Description [EN]
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is a major art museum in Detroit, Michigan, and among the largest in the United States. It was founded in 1885 as the Detroit Museum of Art; the current building opened in 1927, designed by Franco-American architect Paul Philippe Cret. The Beaux-Arts style of its façade and interiors reflects early twentieth-century architectural trends. Since its inauguration, the building has undergone several expansions and renovations: additional gallery wings in the 1950s, reconfiguration of exhibition spaces in the 1970s, and a comprehensive renovation from 2007 to 2012 under architect Michael Graves, resulting in enlarged galleries and upgraded conservation and storage facilities. The collection comprises over 65,000 works. Highlights include Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry murals of 1932–33, designated a National Historic Landmark. European art ranges from the Renaissance and Baroque to Impressionism and Modernism, featuring works by El Greco, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Monet, Renoir, and Cézanne. American art holdings include pieces by Albert Bierstadt, John Singer Sargent, and Norman Rockwell. The museum also houses extensive Asian, African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian art, as well as Islamic art and Native American objects. Departments cover painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photography, architecture, and design, supported by the Kresge Art Library and archives of American art. The DIA is active in research and conservation and regularly organizes temporary exhibitions, lecture series, and educational programs for diverse audiences. Since 2012, a regional millage approved by voters provides stable funding for operations, acquisitions, and preservation. Public engagement includes school partnerships, docent-led tours, and family workshops. Conservation laboratories apply scientific methods for the analysis and treatment of artworks. The archives maintain records, photographs, and ephemera documenting the museum’s history and collections. The DIA operates as a private nonprofit with a board of trustees overseeing policy, while university affiliations support curatorial research and publications.