The Warehouse Art Museum in Milwaukee has permanently closed its doors, marking the end of a seven-year chapter in the city's contemporary art scene. After temporarily shutting down at the end of 2023, museum founders Jan Serr and John Shannon announced on Monday that the institution will not reopen in a physical location.

The museum, which opened in 2018 at 1635 W. St. Paul Ave., was originally founded by visual artist Jan Serr and her husband, retired businessman John Shannon. The building that housed the museum also serves as the location for Shannon's Guardian Fine Art Services, which provides secure storage and transportation for valuable artworks.

Initially, the founders had planned to relocate and reopen the museum in a new space following the temporary closure. However, they have now decided to permanently close the physical museum while keeping their mission alive in a different format. Instead of maintaining a brick-and-mortar location, the museum's core collection, known as the Serr & Shannon Collection, will be made available for loans to other institutions and for academic research purposes.

In their letter to supporters, Serr and Shannon wrote, "While this chapter of a physical space closes, we see this not as a goodbye, but a see you later." They also announced that images of the collection and documentation of past exhibitions will remain accessible on the museum's website, ensuring that the legacy of their work continues to be available to researchers, artists, and art enthusiasts.

The Warehouse Art Museum was created with the mission of exhibiting modern and contemporary art, serving as a showcase for the personal vision and values of Serr and Shannon, both of whom have been longtime patrons of the arts in Milwaukee. The museum occupied 4,000 square feet of gallery space, which allowed it to host substantial exhibitions throughout its operational years.

During its seven-year run, the museum managed to organize twelve major exhibitions, each featuring approximately 100 works of art. However, these exhibitions represented only a fraction of the founders' extensive collection, which comprises an impressive 7,000 pieces. Due to space limitations, all exhibitions at the museum were temporary installations, as the gallery did not have sufficient room to maintain permanent displays.

In its final year of operation, the Warehouse Art Museum presented a diverse range of exhibitions that reflected the breadth of contemporary artistic expression. The programming included a comprehensive photography exhibition, a show featuring handmade objects that ranged from pottery to furniture, and a special exhibition dedicated to the work of Ruth Grotenrath, a painter born in Milwaukee who contributed significantly to the local art scene.

The founders emphasized their holistic approach to the arts in their farewell message, noting that "At WAM, Serr & Shannon practiced what they believe and live, that all the arts are connected—the visual, performing, and literary arts." This philosophy guided their programming and exhibition choices throughout the museum's existence, creating a space that celebrated the interconnectedness of different artistic disciplines.

In their closing statement, Serr and Shannon expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the museum's success over the years. "Every visitor, artist, academic, curator, and staff member contributed immeasurably to this remarkable journey," they wrote, acknowledging the community that supported and participated in the museum's mission.

The closure of the Warehouse Art Museum represents a significant loss for Milwaukee's cultural landscape. The institution provided a unique venue for contemporary art in the city, offering both local and visiting artists a platform to showcase their work. Its focus on modern and contemporary pieces filled an important niche in the Milwaukee art scene, complementing the city's other cultural institutions.

While the physical museum may be closing, the impact of the Serr & Shannon Collection will continue through its availability for loans and research. This approach ensures that the thousands of artworks that were carefully curated over the years will remain accessible to the broader art community, potentially reaching even wider audiences through partnerships with other museums and academic institutions.

The decision to close the museum reflects broader challenges facing smaller cultural institutions, particularly those that rely on private funding and operate independently. Despite these challenges, the founders' commitment to making their collection available for continued study and exhibition demonstrates their ongoing dedication to supporting the arts and ensuring that their cultural contributions continue to benefit future generations.

The Warehouse Art Museum's legacy extends beyond its exhibition programming to include its role in fostering dialogue about contemporary art and providing a space for artistic experimentation and discovery. As Milwaukee's cultural community adapts to this loss, the lessons learned and relationships built during the museum's seven-year operation will undoubtedly continue to influence the city's artistic landscape for years to come.