The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 2002 and is located on the State Fair Community College campus in Sedalia, Missouri. The Daum features a diverse permanent collection and offers three exhibition cycles each year and up to 15 exhibitions. The museum includes nine exhibition galleries on three levels with a combined area of 9,300 square feet.
The Daum’s mission is to shed light on the stimulating complexity of modern and contemporary art by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting artworks created since the mid-20th century. In concert with SFCC faculty and staff, the Daum works to enhance the cultural and educational life of the college, surrounding communities, and all of Missouri.
The heart of the Daum is the permanent collection comprised of abstract paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, and sculpture created since the mid-20th century. The museum’s namesake, Dr. Harold F. Daum, a retired radiologist and avid art collector, gave life to the museum by donating his 300-piece art collection and funds toward its construction. The permanent collection has grown to over 1,500 objects through gifts and selected purchases. It features significant works by Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Motherwell, Peter Voulkos, Betty Woodman, Louise Bourgeois, Linda Connor, and Ansel Adams.
