Mattress Factory

The Mattress Factory is a contemporary installation art museum, with the mission (1) to provide artists unparalleled support in the creative process and advance the field of installation art, (2) to encourage multi-disciplinary thinking through education and outreach programs for learners of all ages, and (3) to energize its urban neighborhood and contribute to the City of Pittsburgh's cultural vibrancy.

Artist Residency Program
The Mattress Factory is dedicated to helping artists in all stages of their careers create work that is unconventional, challenging and thought-provoking. Each year, artists come to Pittsburgh, live at the museum and create original site-specific art. The museum provides all materials, labor, and technical support to the artists, who hail from regions ranging from Detroit, Michigan to Gaza. The Mattress Factory has exhibited four MacArthur "Genius" Award winners and two recipients of the National Medal for the Arts over the course of nearly 40 years.

Education Program
In 2015 our education programs served over 20,000 individuals, which includes students, families, and learners of all ages from our Northside neighborhood, Pittsburgh, and across the nation. These programs include:
● Mini-Factory, a learning readiness program for families with children 3-5 years old
● Install: Afternoons @ the Factory, a free afterschool enrichment program
● Teen Art Cooperative, a free mentorship program for teens on arts-related careers
● Community Art Lab, an arts summer camp program for students
● Professional development workshops for teachers
● Outreach programs with community partners, including Pittsburgh Public Schools, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Gwen's Girls
● Art and..., uniquely designed events for visitors to meet exhibiting artists

Expanding the Skyline
The Mattress Factory lit "Acupuncture," a permanent public art installation created by German artist Hans Peter Kuhn on the roof of the museum, on Friday, June 17, 2016. The light sculpture has been nearly 10 years in the making, and its unique shape changes the skyline of the City of Pittsburgh.

Skyspace
James Turrell, one of the world's most highly regarded living artists, has donated a Skyspace artwork to the Mattress Factory. The gift, which is estimated to be worth in excess of $1 million, is the largest from an artist in the museum's 39-year history.

"This work will not only be an incredible contribution to the Mattress Factory but also to the city of Pittsburgh," said museum Co-Director and President Barbara Luderowski. She added that with the museum's 40th anniversary approaching in 2017, "this will enable the institution to prepare for the future while remaining a leader in the contemporary art world."