
MM Editor•Apr 19, 2026
Detroit Institute of Arts — Where Diego Rivera's Murals Saved a City
At a Glance
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) in Midtown Detroit opened in 1885 and now holds 65,000 works. Its most famous piece is Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals (1932–33), 27 fresco panels surrounding the central Rivera Court.
Rivera's Murals and Detroit's Bankruptcy
Commissioned by Edsel Ford. During Detroit's 2013 bankruptcy, a coalition of foundations raised $800 million in the "Grand Bargain" to keep the collection intact; DIA now operates as an independent non-profit.
Must-See
- Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals.
- Rubens's Meeting of David and Abigail.
- Van Gogh Self-Portrait (1887).
- Hopper, Sargent, Cassatt, O'Keeffe.
- African, Islamic and Asian galleries.
Visiting Tips
QLine to Woodward & Kirby. $19; free for tri-county residents. 3–4 hours. Closed Mon–Tue. Pair with MOCAD, Motown Museum.