John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center

John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center

Fine Art Museum color field painting

WCU Fine Art Museum

Open year-round, the WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center features four galleries, a growing permanent collection, and exhibitions highlighting regional, national, and international artists. The museum facilitates scholarly research and provides life-long learning opportunities for individuals of all ages by collecting, interpreting, and showcasing cross-cultural innovation in contemporary art.

Explore the Museum

exhibit in the Fine art museum

Exhibitions

The WCU Fine Art Museum presents exhibitions featuring modern and contemporary art. Currently on display...

painting from the Fine art museum collection

The Collection

See highlights from the museum's permanent collection, featuring ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, painting... 

sculpture along the wcu hikiing trail

Public Art 

Throughout the WCU campus, explore a variety of works in bronze, concrete, wood, steel...

woman speaking in front of an art piece in the Fine art museum collection

Museum Calendar

Join us for events in the WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center. Upcoming next is...

You Are Invited

Return from Exile, Shan Gorshon

August 21 - December 8

Return from Exile:
Contemporary Southeastern Indian Art

The exhibition features more than thirty contemporary Southeastern Native American artists working in a variety of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, basketry, sculpture, and pottery. 

On November 10, this exhibition features a one day Contemporary Native American Art Symposium, reception, and keynote performance from A Tribe Called Red. 

Learn More

Ancient Forms, Modern Minds: Contemporary Cherokee Ceramics

May 29 - November 10, 2017

Ancient Forms, Modern Minds:
Contemporary Cherokee Ceramics

This exhibition features the work of 11 Cherokee artists, such as Joel Queen and Davey Arch, and brings together both historic and contemporary pottery techniques. The pottery of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians originated in Western North Carolina nearly 3,000 years ago...

Learn More

A Destination for the Arts

Fine Art Museum exhibit

Explore the Space

With nearly 10,000 feet of gallery space, the WCU Fine Art Museum features a growing permanent collection and an exciting exhibition schedule of contemporary art. Explore on your own or join a docent-led tour for an interactive art adventure.

A Learning Lab

The WCU Fine Art Museum serves as a learning laboratory, stressing exploration while challenging contemporary artists to create new art forms, utilizing both conventional tools and processes as well as new modes of expression and state-of-the-art technology.

A Teaching Museum

We facilitate scholarly research, interactive art education, academic curriculum support, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration, and life-long learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Context

The WCU Fine Art Museum provides visitors with opportunities to join the ongoing dialogue about contemporary art and its diverse forms and processes. Exhibitions act as a vehicle for communication and serves as a bridge between contemporary artwork. 

Instagram

Discover More

Office of Web Services