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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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Join us for a special public forum honoring a decade of commissions of the Atrium Project at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Atrium Project: 10th Anniversary Forum

This public forum celebrates the closing of The Atrium Project: 10 Years, 10 Stories, an exhibition honoring a decade of commissions for the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s Atrium Project, featuring the current installation by Edra Soto, which will remain on view through early 2027.

The day brings together artists, curators, and community members for a program of conversations, reflections, and participatory sessions. Attendees will explore the themes of material, memory, place, critical histories, and community engagement, learning how artists approach site-specific commissions and the relationships they build with communities and institutions.

This special forum reflects on the series’ impact while looking forward to its continued future.

For the past ten years, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has invited artists to create original, large-scale works specifically for the Museum’s soaring central Atrium space. Each Atrium Project commission is site-specific—designed in response to the architecture, history, and community surrounding the Museum and is on view for at least a year. View past Atrium Project commissions here.

Visitors may register for one or more sessions to participate in an engaging dialogue with artists, curators, and community partners. In a mobile talk format, visitors will move throughout the museum to discuss each work.

Session A:

- 10:15–10:30 AM – Welcome
Soileh Padilla Mayer, Consul of Mexico in Kansas City, opens the forum.
Location: Atrium

- 10:30–11:00 AM – Origin Story
Jessica S. Hong, Chief Curator, and Erin Dziedzic discuss the origins and vision of the Atrium Project commissioning series.
Location: Atrium

- 11:10 AM–12:30 PM - Material, Memory, and Place
Featuring artists: Angel Otero (work discussed), Aliza Nisenbaum (work discussed), Paul Henry Ramirez (work discussed), and Pepe Mar (in attendance)
Conversation led by: Joanne Northrup, Kimi Kitada, Erin Dziedzic, Raechell Smith, Jessica S. Hong, DJ Luis
Location: Galleries
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Session B:

- 1:45–2:45 PM - Mining Critical Histories
Featuring artists: Joiri Minaya (work discussed), Sarah Zapata (in attendance), and Firelei Báez (work discussed)
Conversation led by: Sue Moreno, Anna Marie Tutera, Amy Kligman
Location: Galleries
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Session C:

- 2:45–3:45 PM - Roots, Ritual, and Place
Featuring artists: Edra Soto (in attendance), José Lerma (in attendance), and Lucía Vidales (in attendance)
Conversation led by: José Faus, Erin Dziedzic, Sean Kelley
Location: Galleries and Atrium

- 4:00–4:30 PM – Open Door Wrap-Up Sessions
A participatory working session invites discussion on artist-community engagement, site research, and commissioning strategies, concluding with reflections from moderators and artists.
Location: Engagement Space

Guests may register for individual sessions or choose an All-Day Pass to attend the full program. Each session has limited capacity, so please register only for the sessions you plan to attend. Thank you for your consideration!

This program is free and open to all. Registration is required due to limited seating. Check-in upon arrival is appreciated but not required.

Click here for information on how to get to the Museum and where to find our paid parking lots. Parking is Free for Supporting Members, and ample free street parking is also available around the Museum.

Kemper Museum admission is always free, thanks to the generous support of our Members and donors. Become a Museum Member today to help sustain free access to contemporary art and community programming.

By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from Kemper Museum. You may unsubscribe anytime.

The Atrium Project: 10 Years, 10 Stories

Public programs are always FREE for everyone only because they are supported by many.