The Detroit Institute of Arts has unveiled a comprehensive exhibition featuring some of its most prized masterpieces while the museum undergoes extensive renovations. The "Highlights from the Modern Collection" exhibition, which opened earlier this month, presents approximately 65 works of art in three galleries using an innovative salon-style presentation that will continue through 2026.
The exhibition showcases both rarely seen treasures and beloved favorites that visitors expect to encounter at the world-renowned institution. Featured works include masterpieces by Francis Bacon, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, multiple Pablo Picasso pieces, and several Vincent van Gogh paintings, including his famous "Self Portrait" and "Portrait of the Postman." According to DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience the museum's collection in an entirely new way.
"It is a great way to enjoy these pieces," Salort-Pons explained. "Some of them were on view, have always been on view, others are coming out from storage and we are showing them in this new installation. It's a great opportunity to see the DIA collection in a new light." The salon-style presentation differs dramatically from traditional museum displays, where individual paintings typically occupy entire walls alone.
The distinctive installation method creates an intimate, residential atmosphere reminiscent of 19th and early 20th-century homes. "A salon style is... we actually install the art all the way up the wall, so it's kind of using the entire wall. We stack the paintings up," Salort-Pons described. "That's the kind of installation that you would find in a home in the 19th century or the early 20th century, so it really gives the collection a very homey feeling."
The current renovations have created this unique curatorial opportunity. The museum is upgrading galleries on the second floor of the north wing with new floors, walls, and ceilings. This extensive renovation project, which began in spring, is expected to conclude in late 2026. Beyond physical improvements, curators are reimagining how visitors will navigate and experience the art in these spaces.
The DIA continues to offer diverse programming alongside the highlights exhibition. Friday Night Live transforms the Rivera Court into a concert venue most Friday evenings. This week features blues and boogie-woogie piano legend Mark Lincoln Braun, known locally as Mr. B, performing at 7 p.m. The Detroit Film Theatre is presenting films by influential Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa this weekend and next.
Running concurrently with the modern collection highlights is "Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion," displaying suits of armor from the late 14th through early 17th centuries. This exhibition continues through April 26, offering visitors a glimpse into historical craftsmanship and design.
Several major exhibitions are scheduled to open this fall. "Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation" opens September 28, featuring more than 60 Anishinaabe artists from across the Great Lakes region. This collection represents the first major Native American exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts in three decades. The same weekend marks the return of the 13th annual "Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos" on September 27, running through November 2.
Perhaps most significantly, "Reimagine African American Art" opens October 18 in one of the museum's most prominent spaces adjacent to Rivera Court. This exhibition will combine existing collection favorites with new acquisitions, highlighting the DIA's historic commitment to African American art. "This is a great moment for the DIA," Salort-Pons emphasized. "We are one of the first museums in America to collect African American art and we have one of the best collections in the country."
The museum maintains regular operating hours: Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 5200 Woodward in Detroit, the museum continues to offer free admission for residents of the tri-county area. For more information, visitors can call (313) 833-7900 or visit dia.org.
