Mattress Factory

Across the Ohio River, north of downtown Pittsburgh, a former factory is now home to a contemporary art museum. Located in the Mexican War Streets historic district in Pittsburgh’s Central Northside neighborhood, a one-time Stearn & Foster mattress factory, built in 1900, lives on as the Mattress Factory.

The museum is the brainchild of sculptor Barbara Luderowski, who after touring the North Side of Pittsburgh shortly after moving to the city from Michigan, purchased the dilapidated building—which had no heat—and got to work on her art. 

In 1977, the site gained nonprofit status and became a public museum. Luderowski invited other artists to show site-specific installation art, and today, the incubator features local and international artists alike, including an immersive installation by Taiwanese-born resident artist Ting Tong Chang. 

Over its 40-year history, the museum has expanded to a total of three historic buildings to date, and has shown works by more than 650 artists. One installation of note is that of doll artist Greer Lankton, whose final installation, “It’s All About ME, Not You,” a recreation of her Chicago apartment, is on long-term display.  

In 2016, the museum installed a permanent light fixture by artist Hans Peter Kuhn on the roof of its main building.