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Kemper Museum is a free art museum in Kansas City, Missouri that presents global contemporary art.

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Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art acknowledges it resides on the ancestral territory of the Osage, Kaw, and Otoe-Missouria, among other tribal nations forcibly moved to the region such as the Shawnee, Wyandot, Delaware, Potawatomi, Sac and Fox and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) nations. We recognize and support the continued vibrancy of Native communities and cultures today who continue to thrive, as well as the inherent sovereignty of tribal nations. We are compelled to serve and advocate for these communities in accordance with our public mission.

Kemper Museum acknowledges and respects the diversity of Native people connected to this land today. Many recognize the land and all beings who live within it as relatives. We acknowledge the earth we inhabit, the waters of the Blue River, the Kansas River, the Missouri River, and the plants, animals, and people supported by them. 

We acknowledge our responsibility to be good caretakers of the land we occupy. 

Click here to learn more about our land acknowledgment process.

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Initially inspired by conversations around the 2026 World Cup and potential influx of international visitors to Kansas City, this exhibition foregrounds the already present and increasingly expansive global context in which we live.

The World in Kansas City

Initially inspired by conversations around the 2026 World Cup and potential influx of international visitors to Kansas City, this exhibition foregrounds the already present and increasingly expansive global context in which we live. For hundreds of years, people from different regions of the world have migrated to the region for a variety of reasons—from fleeing upheavals in their homelands to seeking new opportunities. Our artistic community has reflected this dynamic, supported by area universities and arts institutions and organizations, drawing artists from across the globe. While not intended to represent the entire world, this exhibition recognizes the complexity of these histories and narratives and commemorates this city’s evolving global spirit by featuring artists with global backgrounds who have either established themselves or had meaningful experiences in the city and region. Critically, their practices examine nuanced and interconnected systems, ideas, and experiences, revealing how we all belong to a shared social and cultural fabric. 

The exhibition is organized by Jessica S. Hong, Chief Curator, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

Paul Anthony Smith (born in Jamaica)
Akio Takamori (born in Japan)
Sumire Skye Taniai (born in Japan)
Anna Tsouhlarakis (Navajo Nation, Muscogee Creek, and Greek descent)
Mikey Yates (born in Germany)
Hugo Zelada-Romero (born in Guatemala)
Hong Chun Zhang (born in China)
Among Others

Alexander Archipenko (born in Russian Empire, now Kyiv, Ukraine)
Heehyun Choi (born in Los Angeles, CA; raised in Seoul, South Korea)
Juan Diego Gaucin (born in Mexico)
Hùng Lê (born in Vietnam)
Kathy Minhsin Liao (born in Taiwan)
Hung Liu (born in China)
César López (born in Guatemala)
SunYoung Park (born in South Korea)
Kiki Serna (born in Mexico)

Paul Anthony Smith (b. 1988, St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica),Untitled, 2022, picotage on inkjet print with paint and sticker mounted on Dibond, 71 5/8 x 104 inches, Museum purchase made possible by a gift from the William T. Kemper Charitable Trust, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustee, 2022.4. © Paul Anthony Smith

Akio Takamori (b. 1950, Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan-d.2017, Seattle, WA), Conversation, 1997, white stoneware, two elements, 24 x 7 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches & 26 x 7 1/2 x 7 inches, Hallmark Art Collection, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri © The Estate of Akio Takamori

Hong Zhang (b. 1971, Shenyang, China), Offerings (diptych), 2025, Mixed mediums with two Chinese scrolls of ink on Italian Alcantara fabric and two foam/plywood fabricated rice bowls filled with real bullet shells, incense sticks and uncooked white rice, Each: 130 x 60 x 30 inches, Courtesy of the artist © Hong Zhang

Featured Artworks

Inspired by the 2026 World Cup, Kemper Museum Chief Curator Jessica Hong created an exhibition exploring the artists, stories and city’s migration histories that reveal KC’s global roots

Inside a new Kansas City art exhibit inspired by World Cup & KC’s immigrants

Kemper Museum in Kansas City unveils World Cup-themed art exhibit

The World in Kansas City — Member Preview & Curator Conversation

Experience the Kemper Museum’s collections through the unique perspectives of Kansas City contemporary artists.

Beyond the Studio: Isaac Tapia

Visual artist, Juan Diego Gaucin will guide participants through an evening of studio-style drawing at Kemper Museum!

Studio Night: The World in Kansas City

Join Executive Director Jessica May for a casual gallery talk focused on current exhibitions, and stay for lunch at the museum's restaurant, Oil on Linen.

Director's Gallery Spotlight

Experience a deep dive into select artworks from The World in Kansas City exhibition through presentations by UMKC students.

UMKC Insights: Student Perspectives on The World in Kansas City

Ceramicist SunYoung Park will guide participants through a hands-on sculpture workshop at Kemper Museum!

Presenting Sponsors Kristen and Dan Fromm; Linda Lighton, Lynn Adkins, and the Lighton Fund; the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. 

Exhibitions are always free thanks to the generosity of members and other donors. Join or donate today to support free access to contemporary art.

César López, Structural Form: Globe (expanded), 2025. 5052 H3 Aluminum, Chain, Hardware, Aluminum Rod, Shaft Collar, Motor (1RPM). 48 x 48 x 48 inches. Image courtesy the artist.