Dayton Art Institute, Dayton,Ohio

Directory Profile

Dayton Art Institute

456 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, OH, 45405

Committed to enriching the community by creating meaningful experiences with art that are available to all. Visit us often to enjoy our diverse collections, world class exhibits and more.

Founded in 1919, the Dayton Art Institute is one of the region’s premier fine art museums, known for its impressive collections of art, world-class traveling exhibitions and educational programming that includes a selection of offerings for diverse audiences.

The museum, originally known as The Dayton Museum of Arts, began as an art school with a small collection of art, located at the corner of Monument Avenue and St. Clair Street in downtown Dayton. During its first decade, the museum grew rapidly. In 1927, the name was changed to the Dayton Art Institute to reflect the increasing importance of the art school and in 1928, through the generosity of benefactor Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell, who pledged $2 million, and many others in the community, construction of a new home for the museum began.

Now, The Dayton Art Institute sits atop a hill on the edge of the Great Miami River, overlooking downtown Dayton. The beautiful museum building was designed by renowned museum architect Edward B. Green, in the vision of Julia’s favorite place–Italy, taking inspiration from two Italian Renaissance palazzos: the Villa d’Este near Rome and the Villa Farnese at Caprarola.

The new Dayton Art Institute opened to the public on a snowy day on January 7, 1930. A gift from Julia to the community, she is quoted saying “I feel as if I were giving you one of my children. Treat it kindly. I want this to be a friendly place. I want you to come again and again.”

Museum guests were greeted with spacious galleries, a glorious Great Hall and two open-air cloisters. Thousands sought respite from the difficult economic times of the Great Depression at the museum, which offered lovely galleries with approximately 200 objects in the collection, musical programs, classes, social events and even a collection of birds and animals. Julia Shaw Patterson Carnell had given the community a gift she would refer to as “Dayton’s Living Room.”

Today, the building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still houses the Dayton Art Institute. The museum’s collection, which spans 5,000 years of art history, including African, American, Ancient Americas, Antiquities, Asian, Contemporary, European, Glass, Photography, Textiles and Works on Paper, has grown to more than 27,000 objects. The museum is committed to collecting works that can add to its collection, especially those by underrepresented artists, particularly works by minorities and women.

Links & Tags

937-223-4278 Maps Website Facebook Instagram Art Galleries Arts & Entertainment Entertainment Venues Museums Things to do Weddings

Upcoming Events: Dayton Art Institute

Dayton Printmakers Cooperative: Dayton/Kyoto Invitational

2/07/2026

The Dayton/Kyoto Invitational is an international print exchange between the Dayton Printmaker’s Cooperative and Gen Studio Group in Kyoto, Japan, which has been taking place since 2003. The 2025 theme is "Water."

Engaged: Rings from around the World

2/07/2026

Throughout human history, people have loved putting things on their fingers. Often made with precious materials, they serve a wide range of purposes, from enhancing one’s appearance and indicating social status.

Exploring Feminism

2/07/2026

Presenting feminist artwork from the newly acquired Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell Collection, this three-part, rotating exhibition will demystify the origins, history and commitments of the feminist movement.

Family Open Studio

2/07/2026

Join us for a time of open-ended creativity and art making! No signup necessary. We encourage you and your family to just drop in!

Museums on Us at the Dayton Art Institute

2/07/2026

The Dayton Art Institute continues its participation in the Bank of America Museums on Us® program. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get free general admission during the first full weekend of each month.

Saturday Morning Community Tour

2/07/2026

This guided tour of the permanent galleries invites you to explore artworks through unexpected perspectives that connect art, culture and the world around us.

Special Interest Tour – Body Mod Tour

2/07/2026

DAI’s Special Interest Tours are community tours with specialized themes! Explore the museum and make new connections! Invoke your creative spirit following the tour with a quick, make-and-take art activity.

Skinner Pipe Organ Concerts at Dayton Art Institute

2/08/2026

Hear the museum’s restored Skinner pipe organ and see the beautifully renovated Mimi and Stuart Rose Auditorium.

Jazz & Beyond at Dayton Art Institute

2/12/2026

Jazz & Beyond 🎷series is back in 2026 with a seven-show season at the Dayton Art Institute 🎶

Saturday Afternoon Community Tour

2/14/2026

Discover the Dayton Art Institute’s collection in a whole new light! This guided tour of the permanent galleries invites you to explore artworks through unexpected perspectives connecting art, culture and the world around us.

Tony Foster, “Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective” Members’ Opening

2/19/2026

Members Only Opening: The Dayton Art Institute invites you to the Tony Foster, “Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective. Reception from 5 - 7 pm in the Shaw Gothic Cloister.

Tony Foster, Exploring Time: A Painter’s Perspective

2/21/2026

In a world where environmental change is often conveyed through striking images of global warming, Foster offers a different perspective, one that considers Earth’s continual evolution and the visible traces of time’s passage

ANSCHEL at The Dayton Art Institute

3/15/2026

Join the Dayton Art Institute for a special showing of ANSCHEL, presented by the Dayton Art Institute and The Human Race Theatre Company. Tickets go on sale February 12!