The Mattress Factory is the most adventurous art museum in Pittsburgh, and it is a very different experience from the Warhol or the Carnegie. It occupies a former mattress warehouse and neighboring houses on Jacksonia Street on the North Side, and rather than hanging pictures on walls it commissions artists to create installations, room-sized works that you step into and walk through. Light, sound, mirrors and everyday objects become the material, and the effect is immersive, sometimes playful and sometimes unsettling. The museum is known for its long-term installations, including work by Yayoi Kusama, so a visit can feel more like exploring a series of strange houses than looking at art. Exhibitions change, so the details of what is on view vary through the year, and there is a link on the museum's site to what is on now. A small cafe, MayFly Market and Deli, sells bites and sandwiches, and visitors are allowed to bring their own beverages during opening hours. If you enjoy contemporary art, or want something more unusual than a conventional gallery, it is one of the most memorable stops in the city.
Hours and tickets
The museum is open Wednesday from 11am to 8pm and Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and it is closed on Tuesdays. Mondays are listed as by appointment only, although guided visits are offered on Mondays, so check before planning a Monday visit. General tickets are sold online on the museum's website, with lower prices for students, and children under six are free. Guided visits are ticketed separately, so you can choose a more explanatory experience if you want it.
Planning your visit
Allow about two hours, and read the guidance on the museum's website about the individual installations, since some of them involve darkness, flashing light or tight spaces. Installations rotate, so the exact works vary by season. The site is made up of several buildings, so wear comfortable shoes. It is a modest walk from the Warhol and the National Aviary, which makes it simple to combine them.
Making it count
Wednesday evenings, when the museum is open until 8pm, are a calm time to visit and pair well with dinner nearby. It is a good choice for couples, art lovers and anyone with teenagers who might be bored by a traditional museum. Younger children may find some of the darker installations strange. It is not a place to rush, so give each room a few quiet minutes and look at how the work changes as you move through it.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided museum of room-sized contemporary art installations across several buildings, with optional guided visits.
Best time
Wednesday evening, when it stays open until 8pm, or a weekend afternoon.
How long
About two hours.
Tips
Buy tickets online, wear comfortable shoes, and check the museum's guidance on installations with darkness or flashing light.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Contemporary art fans and visitors who want something more immersive than a conventional gallery.
- Families
- Best for teenagers and older children, since some installations are dark or unsettling for little ones.
- Couples
- A memorable, unusual date, finished with dinner on the North Side.
- Pair with
- The National Aviary or the Andy Warhol Museum.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
What are the Mattress Factory hours?+
It is open Wednesday from 11am to 8pm and Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and closed on Tuesdays. Guided visits are offered on Mondays.
How much is the Mattress Factory?+
Adult admission is in the low twenties, with a lower price for students and free entry for members and children under six. Check the museum's website for current prices.
What is at the Mattress Factory?+
It is a museum of contemporary installation art, with room-sized works you walk into, including pieces by Yayoi Kusama, in a former mattress warehouse.
How long does a visit take?+
About two hours for most visitors.
Where is the Mattress Factory?+
It is at 509 Jacksonia Street on Pittsburgh's North Side, a short distance from the Warhol and the National Aviary.
