For Adults

Free hands-on workshops, films, lectures, and performances are scheduled throughout the year. The Museum strives to represent artists and visitors of diverse genders, nationalities, artistic influences, media, and ethnicity. Admission is always free and the Museum is fully accessible in order to warmly welcome visitors with special needs. Groups of ten or more may schedule free docent-led guided tours of the Kemper Museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions, to see more information visit the Museum's Tours page.

2017 Plaza Art Fair

Friday, September 22, 2017 to Sunday, September 24, 2017
KC Country Club Plaza
Friday, 9/22/17: 5pm -10pm | Saturday, 9/23/17: 10am -10pm | Sunday, 9/24/17: 11am - 5pm
FREE | All Ages

Visit Kemper Museum's booth at the 2017 Plaza Art Fair on the corner of Broadway & 47th Street for art activities, giveaways, and more! Learn more about our upcoming exhibition, The Outwin: American Portraiture Today (opening October 5). Interested in becoming a museum member? Our staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer your questions and give you an awesome membership offer.

Plaza Art Fair Hours:
Friday, Sept. 22 • 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23 • 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. & Sunday, Sept. 24 • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Also happening that weekend, Saturday, Sept. 23, is our ArtReach: Session One program "Animated Art," (Ages 6–8 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) (Ages 9–12 1:00–3:00 p.m.). Email reservations@kemperart.org to enroll, registration will be limited to one workshop only per child.

Avoid the Plaza parking and walk to the Plaza! 

We look forward to seeing everyone at The Plaza Art Fair! We will have balloon artist Molly Balloons, at our booth, for 2 hours each day of the fair.

Molly Balloons Schedule:

Friday, 9/22/17: 6-8:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9/23/17: 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9/24/17: 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Programs in Conjunction with Women to Watch | Metals

Women to Watch | Metals Panel Discussion with Exhibition Artists and Curator

Thursday, September 28, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00–7:00 p.m.
FREE | No registration required

5:00 p.m. Cash Bar
6:00 p.m. Panel discussion, moderated by Barbara O'Brien, Executive Director of Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, in cooperation with the Kansas City Chapter of National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is proud to host Women to Watch | Metals.

Artists:
Cheryl Eve Acosta
Debbie Barret-Jones
Angelica Sandoval
Jessica Thompson-Lee
Desiree Warren

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-to-watch-metals-panel-discussion-with-exhibition-artists-and-curator-tickets-37853508864 

Programs in Conjunction with The Outwin: American Portraiture Today

Artist/Curator Talk: Dorothy Moss and Amy Sherald

Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch | 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64112
6:30–7:30 p.m.
FREE | All Ages

Curator Dorothy Moss shares her experience jurying and organizing the National Portrait Gallery’s 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, and top prize winning artist Amy Sherald (also a Kemper Museum Permanent Collection artist) provides insight into her wildly popular portraits. Catalogues are available for purchase this evening at the library and at Kemper Museum Shop during the exhibition.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artistcurator-talk-dorothy-moss-and-amy-sherald-tickets-37550595843?aff=es2

Exhibition Opening: The Outwin: American Portraiture Today

Thursday, October 5, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00–7:00 p.m.
FREE | All Ages

With special guests Artist Amy Sherald and Curator Dorothy Moss. Music provided by Park University International Center for Music.
Kemper Museum Members: bring your membership card for a complimentary beverage.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exhibition-opening-the-outwin-american-portraiture-today-tickets-37551816494?aff=erelexpmlt

Film Screening: black enuf*"

Friday, October 27, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00 p.m. cash bar, 6:00 p.m. screening
FREE | All Ages

With special guest Director Carrie Hawks
A queer oddball seeks approval from black peers despite a serious lack of hip-hop credentials and a family that “talks white.” The quest for undeniable acceptance of her racial identity takes Hawks from Missouri to New York and halfway around the world in the animated documentary black enuf* (22 min.). Join director Carrie Hawks for an informal discussion following the screening.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-black-enuf-tickets-37552000043

Animation Workshop

Saturday, October 28, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
1:00–3:00 p.m.
FREE | All Ages

Carrie Hawks, director of black enuf*, leads an informative and creative workshop on analog and digital animation for all ages. Bring your imagination and learn skills to produce 21st-century animation.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/animation-workshop-tickets-37552118397

Artist Talk: Jess Dugan

Thursday, November 2, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00 p.m. cash bar, 6:00 p.m. artist talk
FREE

St. Louis–based photographer and 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition commended artist Jess Dugan speaks about her most recent photographic series Every Breath We Drew, which questions the collective idea of gender and sexuality—specifically what it means to be a man.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-talk-jess-dugan-tickets-37552422306

Artist Talk: Tim Doud

Thursday, November 16, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00 p.m. cash bar, 6:00 p.m. artist talk
FREE

Washington, D.C.–based artist Tim Doud gives an overview of his collaborative portrait process. A finalist in the 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, Doud expands on his practice of repeatedly painting a single subject.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-talk-tim-doud-tickets-37700327695

Artist Talk: Dean Mitchell

Friday, December 8, 2017
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
5:00 p.m. cash bar, 6:00 p.m. artist talk
FREE

Tampa, Florida–based Kemper Museum Permanent Collection artist and 2016 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition artist Dean Mitchell joins us for an evening of exploring his portraits, which capture the spirit and essence of African American life.

RSVP at Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-talk-dean-mitchell-tickets-37552505555

Audio Tours

To hear insight from the artists themselves, an exhibition audio tour is available inside the Kemper Museum app. Download the app via iTunes or the Android marketplace to hear the artists speak about selected works.

Drop-In Gallery Tours

Every Saturday from 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Kemper Museum | FREE

Drop-in Gallery Tours are offered every Saturday. Join a Kemper Museum docent for a lively discussion and tour of the Museum’s current exhibitions. These tours serve as our only "drop in" opportunity to have a guided tour each week.

No reservations are required. Meet at the Visitor Services Desk.​

Talks and Conversations

Featured artists and exhibition curators often speak at the Kemper Museum’s opening receptions for its special exhibitions. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the exhibitions' works and artists' working method. Visit the Museum's Talks page for more information.

Workshops

Hands-on workshops for adults have included watercolor painting, acrylic portrait painting, monotype printing, wire sculpture, collage, mixed media, and creative writing. Led by area artists, these workshops provide creative opportunities that expand on themes and media present in Kemper Museum exhibiting artists' works. Learn to express yourself, work with new materials, and consider new processes and ideas.