Warehouse Art Museum will not reopen

In January 2024, the Warehouse Art Museum at Guardian Fine Art Services, 1635 W. St. Paul Ave., in the Menomonee Valley announced it was closing in preparation for a move.

Now, it has been announced that the museum – which was to move to an undisclosed location, with no solid re-opening date – will not reopen as a physical venue.

“After thoughtful consideration over many months, we are announcing that the Warehouse Art Museum will not reopen its doors as a physical space,” noted an email sent Monday.

“Instead, WAM will transition into a collaborative role with other established institutions in Wisconsin and elsewhere.”

The museum was opened in December 2018 by artist Jan Serr and her husband John Shannon was the only private museum in the city that focused on modern and contemporary art. 

“The five-year history of WAM is rich with unforgettable exhibitions, unique collaborations, and profound community connections,” the emailed statement said. “Every visitor, artist, academic, curator and staff member contributed immeasurably to this remarkable journey.

“At WAM, Serr & Shannon practiced what they believe and live, that all the arts are connected – the visual, performing, and literary arts.”

What the future looks like for the Warehouse Art Museum is unclear at the moment.

‘While this chapter of a physical space closes, we see this not as a goodbye, but a see you later,” noted the statement.

“Our collection and past exhibitions will remain accessible online at WAMmke.org, preserving the legacy of our work. Furthermore, The Serr & Shannon Collection will continue to be available for institutional loans and academic research; interested parties should contact [email protected].”