; large and diverse collections; tons of free talks, tours, and lectures; lots of stuff for kids; and an excellent cafe in the Kresge Court.

The DIA is always a great trip if you appreciate art. They have area for all different kinds of art lovers, with some sections even getting cycled through. Easy to stay for a long time here and really difficult to leave! I've been coming here for the past decade for various different reasons. Class trips, an afternoon with my wife, or going with some friends. Each time, I feel like I see something totally new. In some cases, that's true because of different exhibits they swap out from time to time. But in the more permanent areas of the DIA, I feel like I always see something totally different every time. There are so many different sections to take a look at, it's hard to keep track of which way you're walking and if you saw everything. There's contemporary, egyptian artifacts, african artifacts, religious, and so much more! Truly enjoy coming here every year or so to see what's new and what has changed!

I underestimated how much time I wanted to spend at this place, because it is so beautiful, and they have so many amazing works of art over here! The service was great while I was even buying the tickets, because with the person at the ticket counter asked if I had a student ID or anything so I could get a discount which I appreciated, even though I didn't have one. I did think that I was strange that they had security every where with masks walking around everywhere, but I suppose they need high security for some reason or another. I understand that there are valuable pieces of art, but it was a bit intimidating. There was a walking tour which I did not account for time wise, so I couldn't do the whole thing, but i listened for a while on the walking tour with the tour guide. I don't remember his name, but he was so interesting and I could have stood there and listened to him all day. The cafe that is inside of here is stunning and the drinks that we got were good as well. I would definitely come here again!

This is a beautiful museum with a variety of paintings, sculptures and genres of art. We went mostly to see the famous Detroit mural of the Ford plant, but the other galleries were equally interesting and worth a stop. The entrance fee was $18 for an adult ticket, which is definitely less than some of the art museums in Boston and New York.

This place was amazing! I got tickets for the Van Gogh in America exhibit, and we ended up going through the rest of the museum afterwards. I really liked that there was a parking lot in the back for $7! There was a complimentary coat check that was mandatory for those going into the Van Gogh exhibit, but it was nice to not have to carry our winter coats and bags anyway. It was pretty warm in there, so be warned. The Van Gogh exhibit was phenomenal! The staff was very helpful and kind. The rest of the museum was also very wonderful, the ONLY reason I am giving the DIA a 4 instead 5 is that the museum was so large and difficult to navigate. So many stair cases were closed, and the rooms twisted and turned into the next, so it's easy to get turned around. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed being there, and I would definitely recommend everyone checks it out!

Free admission for local residents (because they pay for it with their taxes) or $14 for non-residents like me. It is one of the biggest art collections in the United States and I'm simply amazed. This is a two day museum to see the whole collection that includes Egyptian art, African art and even contemporary art. Even the building itself is an artwork, designed by Paul Philippe Cret who is also responsible for the Eternal Light Peace Memorial in Gettysburg, the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge and the Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium. Whoah! After getting lost despite the map, I found the exact art that I like to see: European impressionists. Gaugin's self-portrait, Can Gogh's portrait of the postmaster, Georges Seurat's pointillism, a still life by Piet Montrian. Fabulous. Oh sure, Canalettos The Piazza San Marco was beautiful and the 1st century torso of Aphrodite was stunning and how can we not be impressed by the marble sculpture by Giovanni Maria Benzoni titled "Zephyr Dancing with Flora". It's quite simply an fantastic museum and I very much enjoyed my visit. [Review 17962 overall - 358 in Michigan - 1483 of 2022.]

Really nice place the only thing missing in this place is a full service restaurant I would love to eat here after viewing all the beautiful art my son loved this place and so did I you have to go visit worth every moment spent here. Worth looking for parking .

Whether a newcomer to creativity and culture or a seasoned art aficionado, you must put this museum on the top of your list! The DIA's collection represents art through the ages--from Millais renaissance paintings to Picasso's blue-period portraits. It's not just an art museum, but a great tour through history. They recently had an exhibit on the evolution of Detroit-made cars. In contrast, they had a room dedicated to Van Gogh, including one of his self-portraits. The art world and community is incredibly special, and the DIA plays an important contributor to that. Admission is free for several surrounding counties including Oakland and Macomb--make sure to bring your ID! Price is $14 otherwise. The DIA offers classes and activities, in-person and online for anyone. One of my tips for working locals is to spend an afternoon at Kresge Court. They are open the same hours as the museum, and you can get in for free with your ID. We being our laptops and books and enjoy a latte or glass of wine in the beautiful, window-roofed room. It beats working in a library or at home any day!

A friend of mine had complimentary tickets to attend the screening of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks here. Upon entry, we were greeted by staff and informed of complimentary books that were available at the table. As a book lover this appealed to me greatly. There was a reception prior to the screening which was where the swag bag was distributed. This included a signed copy of the book which the documentary is named, a poster of the documentary advertisement and a pair of cookies from Good Cakes and Bakes. There was also a discussion panel afterwards that included Soledad O'Brien, the directors of the documentary and the author of the book. The experience from beginning to end was powerful and impactful.

It's funny, I've been all over the world. To the Louvre, the Brit, the Met etc., and have never thought to stop in the DIA right in the heart of my hometown. Yesterday I did so for the first time and was instantly blown away by the quality of the museum. The British, Italian and Golden age Dutch exhibits are amazing and full of some absolutely world class art. During my visit I noticed there's even places where people can learn to draw and practice in the Golden Age Dutch section which was awesome to see. Who knows. The next Picasso or Van Gogh could be right in the inner city of Detroit and not know it because they've never been exposed to art. So having a world class facility where they can become immersed in it is awesome. The Native American exhibit was also really interesting and probably the most underrated part of the museum based on the number of people I saw walking around. My only complaint with the museum is I found that the number of exhibits was lacking. It would be nice if there were more Asian and African art on display at the museum as well as aboriginal stuff from Australia. Still, for being in Detroit, this is absolutely incredible and a must see for any visitor or resident of the city.

This rivals any museum they have in NYC Having seen it all, the only thing we do not have is an auto museum It could be our version of the Met fashion institute. That being said, we got the Diego Rivera mural and NYC was stupid and painted over theirs! https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/michigan/articles/the-untold-story-behind-diego-riveras-murals-in-detroit/

There is truly something special about the DIA. It's one of my most favorite places to get lost. The sheer magnitude of this museum and the masterpieces behind her doors is one of the city's most prized possessions. Transported to another time, century, era, decade of inspiration, beauty, and wonder; The DIA is must see for all visitors to our city. The most recent Van Gogh exhibit was fantastic!

A few of my friends raved about this museum because of the huge mural by Diego Rivera. It's pretty impressive!! It's free if you're a resident of the area, but I was not. $14, but that's not a bad price for how large this museum is! 3 floors with so many rooms. It was kind of like a maze but went in a circle. So much to see! Not gonna lie, I'm not super into portraits of people in powder white wigs. I found it to be a bit boring. But I did enjoy the African American paintings on the second floor and all the sculptures and Chinese and Japanese paintings on the bottom floor. I think this museum has a lot to offer here in Detroit. It's pretty extensive. They even had a car exhibit which we didn't look at, but made the museum feel like they had quite a variety. We had bought tickets online, so I had an email with QR codes for each ticket. But the QR code only works 30 minutes before or after the time you booked your reservation for. We were a bit late so the staff member informed us, but only for future reference. It didn't affect us being able to visit. But they mentioned to visit the other desk if we didn't come at the assigned time so that they could check us in. It's a really nice art museum. Well maintained and clean. Gorgeous architecture from the outside. The thinker statue sits outside at the very front. There was a wedding going on, so we couldn't get to one of the areas. Tons of people here though, even an hour before close!

This is a beautiful way to spend the day! We visited Detroit from Milwaukee over spring break. Several people told me we needed to go to the DIA and I'm so glad we did. You can easily spend 3-4 hours in this art museum. I love contemporary art but we made sure to see everything. We were offered a triple A discount when we checked in, which saved us a good amount on admission. Their lunch cafe was beautiful and the food was way better than anything I expected. Make sure to explore this gem if you are in the area!

The DIA is a stunning museum! Owning pieces from a range of art movements from American Cultural to the Renaissance to Impressionism to Modern art, there is history all around. One day is not nearly enough to see all that it has to offer and typically, the DIA has temporary exhibits to diversify your visit no matter how many time you have been there. The staff is always super friendly and have even walked me over to certain sections in case you get lost in the many floors of the Institute. It is also free to Residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, so take advantage of this cultural gem in the city.

The museum is not free (perhaps a consequence of it surviving the city's financial woes), but it was as impressive as I could have hoped. One prepurchases tickets online, but I found coming here a relatively hassle-free experience. I scanned my code and was good to go. There was no intrusive metal detector or bag check (my small shoulder bag at least was allowed, though anything bigger seemingly would not be), and this seems rather retro as I've become used to unnecessary security procedures for things like this. When I visited, signs were everywhere saying the CDC recommended masks, but hardly anyone other than the employees was doing that, and I felt bad for the people working there. It seems like security theater has been replaced by COVID theater. The museum complex includes several interconnected structures. It is spacious, with several impressive courtyards, and three floors of exhibits. The ground floor is split between Native American and more global exhibitions, while the American display on the second floor includes a substantial local flavor, including and impressive exhibition of automobile Americana, and the last floor was British and European. I thought I had found the rare museum that didn't do pricey add-ons, but there was one such exhibit that I skipped. The rest of the museum was quite sufficient. The information presented was generally quite in-depth and thought provoking, with some research clearly having gone into art history and theory here. Separately, they have a theater, which is a magnificent multilevel structure. Unlike the museum as a whole, they were both checking vaccine cards and requiring masks (though I don't know how you'd tell who was wearing a mask in a dark theater), all of which caught me by surprise. I believe these restrictions were listed on my online ticket but weren't clear to me before, and they aren't something I support under the present circumstances. Whether I would have come knowing is a hypothetical, but the movie I did come for was interesting. All told, this is a place where it takes hours just to do a quick overview, and certainly well worth it.

Beautiful, incredible art museum. I especially loved the medieval wing and the'dining experience ' in the Dutch wing.

The Kresege Court is a nice gem located inside the DIA. It showcases stunning designs in architecture, with each wall representing a difference in time periods. The East wall is 15th Century Italian design, the South wall is 16 th century German design, the west wall is 17th century flemish/dutch design, the north wall is 14th century european gothic style. Inside the also have a cafe, with a small lunch menu later on as well. The atmosphere is peaceful for studying, taking a break between exhibits, and just simply enjoying the fact your in an exhibit itself.

Worth the visit if you're visiting from out of town, and if you live here I hope you make the time to check it out! As someone who has been to art museums in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and NYC I can confidently say that the DIA is one of the best museums I've been to.

Wonderful and extensive collection from the entire world. Easy to navigate. They offer any collective array of classes. The staff is super friendly. Easy parking easy to get to.

Yes yes yes! My favorite museum of all time. I have enjoyed coming here since I was a child. It's nostalgic to be back. It's a gorgeous museum with incredible design and light. There is a wide variety of art, such as modern, European, Japanese, Korean, African, Islamic, Egyptian, African American, anf Rivera Court, highlighting Diego Rivera's Industry murals, inspired by Detroit. There was also a special exhibit about Detroit's car design from 1950-2020. There were incredible cars, along with sketches and stages of how cars are designed--sketches, tape drawings, clay models. This exhibit will be there through January 9, 2022. Beautiful indoor courtyard called Kresge Court, where you can grab snacks and beverages. There is a cafe too, but it's currently closed. Lovely gift shops too. It's located in midtown Detroit, near Wayne State University. Plenty of nearby parking and even a parking lot that costs $7. Free admission for residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. Reservations and masks required. Photos are allowed without flash.

A world class art museum, in some respects rivaling those in bigger cities. Detroit, as a city, is underrated in this day and age but is crawling with gems which includes this fine venue. Alas, the collection here is very impressive, one of the largest, most diverse and elaborate anywhere stateside. I especially found the contemporary art pieces and Whitby Hall, the African American art, and the European sculptures to be incredible!

If you're into art and architecture, the Detroit Institute of Arts is a must-visit while in Detroit. Not only is it one of the largest art museums in the country, but it's also one of the largest in the world. The museum has over 100 galleries of art from contemporary to Renaissance to photography. Here's what to keep in mind as you visit: 1) Tickets: During the pandemic, they ask that you reserve tickets online to held them regulate the flow of visitors. We bought tickets online an hour before we arrived on a Sunday in August. It was easy to buy. Adult tickets are $14 and kids under five are free. 2) Art: You could easily spend an entire day here wandering through every gallery. Keep in mind the building is much bigger than it looks from the outside. Wear walking shoes. 3) Murals: Don't miss the grand hall with Diego Rivera's historic murals, art that inspired the New Deal Mural Program. 4) Cafe: Prices are as steep as other museums, but the space is stunning. It's in a well-lit courtyard, a relaxing space.

With over 100 galleries, the Detroit Institute of Arts covers 658,000 square feet (61,100 m2), making the museum one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. Regarded as among the top six museums in the United States, the DIA's collection is valued at $8.1 billion according to a 2014 appraisal. Edsel Ford commissioned murals for the museum's courtyard from Diego Rivera in 1932. Composed in fresco style, the five sets of massive murals are known collectively as Detroit Industry, or Man and Machine. During the McCarthy era, the murals survived only by means of a prominent sign which identified them as legitimate art and asserted that the political motivations of the artist to liberate the proletariat were "detestable."

Who knew the city of Detroit had such an amazing space for art lovers of all kinds to enjoy? I certainly was pleasantly surprised by this gem of an art museum as with over one hundred galleries, the Detroit Institute of Arts (or DIA) has one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. The DIA is just one of a number of buildings that make up the Cultural Center Historic District along Woodward Avenue, across from the Detroit Public Library and Wayne State University, and next door to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Michigan Science Center, which makes the neighborhood quite the gathering space for arts and education. What sets the DIA apart from so many other city's main art galleries and museums is the shear size of the facility, so much of which is so remarkable that when they renovated and expanded the facility in the late 2000s, the museum served as a significant example of the study for museum planning, function, direction, and design to follow in the future. With all of the financial and societal issues that have plagued the city of Detroit in the past and still do to this day, it is actually heartwarming to see and instinctively feel the dedication of the citizens of the region to make sure that the DIA lives up to the legacy and purpose that was set forth during it's founding. Although their Beaux-Arts, Italian Renaissance styled building first opened back in 1927, the DIA's legacy began in the late 1800s when local newspaper magnate James Scripps embarked upon a lengthy tour of Europe where he acquired a number of noteworthy pieces for a collection that would become the Detroit Museum of Art. After establishing their home that the Institute has resided in for almost one hundred years, the museum continues to offer visitors an encounter with human creativity from all over the world, including what I agree with historians is considered as its greatest asset, five sets of massive murals are known collectively as "Detroit Industry, or Man and Machine". Commissioned by local businessman Edsel Ford and painted by Diego Rivera on the walls of an inner court of the museum in 1932, "Detroit Industry" is generally said to be one of America's most significant monuments. It was in the Diego Rivera courtyard that us conventiongoers were able to enjoy a wonderful evening of catered bites and libations as the docents at the DIA explained to us the historical significance of 27 frescos that make up the "Detroit Industry" mural. But our trip to the DIA began with our group of conventioneers entering through their main entrance with a cast of Auguste Rodin's sculpture, "The Thinker" immediately greeted us before we even stepped inside. The staff, who stayed late for us conventioneers, immediately checked our vaccination status before we headed directly to the area known as the Kresge Court, which is an outdoor courtyard whose ceiling is covered in glass. They had an open bar and comfortable seating ready for us all to enjoy. They kept the space that we allowed to visit limited on the evening we arrived, but we were able to enjoy passed apps and cocktails in their Prentis Court area before we were allowed to adjourn to their museum store (a.k.a. the DIA Shop) where they gave us conventioneers a discount on any purchase. Then had us head upstairs to their second floor where we could walk through the one special exhibit they opened for us which was titled "By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy". What was nice about this exhibit beyond the extraordinary artwork was in order to get a more descriptive journey through some of the pieces, they were showcasing, all one had to do was scan the QR code and you walk to the number assigned to each painting where they would share background information on how the piece came to be. Our final stop of our evening was the place that I was most looking forward to, their Rivera Court, where we got a close up view of Diego Rivera's masterpiece. The fact the mural was officially completed in 1933, meaning we are getting this much closer to its one hundredth anniversary, and has not needed to be retouched once. The history of Detroit's auto industry and how it shaped the city's identity was on full display right before our very eyes. What was nice was they let us eat and drink in both the Rivera Court and the Great Hall, as the catering team at the DIA really pulled out all of the stops. Highlights included their Beef Short Ribs and Slow Roasted Chicken. Being able to enjoy a dessert, fresh fruit, and coffee buffet underneath the walls of the mural stood out as a wonderful memory. It was an evening and experience to remember at the DIA, and it only made me want to come back to experience more of their vast exhibition areas. A working class city like Detroit deserves such a beautiful and historical setting to enjoy such astonishing historical artwork.

The exhibit is always lively and they sometimes have interactive exhibits! The art is phenomenal, thought provoking, and sometimes very deep. Other times it's very on the nose, and I appreciated the contrast. The media room is a wonderful feature as well!

Wow, this is a very beautiful museum, the DIA has many interesting art pieces. They have European art, Chinese art, African art, Egyptian art,American art, art from all 7 contents. Many beautiful paintings that one actually has to see and take in.

So beautiful! We went on a weekday and it was not crowded and everyone was helpful. Loved all the sections and must come back in the summer:)

The Detroit Institute of Arts is still amazing to go even during a pandemic. Yes, you need to make a reservation to go because they are limiting the numbers within the museum but that in someways makes it more enjoyable to be there. You enter from one set of doors where you get temperature checked and your reservation QR code gets scanned. You exit from a different set of doors which helps to control the flow of people. Each section has a particular entrance and exit as the DIA is trying to keep people as far apart as possible like you are supposed to right now. It had been a couple years since I've been to the DIA so it was a fun afternoon. The one drawback right now is none of the food locations are open. So there's really no way to get beverages when you need a little break. I will definitely be back.