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Library and Archives

The Library & Archives contain a wealth of information on contemporary and modern art and artists working in a variety of mediums.

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The Library & Archives contain a wealth of information on contemporary and modern art and artists working in a variety of mediums. The Library includes over 40,000 books, 80 art publications, hundreds of pamphlets, and artist files on contemporary art and artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. Subjects include Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Design, Architecture, Performance/Performing Arts, and Film. The library is particularly strong in books about painters and sculptors from 1945 to the present and mid-20th-century architecture and design.
The Archives contain the institutional history of the Walker Art Center, including information on exhibitions and events held by the Walker. They include correspondence, press, photographs, video, and ephemera dating back to the Walker Art Center opening in 1940. The Archives also include the T. B. Walker Collection and Art Gallery records, 1860–1939. In addition to Walker-related documents, there are special collections, including the Merce Cunningham Dance Company Sets and Costumes archive, the Siah Armajani Studio Archive, and the Franklin Artworks Gallery.

Library Catalogue and More                Contact a librarian

Hours

By Appointment

Wednesday–Friday 10 am–5 pm

Open to the Public

Free Thursday Nights 5–8 pm (closed June–August)
Free First Saturdays 10 am–3 pm (closed June–September)

Highlights

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Archives

The archives provides a rich resource for study on the Walker Art Center from materials dating back to the private collection of T. B. Walker in 1879 to Walker Art Center’s most recent exhibitions and events.

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Rosemary Furtak Artist Book Collection

This collection of “books that refuse to behave like books” includes books by artists represented in the Walker Art Center’s permanent collection as well as exemplary work by local book artists.

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Walker Publications

For over 75 years, the Walker Art Center has explored the cutting edge of publishing across form and content. This continues today through our evolving print and digital publishing endeavors.

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Interdisciplinary Initiative

This multiyear Interdisciplinary Initiative (2016–2020) funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that bolstered the Walker’s commitment to artists working at the intersection of the performing and visual arts.

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Collections at a Glance

Books: Over 35,000 contemporary art books
Art Journals: 150 subscriptions
Artist Books: 1,800
Artist Files: 5,200
Institutional Records and Special Collections: 4,000 linear feet
Audio, Video, and Film Titles: 6,000
Still Images: 640,000

Resources

Finding Aids

Directors

Performing Arts

Exhibitions

Loans and Reproduction Requests

The Walker regularly lends works from its collections to exhibitions, nationally and internationally, and circulates digital photography assets, upon request.
Make a request