The Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh is a Unique Art Museum

The Mattress Factory is a museum of contemporary art, located in Pittsburgh's North Side neighborhood. The museum opened in 1977 and is one of only a few of its kind in the world.

What makes the Mattress Factory unique is the fact that all the artworks featured within are room-sized pieces known as "installations.'' Because of their size, the installations are created on site and designed specifically for the room in which they are to be displayed. Works are of a variety of media and are created by artists from all around the world. Some exhibitions change throughout the year. Others have become part of the Mattress Factory's permanent collection and include installations by James Turrell, Yayoi Kusama, Winifred Lutz and Rolf Julius, well known names in the field of contemporary art.

Since the museum opened, it has sponsored a world-renowned residency program. To date, more than 300 artists have taken part in this residency program. As an artist in residence, each has the opportunity to come to Pittsburgh, live at the museum, and create new works, often experimenting with a number of different kinds of media. Artists are encouraged to experiment and take risks with their work while the museum supports them completely. Each year, dozens vie for the opportunity to be a part of this innovative residency program. Thus far, 72 percent of the 300+ artists have been from The United States, 11 percent from Europe, 9 percent from Asia and 8 percent from the Americas (excluding the U.S.). Residencies range from one week to two months with an average stay of about three to four weeks.

All of the exhibitions at the Mattress Factory are paired with educational programs that are offered to museum visitors, both artists and non-artists. These activities include workshops, lectures, tours, and hands-on art projects. Classes emphasize the connection between art and one's everyday life. The education department at the museum serves approximately 16,000 people each year.

The other unique thing about the Mattress Factory Art Museum is its location. Because of the size of the installations, the museum needs to be large with wide open spaces. Since it opened in 1977, the Mattress Factory, a non-profit organization, has purchased and renovated nine inner city Pittsburgh properties. These properties serve not only as exhibition space but also artists' residences, an artist-created garden, public spaces, classrooms, office space, visitor amenities, and a parking lot.

An estimated 38,000 guests visit the Mattress Factory Art Museum each year. Nearly two-thirds of those visitors hail from the Pittsburgh area and dub themselves frequent visitors. About 34 percent come from other parts of the U.S. and another 5 percent from other countries around the world.

The Mattress Factory can be rented for special events including wedding and corporate receptions. There is a museum gift shop on site as well as a caf, that offers outdoor dining when the weather is pleasant. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and a small fee is charged for admission.