The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Take an Art Now virtual tour with us every Friday at noon. Explore the museum’s collections through a thematic lens inspired by current issues. Topics change monthly. https://bit.ly/3g5ywb6.

In partnership with the Charlotte Street Foundation, Cory Imig, 2020 Visual Artist Award Fellow, shares about her artistic process and the works in the Nelson-Atkins collection that inspire her. If you enjoyed tonight’s Charlotte Street Artists’ Virtual Walk, get your tickets for the next one on July 7! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3yDtZDi.

During WWII, William Heaslip illustrated aviation subjects, like "Propeller," for leading magazines and news outlets, such as The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Wide World Syndicate, and The Associated Press. He was born May 16, 1898 #onthisday https://bit.ly/3efQbdh.

This Saturday, June 5 is the Hospital Hill Run, so expect road closures around the museum from approximately 7-11 a.m. More information at https://hospitalhillrun.com/course/.

We're open late Friday nights! Reserve Art Course tickets, grab a drink at the Terrace Snack Bar, and enjoy a beautiful evening in the Sculpture Park with lighting powered by Evergy. We can't wait to see you here! nelson-atkins.org/art-course/

Congratulations to the class of 2021! Wishing success for this year’s graduates. Nicholas Nixon photographed in three Boston-area schools as part of a project with celebrated child psychologist Robert Coles. Nixon’s candid portraits of schoolchildren and their teachers convey their daily triumphs and struggles in the classroom. Image credit: Nicholas Nixon (American, born 1947), 11th Grade English class discussion of 'Pride and Prejudice,' Boston Latin School, 1996, Gelatin silver print. Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.2016

Winner of awards at Tribeca and Vancouver, My Wonderful Wanda is a delightful satire of the haves and the have-nots set against the backdrop of a gorgeous lakeside villa in Switzerland. Rent it now through the Tivoli virtual cinema. Fifty percent of rental proceeds come back to the museum! https://nelson-atkins.org//tivoli-at-h/my-wonderful-wanda/

Our staff is putting final touches in place before "Testimony: African American Artists Collective" opens this Saturday, June 5. Here, Senior Exhibition Preparator John is installing Joseph A. Newton's painting "Hues of Her Father’s Dreams" (2021). In the background, you can see a painting by Joseph A.'s father, Joseph T. Newton, called "Be Forever Wonderful" (2021). We can't wait for you to see this amazing show! Learn more: https://bit.ly/34pr9Ek African American Artists Collective KC #TestimonyAAAC

Richard Estes was born #onthisday, May 14, 1932. Richard Estes crops the image of an ordinary city bus to focus our attention on the windshield and its reflections. Distorted by the window's curve, mirrored images of buildings and street signs are rendered meticulously. The glass reveals little of the bus' interior. Instead, it reflects the viewer's surroundings. Estes, a photorealist artist, fuses information from multiple photographs to construct images that draw us in, like visual puzzles. On view in Contemporary Art gallery L3.

Van Gogh Alive, produced by Grande Experiences, is now on sale! Get your tickets today at https://www.kcstarlight.com//event-detail-/van-gogh-alive/

We are open today for Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Reserve your free ticket now: https://nelson-atkins.org/plan-your-visit/

Today we honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Reverend King appears in Chicago-based artist Kerry James Marshall's painting "Memento #5," an elegy to the Civil Rights movement. The monochromatic painting depicts a black angel standing at the center of a living room. Solemnly, the figure draws closed a glittery, silver curtain, symbolically concluding a decade of peaceful civil disobedience, courageous marches, visionary speeches, righteous ...legislation, explosive riots, and tragic deaths. Behind the angel, at left and right, are the faces of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. "Memento #5" is currently on loan to the New Museum in New York City for the exhibition "Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America" which will feature some of the country's most acclaimed Black artists. Though we will miss its presence in the galleries, we celebrate "Memento #5" and its role in this important exhibition.

On view: "Gordon Parks X Muhammad Ali: The Image of a Champion, 1966 | 1970." Parks’s photographs capture this important early chapter in the life of the fighter we still call the greatest of all time as he confronted his challenges, inside and outside the ring. Organized in collaboration with the The Gordon Parks Foundation. https://nelson-atkins.org/exhi/gordon-parks-x-muhammad-ali/

Update: we have sold out of timed tickets for Saturday, Jan. 16. Reserve your free tickets now for Sunday and Monday! We're open all weekend, including Monday! Reserve your free tickets to visit, learn about our hours and policies, and more: https://nelson-atkins.org/plan-your-visit/

Need a mini marvel for your Monday? Contemplate the diminutive portraits we currently have on view from our Starr Collection of Miniatures. Small enough to slip in a pocket or wear as jewelry, the intimate tokens of love, loss, allegiance, and affection were frequently exchanged between friends and lovers. Highlighting the history of these delicate watercolors, we change out the display every twelve months, showing a variety of the more than 250 objects. Images: Portrait of ...Mary de Cardonnel, Countess Talbot, by Nathaniel Hone, Irish, 17181784 Portrait of King Louis XIV of France, by Jean Petitot (Swiss, 1607 - 1691) Portrait of the Duchess of Buckingham, by Christian Friedrich Zincke (German, 1683 - 1767) Portrait of a Woman, by Gervase Spencer (English, ca. 1715-1763

We're open today! Get out of the house and stroll through our socially distanced galleries. Book your free timed tickets, check our hours, see our mask policy, and more: https://bit.ly/3gyiiFv

Start the year with a customized virtual tour! Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art educators are available by appointment to meet with community groups in Zoom or... Webex meetings to share collection highlights. Make a reservation online: https://www.nermanmuseum.org/visit/tours.html Image: Frank Big Bear Jr, Ojibwe b. 1953, We Are Still Here (detail), 2014, collage on found paper, collection Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art See more

Receive 50% off of Christmas and holiday themed merchandise at the Museum Store, now through Jan. 1. Come visit us this weekend to get that perfect item to fill your home with cheer.

This week we say a temporary farewell to one of the most loved and visited objects in our contemporary galleries. Kerry James Marshall's "Memento #5" will join other great works of art in an exhibition at the New Museum in New York City. "Grief and Grievance: Art and Mourning in America" is a direct response to the national emergency of Black grief and will feature some of the country's most acclaimed Black artists. The late curator of the exhibition, Okwui Enwezor, was very influential in the careers of many of the Black artists featured. Though we know our visitors will miss its presence in the galleries, we celebrate "Memento #5" and its role in this important exhibition. We will welcome our painting back this summer after the exhibition in New York City closes.

Merry Christmas! We wish you a wonderful day full of love and peace. [Fred A. Merida (American, born 1936), "Christmas Portfolio," ca. 1957]

May visions of lobsters dance in your head. "A Pantry Ballet (for Jacques Offenbach)" by Joseph Cornell, who was born December 24, 1903 #onthisday. Not currently on view.

Master Printer Robert Blackburn was born on this day in 1920. The artist, teacher, and collaborator advocated for community engagement, racial diversity, and the inclusion of marginalized artists. His career spanning six decades made a tremendous impact on printmaking in the U.S. See a collection of his work today in the exhibition "Robert Blackburn & Modern American Printmaking." Learn more: https://bit.ly/2LoZsoS. [Artist: Ron Adams (American, born 1934), Publisher: The Lawrence Lithography Workshop (American, founded 1979), "Blackburn," 2002.]

Opening tomorrow in Tivoli KC virtual cinema: "The Reason I Jump." Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of nonspeaking autistic people from around the world. Learn more and rent: https://nelson-atkins.org/tivoli/reason-i-jump/

December 23, 1888 #onthisday, Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear. "Olive Trees" was painted in 1889 during his stay at the asylum of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where he committed himself after suffering a series of breakdowns. #vanGogh

"The faint traces of a charcoal underdrawing, visible thanks to multispectral analysis, are evidence of the spolvero technique, in which the artist pricks tiny holes along the outlines of the drawing and uses charcoal dust to transfer the cartoon to canvas."

Photographer Danelle Manthey’s childhood memories of driving around the block after dark to marvel at the twinkling light shows adorning neighbors’ lawns inspired her to embark on a cross-country journey to document home light displays and the people behind them.

You still have a few more hours to enter our birthday raffle! Celebrate 87 years of the Nelson-Atkins and help secure our future with the purchase of a raffle ticket. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3a0kBjy

Even though we can't celebrate Día de los Muertos together at the museum this year, we've moved the celebration online. Enjoy videos exploring the history of the event and take a look at past altar displays created in collaboration with local artists. https://nelson-atkins.org/nelso/virtual-dia-de-los-muertos/

We are open today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.! Timed tickets are recommended but walk ins are allowed. Read our safety protocols before you arrive. https://nelson-atkins.org/plan-your-visit/

Today is Nelson-Atkins Giving Day! Celebrate our history and help us secure our future by purchasing a raffle ticket to win one of two prizes, including a private virtual tour and a Museum Store gift card. Learn more on our website: https://bit.ly/3a0kBjy. Not interested in the raffle, but want to give? Make a donation to our annual fund today and become a part of the long history of the Nelson-Atkins. https://bit.ly/2K9XZC7

Happy #Hanukkah. The Jewish festival of lights begins tonight. May your year be filled with peace and joy. Jerusalem the Golden, by Naim Basson. Not currently on view.

Happy Halloween! What's the spookiest object or gallery in the museum? [Martin Munkácsi (Hungarian, 1896 - 1963), Black cat before the attack, ca. 1930].

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration with family and friends gathering to honor and remember deceased relatives and popular figures. Enjoy an introduction to Día de los Muertos traditions with Jenny Mendez, Director, Cultural Arts, Mattie Rhodes as part of our 10th annual (virtual) Day of the Dead Celebration. https://bit.ly/37vsDzI

It's a difficult day at the museum as we face the continued effects of the pandemic.

The most wonderful time of the year calls for a dinner that matches the magic of the season! Pre-order your Christmas dinner before Dec. 17 or your New Year’s E...ve dinner before Dec. 24 from The Kauffman Center Dining Experience: At Home. Call 816.994.7208 to place your order, and don't forget to add on a holiday cookie decorating kit! Learn more at kauffmancenter.org/dining-at-home.

There is power in celebrating our authentic selves and in honoring gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and who and how we love. There is power in seeing ourselves reflected in LGBTQIA+ culture and knowing we are seen and valued. To shine a light on contributions of LGBTQIA+ people, we hope you will explore nine artworks from our collection in our NelsonAtkins@Home LOOK section. [Claude Cahun (French, 1894 - 1954), Self-portrait, ca. 1928} https://nelson-atkins.org/nelson-atkins-at-h/look-at-home/

One month left to visit "Teachers of Enlightenment: Traditions in Tibetan Buddhism." Beginning with the historical Buddha who founded the tradition of Buddhism more than 2,500 years ago, the teacher has occupied a central role within Buddhism. See works of art used for teaching, worship, and dissemination of Buddhism in this free exhibition. https://nelson-atkins.org/exhibi/teachers-of-enlightenment/

The galleries are open once again with new measures in place for the safety of staff and visitors. Reserve your free timed tickets to visit--we can't wait to see you here! https://bit.ly/3k2OLEL

Thank you to all of our community partners and our museum staff who collaborated with us this week to highlight works from the Nelson-Atkins during LGBTQ+ History Month. We finish out this week with an image from our Photography collection. Samantha Ruggles (she/her/hers) designated Birmingham, Alabama (police dogs attack demonstrators) on behalf of the Equal Trans Support Group. The Equal Trans Support Group is a community under the Trans Umbrella open to all ages and gender identities. The Birmingham Riots photo spoke to us. The fight for racial justice and gender equality have been intertwined since the Civil Rights era. We can be reached at [email protected].

"Abstraction: From A to B," our latest exhibition of European works on paper, closes Oct. 26. Don't miss this exploration of works by Bauhaus artists Josef Albers and Herbert Bayer. https://nelson-atkins.org/exhibiti/abstraction-from-a-to-b/

This week’s posts in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month continue with an artwork chosen by Ronn Pawo McLane (he/him/his), Teacher of Buddhism & Meditation, the "Ruyilun Guanyin (Cintamani chakra) Bodhisattva Seated on a Lotus Throne": Reaching enlightenment means compassion and wisdom for all beings through the rise of unfettered understanding. For the LGBTQIA community this means to live without judgement of sexuality, gender, race, or belief. The Bodhisattva shows us the limitless beauty of the awakened heart and mind for each and every being without exception.

Our very own Kreshaun McKinney, Manager of Audience Engagement, will be moderating the virtual talk this Sunday in conjunction with the exhibition "There Are Black People in the Future." Reserve your free tickets below!

We asked our community partners to select artworks from our collection as we recognize LGBTQ+ History Month. Our friends at Transformations: A KC Trans And Gender Expansive Youth Organization selected Jess T. Dugan’s "Gloria, 70, Chicago, IL": We believe it's important for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth to see older trans adults living, surviving, and thriving. This piece gives us hope, inspiration, and leaves us in awe of Gloria, this brave woman. Transformations is a KC youth organization that provides support programming for and by the transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive community. Check our virtual events at @kctransformations, Tuesdays, 6pm.

Oct. 22, Nelson-Atkins Director Julián Zugazagoitia joins a panel of museum leaders to discuss the future of "blockbuster" exhibitions and issues facing curators and art museums. Reserve your free ticket for this event hosted by Association for Art History:

The first African-American woman to receive this honor, among the art world’s most prestigious, Simone Leigh was selected on the recommendation of museum professionals and artists convened by the National Endowment for the Arts. Her sculpture "Figure with Skirt" is on view in Gallery L2.

Join us virtually Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. for a night of supernatural fun as the Tivoli’s Curator of Film Jerry Harrington and former Kansas City Star Film Critic Robert W. Butler discuss THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, one of the most popular horror classics of all time and an acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein. Head to https://bit.ly/TivoliFilm to register for your free ticket to this virtual event, more info on the film, and options on how to watch the film.

Who remembers our first Dia de los Muertos celebration in 2011? For 2020, we are all digital in this 10th year, as we look back at the art installations, performances, and nine community altars. Enjoy the memories and virtual festival on our website: https://bit.ly/3nTatNI. Thanks to Consulado de México en Kansas City, Mattie Rhodes Center, Telemundo Kansas City Guadalupe Centers, Inc. and JE Dunn Construction for all your support.

Today’s post in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month is an artwork selected by community partner, Kansas City Center for Inclusion. Painted in Rome in 1956, the year before Pavel Tchelitchew’s death, Fatma is titled after the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The painting embodies the gay Russian-born artist and mystic’s desire to create a depiction of the human form as what he called a total image. Tchelitchew wrote about the painting in a letter to a Nelson-Atkins curato...r: life is rhythmical motion. . . . The different colors make the whole image become alive, concave, convex, bulging, receding, turning to right and left. Fatma holds significance for us at the Kansas City Center for Inclusion because it is reminiscent of tapping into the collective energy of the queer community. Covid-19 has served as a reminder that the LGBTQIA+ community needs each other now more than ever. Although we cannot come together in person to celebrate LGBTQIA History Month, we are open for walk-in hours, and are delivering virtual programming!