Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Dating to 1875, the University of Notre Dame’s art collection is one of the oldest, finest and most comprehensive in American academia. It consists of more than 30,000 works spanning ancient times to the present day, ranging from sculptures, paintings and ceramics to textiles, prints and photographs created by artists from around the globe. 

The collection is housed at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, a 70,000 square-foot, classically inspired building on the university’s campus near South Bend, Indiana. The museum opened to the public in December 2023 and is part of the Notre Dame Arts Gateway that connects the university with its surrounding city. 

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to explore its 23 historically themed galleries and enjoy programming that includes guided tours, jazz concerts, yoga in the galleries and family days. The museum’s bookstore invites visitors to select their next read and grab a bite to eat at Ivan’s Cafe, which is named for the college’s former sculptor-in-residence Ivan Mestrovic, whose works grace the campus. 

Although its galleries hold treasures such as Frederic Remington’s bronze “Bronco Buster” and a Rembrandt self-portrait, the museum also displays specially commissioned contemporary works that are significant and visually stunning.  “Endless,” a 36-foot-tall stainless steel outdoor sculpture by Jaume Plensa accents the museum’s entrance, while its multilevel atrium features Maya Lin’s “Silver St. Joseph (River) Watershed,” a recycled silver relief that honors Indiana’s Indigenous people and reflects the South Bend area’s natural environment. On the grounds surrounding the museum, explore larger-than-life works of art at the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park. St. Andre Way at the corner of Eddy Street and Angela Boulevard, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, 574/631-5466, raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu