The history of the Milwaukee Art Center starts with Fredrick Layton who built an art
gallery near Cathedral Square in 1888, which formed the basis for the Milwaukee Art
Association. In 1911 the Art Association changed names to the Milwaukee Art Society,
and later in 1916 to the Milwaukee Art Institute. In 1957 the Institute and the
Layton Art Gallery combined and moved to the War Memorial Center as the Milwaukee
Art Center. Later in 1975 the Kahler building was constructed to accommodate the
growing collection. In 1980 the Milwaukee Art Center became the Milwaukee Art
Museum, which moved in 2001 to The Quadracci Pavilion designed by Santiago
Calatrava. Former MPL City Librarian (1941-1975) Richard Krug, served on the Board
of Trustees for the Milwaukee Art Center.
