The David Owsley Museum of Art, formerly Ball State University Museum of Art, was formed in 1892 by a group of women with the mission of teaching the Muncie people about the arts. The museum began as the Art Students? League.

In 1905, the founders formed the Muncie Art Association, as they had successfully held many art exhibits. The collection of the Muncie Art Association was placed along the hallways of schools in Muncie.

The Ball Brothers then founded the Indiana State Normal School, where the exhibits were placed. In 1936, the Fine Arts Building and Museum of Art opened. The Fine Arts Building served as the house of the museum, as well as the place for the foreign language, social sciences, and English department.

In 2011, the museum honored David Owsley, grandson of Frank C. Ball (one of the five founding Ball Brothers), by renaming the museum after Mr. Owsley to recognize his donations of $5 million and over 2,300 art pieces. Since departments within the Fine Arts Building relocated to other areas on Ball State's campus, the museum is using the contribution to renovate the empty classrooms and expand.