The Museum & Land
A modern art museum in a cow pasture, where art appreciation takes root
The building itself is both a work of art and a model of sustainability. Designed by Hiroshi Nanamori of ArchiPrime Inc. in Tokyo, the sandstone cube blends seamlessly into Carbondale’s red rock landscape. Created with both beauty and environmental responsibility in mind, the building is powered by a geothermal field and a robust solar and battery system that supplies approximately 75% of the museum’s electricity.
The museum features two floors. On the first floor, visitors can explore rotating exhibitions by major artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, and Roy Lichtenstein. This level also houses the library—a quiet, resource-rich space for guests, students, historians, and researchers.
Upstairs, the galleries are dedicated to Jasper Johns, showcasing one of the largest collections of his works on paper, spanning multiple decades of his artistic career.
The collection exhibited at the Powers Art Center encompasses a wide array of works, including sculpture, basketry, Japanese art, modern and contemporary pieces, design objects, and clothing by Issey Miyake. It also includes a comprehensive library of art books and archival material chronicling John and Kimiko Powers’ years as collectors.
The Powers Art Center's mission is to provide access to a distinctive educational and cultural experience for visitors through art. We exhibit and foster engagement with select works from our collection, with a particular focus on Jasper Johns’ limited edition works on paper.
For those engaged in scholarly research, the Ryobi Foundation’s Study Center offers a unique opportunity to explore art history. An exceptional resource that includes rare books, personal correspondence with artists, photographs, and even video footage, all visitors are welcome to delve in and learn more. Designed to support art historians, graduate students, collectors, authors, and more, the Study Center provides access to the Powers’ extensive collection of information.
The Study Center
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Jasper Johns (b. 1930) Color Numeral Series, 1969 © Jasper Johns and ULAE / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY, Published by Universal Limited Art Editions