First opened to the public in 1933, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art maintains collections of more than 35,000 works of art.
A few highlights from the collection include Native American art from pre-European to contemporary, more than 7,000 works of Asian art spanning 5,000 years, 900 works of European art ranging from the medieval period to the late 19th century, a large collection of Old Master prints and drawings, and a collection of Modern Art from 1900 to 1959 representing Cubism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Dada, Surrealism, Bauhaus and Abstract Expressionism. The collection is displayed by culture, theme and medium.
An ongoing program of art acquisition meant the original Museum of Fine Arts building no longer provided sufficient space. This led to the unveiling, in 2007, of the Bloch Building, a state-of-the-art addition designed by Steven Holl Architects, which increased gallery and storage space for the growing collection.
Read our review of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Art Things Considered - An Art Geek Travel Blog.
Please check the museum website for updated exhibition information. Scheduling may have been modified as a result of the temporary museum closure.
How France launched itself into the domestic porcelain industry in the 17th and 18th centuries
Nearly two dozen recent gifts of decorative arts and design
Art created by and for women underscores their role as tastemakers in visual culture from the 1100s to 1800s.
The exhibition pairs Sonam’s sculpture with Buddhist sculptures from Nepal and Tibet
Explores the multi-layered art of multi-faceted artists
Explores the dynamics of durational self-portraiture
Four late 1800s and early 1900s artists' vision of wildlife and wilderness
A close look at the ways watercolor artists manipulate the medium
Monet in Conversation with Americans in Paris
Miniatures serve as enduring tokens of allegiance, and affection
The first U.S. museum exhibition of Saint Phalle’s entire career