Wexner Center For the Arts

A truly fantastic space for alternative movies, music and performing arts. Be sure to check out their Secret Cinema, which happens a couple times a year. You pay $ 3 for a mystery movie. Every theater performance has been one of a kind experience, a true gem in Columbus, Ohio. Go once and you will never miss a show there again.

Hmmm, not many Wexner photos on Unilocal and most, including mine, are of the building exterior. Go inside and discover why. Taking photos inside is not only strictly verboten but the Wexner posts a DO NOT list — more akin to the ten commandments — repeatedly on the long ramp to the galleries. I would have taken a photo of the list but different guards all paused in confusion before telling me no. You can’t even take a photo of a white wall. Seriously. I wonder what state secrets this place is hiding.
The two exhibitions now on display are unremarkable but that’s no reason to stay away. Don’t let my negative comments dissuade you from visiting and seeing something wonderful in the future.
For me, however, concluding one of the most unwelcoming visitor experiences I’ve ever encountered in any gallery or museum, I’ll stick with the countless other museums in Ohio and across the United States that are much more refreshing in their attitudes.
One cautionary note: the Seattle Art Museum was one of the last major art museums in the country to forbid the use of cameras in their space. They relented because of the ubiquitous cell phone camera. A guard there told me that one person even hid a camera in a teddy bear. Go ahead, Wexner Center, keep fighting this lonely battle and continue to treat your college audience like high school students. Oh, no gum chewing, please.

Unique and great place!
Loved walking through for the textiles exhibit. It truly was exhilarating and something different to do.
The curators are really sweet and not afraid to walk you through.
Loved everything i saw, even the architecture of the building in general!

One of the country’s greatest contemporary arts complexes is located in Columbus, Ohio. It’s true. Many times there are exhibits and films which are showcased in New York, San Francisco, Montréal and… Columbus, OH.
This is why. Clean, modern lines, well-​designed galleries which flow together yet create their own unique space. Great film and video series, often featuring rare and restored pieces. Avant-​garde and up-​and-​coming musical acts. Daniel Clowes recently did a retrospective in conjunction with the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum.
I could go on: children’s Zoom! film series, Family Fun weekends and Next@Wex for the indie a-​go-​go. There is truly something for everyone. And, it’s free on Thursdays. So, go.

Jerry Lewis-​FUN to see a entertainer I loved do dearly as a child! Wexner Center… Mershon Aud… MEH… Not too thrilled. I grad from OSU in 82. Guess I expected a more updated lobby. Restrooms… downstairs… Could someone guide you to restrooms, NO REDCOATS/​USHERS visible! I’m a Clevelander, and we have largest theatre district outside of NYC. Pur ushers are available and attentive. Not case at this performance!

This art gallery is such a great addition to the Ohio State campus as well as the Columbus community. They’re always bringing in new and different artists and intriguing and thought provoking exhibitions. I’ve had the opportunity to see so many different forms of art in the past few years, and have even gotten to attend some of the artist talks that are held here, such as Annie Leibovitz. The architecture of the building is also very unique, inside and out. Definitely one of my favorite places in Columbus!

While the world thinks of Ohio State, and by extension Columbus, as inhabited by Miller Light drunk, football obsessed, mind numbed Neanderthals – the truth is something else. As for the city, the arts actually bring in four times as much money as Buckeye football. As for the university, witness the renown Wexner Center, situated in the PoMo armory standing guard at the 15^th avenue gate.
The Wex holds the university’s art collection but doesn’t permanently display it. It is not a museum, but a gallery.
I came here Saturday night to see an emotionally challenging play, «The Event,» after tOSU student and fellow Unilocaler Maya F was kind enough to buy me a ticket with her student ID. The Play was staged on the Marishon Auditorium stage, a large theatre I’ve experienced many times. Even more impressive is The Box. More intimate, this space offers edgy, experimental, and artsy films that will blow your mind, fill your soul, leave you with an experience you can’t find at the usual mainstream theaters.
As with the play, often creators will offer an Q&A after the event which can be very interesting.
The Wex will offer limited exhibits of almost every genra and discipline. Exhibits of tangle arts come from all over the world. The galleries are white, clean, minimal, modernistic space.
The Wex has certainly enhanced my experience with art – from my first year on campus to this day. I recommend it for all.
Outside the building is a slopping walkway framed by white scaffolding arraying down. It has a special, if not goofy, memory to me. My brother, friends and I would spend the evening at Maxwells or Papa Joes south campus, and then run amuck on campus early in the morning. It was our habit to come here and run down this hall like drinking goofball yelling, letting the visual of the line of scaffolding blow by– it was a fantastic optical illusion. We’d scream and laugh. Art can work itself in many ways! I guess some stereotypes have a bit of truth. We were Bud Light drunken, football obsess, art loving, Neanderthals!
This is a jewel of Columbus and Ohio State!

Nice location and was able to grab a Starbucks and parking spot across the street. Visited for an event where the author would autograph books after. I was a bit disappointed to find there were no books for sale in the lobby. Tip: the Barnes in Noble is a quick job down the road! Parking is also timed so watch the meters.

If being followed by the Stasi is your thing …
For crying out loud! I’ve never been followed so closely by security guards. Or are they docents? I could literally feel them breathing down my neck. I’m in my late 50s and I’m pretty sure I don’t look like the type that would do anything they should worry about.
It was sooo annoying. It made me want to F with them by staring them down and putting my nose as close as I could to a painting – without touching it.
The art? The stuff I liked was few and far between.
Pictures and notes about a specific political struggle in a specific city is not art – it’s journalism.

[Full disclosure: I volunteer here during certain events throughout the year.]
This has become one of my favorite places in town. Even when there’s not an exhibit, it’s a great space to waste time in or meet up with friends for a show or movie. I’m not sure how they do it but they always bring in amazing artwork and fabulous performers.
Plus, it’s affordable. Admission to the gallery is cheap, the movies are 8 bucks (or less), and the performances are always affordable. If you’re going to visit one (non-​sporting) place on campus, make it this place!

Being an alumnus at a school primarily known for its collegiate sports — well, one sport in particular — I spent probably half of my undergraduate years in blissful ignorance of what was behind that postmodern castle façade. During my freshman year it got a lot of publicity for its Andy Warhol exhibit, but there have since been many other worthwhile exhibits taking up space on the Wex’s warm wooden floors.
Currently on display are the pensive portraits of Annie Leibovitz, but the Wex has also hosted a variety of other things, such as the cerebral collages of Mark Bradford and a collection of instillation art (including a dinosaur-​shaped playground made from all salvaged materials) in 2010. Across the wireframe colonnade, one can spend hours drooling over an extensive cartoon library, or pay a visit to any of the many films frequently on rotation. I’ve seen everything from My Neighbor Totoro to gay zombie flicks in German. Pretty much anything is fair game.
What the Columbus Museum of Art may lack in edge, the Wex certainly compensates. Having been to the impressive art museum in Indianapolis as well as Carnegie in Pittsburgh, I’ve always lamented that Columbus hasn’t had a more robust art gallery, but for now the Wex is as good as it gets.

The best arts venue in Columbus. Wexner Center always dares to be different by bringing central Ohio the best in cutting edge art, performing arts, music and film time after time year after year.

The Wex is a great feature for Columbus art. The location on OSU’s Columbus campus makes for easy access if you are in the university area, and they offer free entry for students all the time, and free entry for the public on Thursday evenings and the first Sunday of the month.
This is most definitely not the largest art museum you will encounter, but they have made creative use of the space that they do have. There are outside exhibits, including one by Maya Lin — designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC, a changing exhibit in the front of the side that faces towards the Oval, and a rooftop garden.
There is no real permanent exhibition here, so they feature a lot of changing exhibits and a wide variety of performances, making it pretty likely that you’re bound to find something you like at some point — be sure to check the website to see what’s going on. The current exhibit, Annie Leibovitz’s photos, is really neat and seems likely to appeal to even those who are more interested in popular culture than traditional photography, as she took many photos for Rolling Stone. Previous exhibits have included Andy Warhol and William Wegman (the guy with the Weimaraners).
The Wex is also involved with the community, offering changing cafes, often featuring local foods, inside, and a farmer’s market during the summer. They also feature Wex «Drive-​In» outdoor movies during the summer, and a variety of events for students, faculty, and staff on campus.
Certainly worth a visit!

My bf brought me here when we were visiting Columbus for a trip. He said that this was one of his favorite museums, and I agree that it’s really great. The museum is small and cozy but a lot of fun. We were looking at all the sculptures and trying to make up things that they resembled. I also really liked the movie they were showing, it’s so calming. I think we sat there watching it for 10+ minutes and I could definitely sit through the whole thing.
Also, admission is free with student ID (although they don’t really check for tickets anyways).

Despite never visiting for the first 26 years of my existence, I’ve been to the Wex (a bland, boring less-​than-​3-​hour drive from Indianapolis) three times during the last year, each definitely worthy of a mini-​roadtrip.
In the performance space, I’ve seen NEU! (or; Michael Rother & guests) and Olivia Tremor Control; both times with impeccable sound. When you’re paying a ticketmaster fee, facility fee, and driving 3 hours… sound is all I really care about, and it’s just a great sounding, large-​ish room. There are seats above in an abbreviated balcony, but I’ve never been upstairs. Due to the room’s rectangular shape, they ought to provide a great sightline.
Also came here for a Spring opening & video installation of Pippilotti Rist’s work, as well as a Hans Bellmer /​Louise Bourgeois exhibition. Rist gave a (presentation-​enhanced) talk in the auditorium that was set up as a conversation with two other artists (neither of the video persuasion). Only complaint here was the slightly awkward «conversational format.» Rist was fascinating enough on her own… no need to ply & interrupt her flow with often-​boring questions.
The installation & exhibition were both quite nice, I liked the way the Bellmer/​Bourgeois works were arranged so that you worked your way in-​between the very sculptural pieces down the narrow galleries. Only complaint here would be the gallery closing within an hour post-​presentation. Still, it was free, and free = good. Now, if only I could drag Columbus about 90 miles closer to Indianapolis… I’d be here twice as often.

First off, full disclosure: I’ve performed at the Wexner Center a few times. I’ve also performed at many other arts museums and galleries throughout the world, and visited dozens more. The Wex easily stands up to them. I’m just moving back to Columbus from San Francisco, and while the Wex is no SFMOMA (cripes, what IS?) it’s easily the best source of world-​class modern art, film, and music for central Ohio.
er, I guess I’m basing this on before I moved away 8 years ago. It’s still great, right? Of course it is! Now I’ll get to do my grocery shopping RIGHT THERE on free Thursdays! Only $ 5 on other days! (a STEAL in comparison to anywhere else comparable) VIVA LA WEX!

The Wex is a pretty solid place to go if you’re bored and don’t want to spend a lot of money. Admission is free for students and I don’t rememeber the price for community members, but it isn’t much. They usually have at least 3 exhibits from different artists there, so you’re bound to find one that you like. During the warmer months, they host a lot of free outdoor movies. The gift shop is pretty sweet too, if you’re looking for something unique.
My only beef with the Wex is I’ve had a few run ins with the security there. Trust me on this one, do not under any circumstances take out your cell phone while you are in an exhibit. Some creepy dude in a black suit will appear out of nowhere and sternly tell you that phones and cameras are not allowed. Then he’ll stalk you for the rest of the time you’re there and generally make things uncomfortable.
Other than that, though, it’s a fun place to go. Parking is in the garage next door, but it costs– so if you live in the area and could walk/​bike/​bus it, that might be a good idea.

Yummy. Artfully arranged (how apropos… for the food and, well, the artwork). And a nicely-​priced.
What more can a gal ask for? Well, now that you ask… I wouldn’t turn away some highfalutin artsy vernacular and a dash of fresh hummus.
On a recent visit to Columbus, my sister treated me to what she claimed to be the best museum café this side of the… Bud Light Factory?
Anywho, we ordered the hummus plate, Chai Tea Latte (or something along those lines), and the Handmade Belgium Waffle. The hummus plate was a beaut! We helped ourselves to a generous scoop of hummus, a lightly dressed salad featuring plump cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, and a mixed green, and a few slices of warm, fluffy pita bread. The perfectly buttery and crunchy Belgium waffle was generously blanketed in warm Nutella, lightly sweetened berries, and a few gusts of powdered sugar.
Turns out, a little bit ‘o sweet and a little bit ‘o salty was just the perfect snack energizer for a lovely afternoon of social polish 101. I particularly enjoyed the postmodernist critique of the clash between industrialization versus technological advancement in juxtaposition to underdeveloped economic class markers in Joel Morrison’s existential pieces.
Just kidding. But I did think the tank-​sized glove balloon was AWESOME.

I always have mixed feelings about the Wexner center. On one hand, it’s a true gem in the City of Columbus. Most days, I would be proud to take out-​of-​towners here and show them what private citizens give to the art community. As a theatre person, their line-​up of visiting acts is usually stunning. I am at most of the performances during the year and am impressed who they get to play here (Richard Maxwell, SITI Company, etc…). I have been to the Wexner a lot for various galleries (Andy Warhol was truly an amazing transformation of the space). There is no lack of «cool» here from the outside scaffolding design to the choice of interior materials and stunning graphic design and marketing.
The Wex is set up to be pretentious, designed by an architect who wanted to make the journey to the art part of the experience, hence the ridiculously long walk to the black box space, where most of their performances are held. I won’t go into my spiel about how art should be accessible by many, open-​minded, and community-​building (I don’t have to, I co-​founded my arts company on these principals because they are so important to me), but I will say that the Wexner Center is rarely any of these things. But I get why — galleries, in general, with their stark white walls and invisible barriers between the audience and the art — are created to set the art apart and make it special. It is not lost on me that the Wex is an art gallery of the highest caliber and in every sense of the word.
My reservations enter when I think about the less-​than-​warm-​welcome I receive almost every time I visit. They have an army of black-​clad volunteers and employees guiding you down the paths to where you’re going, making you feel as if they are expecting you to pull a can of spray paint out of your coat and just go nuts on the white walls and pergo floors. No warm smiles, no hello’s, no hospitality. Just suspicion. Also, having received my MA in Theatre at OSU, I had occasion to make connections there, and was startled when I received, almost at every turn, the response that they were not connected to the Ohio State University or any of the art departments in any way. So, don’t let their location ON the OSU campus fool you. They are their own entity.
The Wex has done some awesome things for this city, and with their Pages program, has really shown that they are willing to reach out to the community as a whole. But I suspect that is due to a few incredible individuals employed there rather than the institution encouraging this attitude. I will keep going back, mainly because I am addicted to incredible theatre, but every time I make that walk down the elitist hallway amongst suspicious glares I know I will be reminded that I just might not measure up.

People love it. People hate it. But that’s the beauty of the Wexner Center. If nothing else, it makes for interesting conversation.
The Wexner Center takes as much time to explain as it does to figure out what it’s all about… in a nutshell, this is a multi-​disciplinary arts facility for film makers, visual artists and performing artists. It’s a gallery, a museum, a theatre and a «research laboratory» for the arts located on the campus of The Ohio State University. A laundry list of «who’s who» of the dance world, famous film makers and big named artists have found their way to the Wexner since it opened in 1989.
From conception, the building (and the art it exhibits) has been controversial and remains such. I remember the first time saw this odd, skeletal building and wondered what it was all about.
Very simply put, the building was designed with loads of symbolism and philosophy. The Wexner Center is located on the site of the former «armory,» a castle-​like structure built during the Gothic Revival, hence the modern turrets serving as a nod to the building’s past. The white «scaffolding» looks to the future, as an ongoing and evolving project. The lines (grooves) in the sidewalk, leading toward high street, align with a runway at the Columbus airport– representing the incoming and outgoing ideas from around the world. The symbolism goes on and on, but those are the few that stuck in my brain when I researched the building for another project.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours studying in the Fine Arts Library, housed in the basement of the center, along side the Cartoon Research Library and remain endeared to the building. One of the most memorable exhibits that I’ve seen were here at the Wexner, including Julie Taymor’s (costume and puppet deisgner for the Lion King) amazing puppet displays and more recently, the Warhol.
When I learned the Warhol exhibition was making its only US stop at the Warhol, I wasn’t surprised. His diverse art forms required an extremely «flexible» building, capable of handling all sorts of multi-​media and various sized paintings. a building as quirky as hte man himself. The Wexner pulled it off brilliantly! I attended the media opening of the Warhol Exhibition and had the privilege of seeing it with only 100 other people. It was interesting to see how they would approach displaying such eclectic stuff. My very first job was at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, right when it first opened, so I had the same curious excitement to see how the Wexner would create a cohesive transition between rooms. It was fabulous and well-​done. A bit of a sensory overload too.
That is exactly how I describe the Wexner Center for the Arts (and it’s artistic offerings): fabulous, well-​done, and with a welcomed bit of a sensory overload. It is my favorite museum in Columbus.