DePaul Art Museum

DePaul University began assembling a permanent art collection in 1972. Officially founded in 1985, the DePaul Art Museum began with no permanent location for its collections.^[2] Housing a variety of pieces in classrooms and later the John T. Richardson Library upon its completion in 1992.^[3]

In 2011 a new three-story, 15,200 square foot building was completed at a price of $7.8 million.^[4] ($11.4 million in 2026) The dedicated museum was built alongside the CTA's Fullerton station on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus. The building was designed by Chicago architectural firm Antunovich Associates, Inc.^[5]

In February, 2026 the university announced that the museum will close on June 30. The decision follows declining international graduate enrollment as well as the rising demand for financial aid. The announcement caused backlash from students, staff, and the community as a whole. University president Robert Manuel stated that the building would not be sold or abandoned, but "repurposed in another way that served students".^[6] Since early March, a petition was created by philosophy professor Sean Kirkland that has since received over 3,800 signatures opposing the decision.^[7] It is unknown what the outcome of the museum collection will be.

The museum is in ownership of a vast variety of pieces including that of many Chicago artists and beyond. This includes works by Chicago Imagists and Monster Roster such as Roger Brown and Christina Ramberg. As well as pieces from other national and international artists such as Andy Warhol and even a 16th-century Spanish oil painting of the Madonna and Child.^[8]