Winona State University Winona Campus Watkins Hall

Watkins Hall

Watkins Hall features 2 art galleries and several creator studios and state-of-the-art labs.

Watkins Hall is located in the northwest corner of Main Campus between Gildemeister Hall and the Science Laboratory Center (SLC), Pasteur Hall, and Stark Hall.

Academic Departments

Art & Design

The Art & Design Department trains students to be versatile creators, thinkers, and educators through programs focused on the visual arts.

Art & Design Department

Students laugh during class in the art studio on the WSU campus.

Computer Science

The Computer Science Department offers programs for students to build critical thinking and communication skills alongside technical programming knowledge.

Computer Science Department

A student inspects a computer in a classroom.

Art Galleries

The Art & Design Department coordinates exhibits for our 2 on-campus art galleries. Students enjoy free admission, and community members are welcome to visit for a small entry fee.

See Current Exhibits

The Watkins Gallery hosts several annual exhibitions by visiting artists.

The Watkins Gallery also hosts a campus-wide juried student exhibition and several student exhibitions by graduating seniors in April and May each year.

The gallery is named after Paul Watkins, who donated part of his private collection to WSU in the 1920s.

This gallery is 644 square feet and features 20-foot ceilings and a glass façade at the gallery’s entrance.

The Weber Gallery hosts:

solo student exhibitions
Foundation shows
department showcases like the Junior Portfolio Review, the Design Salon, select Senior Shows, and various special student and visiting artists’ art
class exhibitions

The Weber Gallery is the department’s critique space and is sometimes used by visiting artists.

It’s named in honor of Maynard Weber ‘50. Weber was the son of artist Max Weber, one of the first American Cubist painters.

This gallery is 300 square feet.

Labs & Studios

Students in Art & Design programs have access to 24-hour graphic art labs and creator studios to make art whenever inspiration strikes.

Design Computer Lab

The Design Computer Lab is equipped with Apple desktops paired with Wacom tablets, allowing students to use design, motion, digital imaging, web, sound, video, and animation software.

Design Production Lab

The Design Production Lab is equipped with print presses, 3D printers, cutters and engravers, and textile production tools to bring all their creations to life.

Photography Studio

The Photography Studio features professional photography equipment, including SLR cameras, studio lighting, large format printers, and even a dark room.

Students observe a painting hung on an easel in the Painting Studio.

Painting & Drawing Studios

The Painting and Drawing studios offer workstations, equipment, and materials for students.

A student removes a finished ceramic bowl from a kiln.

Sculpture & Ceramics Studios

The Sculpture and Ceramics studios have creative spaces for students to craft as well as gas and raku kilns to fire their final works.

Software Testing & Development Lab

For Computer Science students, the Software Testing & Development Lab provides testing, development, and other computer and networking services to local and regional businesses like IBM.