The IMA's wide-ranging collection of contemporary art encompasses over 900 works created since 1945 in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, prints, video and installations. The rapidly growing collection comprises works created by established as well as emerging artists. The contemporary galleries, which span the 4^th floor of the Museum, present a range of rotating displays of works drawn from the permanent collection, in addition to temporary special exhibitions.

The contemporary collection includes outstanding examples of Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, Minimalism, Op and Pop Art, installation art, and video and light-based works. Works by established artists such as Vito Acconci, Alexander Calder, Robert Indiana, Donald Judd, Joan Mitchell, Bruce Nauman, Robert Watts, David Smith and James Turrell are included alongside the work of more recent artists such as John Currin, Omer Fast, Tim Hawkinson, Cindy Sherman and Kara Walker. Among the many highlights of the collection are works that have been especially commissioned for the Museum by artists such as Ghada Amer, Tara Donovan, Kate Gilmore, Robert Irwin, Sol LeWitt, Maya Lin, Nam June Paik, Heather Rowe and Do-Ho Suh. Learn about the IMA's Contemporary Art Society.

In addition to the permanent collection galleries, there are two special exhibition spaces that host a diverse array of temporary exhibitions. The Carmen and Mark Holeman Video Gallery is dedicated to the display of recent work in video, while the McCormack Forefront Galleries consist of 4,000 square feet devoted to exhibitions that present recent contemporary art by international artists, offering a constantly changing view of major developments in the art world.

Beyond the galleries, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres: is one of the largest museum art parks in the country and the only one to feature the ongoing commission of site-specific artworks. Located on 100 acres of untamed woodlands, wetlands, a lake and meadows adjacent to the Museum, 100 Acres opened in June 2010, with eight site-specific inaugural works commissioned from emerging and mid-career artists. The IMA campus also includes additional outdoor sculptures from the contemporary collection, including examples by Barbara Hepworth, Robert Indiana, and Mark de Suvero.