Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum

The language of gesture continues to be expressed and felt through the creative vision of the hundreds of artists whose works activate the Museum and whose unique lexicon, with gestural grounding, drives relevant dialogue and intention into the world. Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum emphasizes the Museum’s trajectory of collecting and exhibiting art by celebrating the alignment of these combined histories today and with eyes toward the future.

Presenting well-known works by artists in the Museum’s Permanent Collection such as Louise Bourgeois, Deborah Butterfield, Petah Coyne, and Frank Stella—alongside new acquisitions from the past five years, including works by Firelei Báez, Nick Cave, Barbara Chase-Riboud, David Hockney, Rashid Johnson, and Amy Sherald—visitors have an opportunity to experience the breath of contemporary art featured in Kansas City, with new works by artists Liza Lou and Do-Ho Suh—whose past exhibitions greatly impacted Kemper Museum’s program over the past quarter century—making their debut.

Stay connected throughout the course of the exhibition as Kemper Museum announces two additional phases that will transform and refresh the Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery, creating new conversations and revealing surprise works.

Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum is organized by Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, and curated by Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs. As part of this exhibition, a new twenty-fifth anniversary catalogue will be published in honor of this milestone year.

Lead Sponsor:
Jane Voorhees