Through exhibitions, special projects, programs, artist appearances and the IMA's growing contemporary collection, visitors discover new ideas and art experiences. IMA’s wide-ranging collection includes installations, paintings, sculpture, photography, works on paper, video and one of the nation’s leading collections of studio glass.

The contemporary art galleries occupy the third level of Krannert Pavilion and the new Wood Gallery Pavilion, radiating from the atrium of Pulliam Great Hall. The galleries on the west side of the Hall feature art from the 1940s through the 2000s, including Abstract Expressionism and related styles; art of the 1960s, including examples of Color Field painting, Minimalism, Op Art and Pop Art; installation art; and video and light-based works. The west galleries also include spaces devoted to the display of contemporary prints and drawings and studio glass.

The galleries on the east side of the atrium focus on art of the 1990s and 2000s and feature new acquisitions, including the installation Untitled (Floor) (1997-2000) by South Korean artist
Do-Ho Suh, where visitors are invited to walk on a thick glass floor held up by tens of thousands of miniature human figures. The east side also contains the McCormack Forefront Galleries—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.