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Exhibitions

For 60 years, Sheldon Museum of Art has provided a venue for students, faculty and staff, alumni, and visitors to engage with art and one another. As an academic art museum, Sheldon schedules its exhibitions to coincide with the academic calendar.

"Buddhist Community of Lincoln (Chua Linh Quang)," 2011, a photograph by Binh Danh.

Hyphen American: Intersections of Identity

January 24, 2026 through July 5, 2026 How does an artist’s work reflect the American experience? As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, Sheldon Museum of Art explores this question by showcasing how identity is presented and interrogated in visual art.

Wayne Thiebaud's painting "Salads, Sandwiches, and Desserts," 1962.

Collection Galleries

August 15, 2024 through December 31, 2027 Sheldon Museum of Art’s collection galleries are reimagined through installations that spark inquiry and dialogue on topics that transcend time, place, and media. The themes they present emphasize human ingenuity, imagination, and our interconnectedness with one another and our surroundings.

Jessica Stockholder’s monumental work "2000" comprises a bathtub, sofa, accent lamps, and other household objects.

New Acquisition: Jessica Stockholder

December 16, 2025 through June 21, 2026 Sheldon Museum of Art celebrates the acquisition of a monumental work by Jessica Stockholder by displaying it in the Great Hall.

Fabrication model for the sculpture "Torn Notebook."

From Sketch to Sculpture: Torn Notebook at 30

January 24, 2026 through July 5, 2026 From Sketch to Sculpture celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of Torn Notebook, the monumental sculpture Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen were commissioned to create for the green space at 12th and Q streets.

A detail of the painting "Arch Hotel" (1929) by Stuart Davis.

Americans Abroad

January 24, 2026 through July 5, 2026 Featuring works from the museum’s collection, this exhibition surveys the creative output of artists who left the United States in search of inspiration and artistic advancement.

Outdoor Sculpture

Discover Sheldon’s collection—outside.
Explore outdoor sculptures from Sheldon’s collection displayed year round across the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s City and East Campuses.

A detail of "Otherworldly" (2011), a woodcut by Karen Kunc.

Sheldon Statewide: Nebraska's Legacy

Traveling Across the State 2025–2026

Since 1877, when the University of Nebraska began offering courses in art, the creative output from faculty has drawn prospective students from all over the state and beyond. Titled Nebraska’s Legacy, this exhibition features artworks spanning more than a century by former and current University of Nebraska–Lincoln professors.