The second expansion of the center took place under the leadership of Ruth DeYoung Kohler II, who also founded the Arts/Industry and Connecting Communities programs.

Bruenchenhein was a prolific self-taught artist who did not receive much recognition until his death in 1983 and the subsequent exhibition of his work at the Arts Center.

[9] In 2012 the Mary Nohl Art Environment was gifted to the center, and much of her work at her home in Fox Point was preserved.

Past exhibitions have featured the work of artists such as Ebony Patterson[11] Lenore Tawney,[12] Ray Yoshida,[13] Emery Blagdon,[14] Nek Chand, Saya Woolfalk, Albert Zahn, Lee Godie, Eddie Owens Martin, Charlie Willeto, Loy Allen Bowlin ("The Original Rhinestone Cowboy"), Dr. Charles Smith, Bill Daniel, Faythe Levine, Bernard Langlais, and Beth Katleman.

The center is internationally recognized for its artist-created public washrooms, designed through the Arts/Industry residency which cultural historian Barbara Penner uses as the introduction to her 2013 book Bathroom.

[17] They were designed by Ann Agee, Cynthia Consentino, Carter Kustera, Casey O’Connor, Merrill Mason, and Matt Nolen.

The performing arts program began with small concerts, and grew with the inception of the Youth Symphony in 1970.