The Mattress Factory

The Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum in Pittsburgh's historic North Side, renowned for immersive, room-sized installations. Created on-site by artists from around the world, these multisensory exhibitions inhabit two creatively repurposed buildings and feature a growing permanent collection, including works by James Turrell, Yayoi Kusama, Winifred Lutz, and Rolf Julius.

Since 1977, the Museum's acclaimed residency program has supported over 300 artists, providing space and resources for experimentation and new creation. Exhibitions are paired with interactive programming—hands-on art projects, workshops, lectures, and tours—that invite visitors of all backgrounds to explore the intersection of art and everyday life.

The Mattress Factory fosters deep engagement with contemporary artistic practices, offering visitors fresh ways to experience and reflect on cultural expression. Its unique learning environment encourages curiosity and creative thinking across all ages, guided by exhibitions, interpretive materials, and dynamic outreach.

Located in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood, the museum's facilities house permanent, site-specific installations—the only of their kind in the U.S. for many featured artists. As a result, the collection serves as both an artistic archive and educational resource, underscoring the museum's commitment to innovation, development, and public understanding of contemporary art.