The Wichita Art Museum is a distinguished art museum that showcases the art and history of South Central Kansas and the Midwest. Established in 1915 by a trust created by Louise Murdock to start a collection in memory of her husband, Roland P. Murdock, the Wichita Art Museum was opened to the public in 1935 with art borrowed from other museums.

History:

The first artwork for the collection was purchased in 1939 by the trust, after which followed a broad range of paintings, sculptures, pottery, and textiles by artists such as Robert Henri, Mary Cassatt, Edward Hopper, Horace Pippin, and Albert Ryder. Other famed artists features include Maurice Prendergast, Charles Sheeler, Albert Pinkham, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, and Arthur G. Dove and the lobby of the Museum features a striking chandelier and ceiling design by Dale Chihuly.

The Wichita Art Museum underwent an expansion in 1963 with the addition of a new lobby and two new wings designed by local architect Robert Schaefer to house the ever-growing collection, and in the 1970s a larger climate controlled facility was built. The Museum had its last expansion in 2003 taking the total floor space up to 115,000 square feet, which included more exhibition space, an art services area, a research library, a museum store and a new restaurant.

The Wichita Art Museum also offers a variety of educational programs designed to bring people, ideas, and American Art together in order enrich lives and build a spirit within the local community and hosts several events and functions throughout the year, such as Artcation and Winter Art Mania.

Collection:

The Wichita Art Museum features a distinguished collection of over 8,000 works of art with a particular focus on exceptional American art. Reflecting both the broader development of art in America and the rich cultural heritage of the Great Plains, the collection compromises works in a diverse range of media by local and internationally acclaimed artists.

Begun in 1939 and continuing until 1962, the original collection, the Roland P. Murdock Collection features a cache of 168 American works, including four Edward Hopper paintings, three Thomas Eakins paintings, over 30 Arthur Dove works and a set of stunning pendant paintings by John Singleton Copley. Other notable works in this core collection that add depth include more than 20 works by Charles Russell, a distinguished collection of 19th-, 20th-, and 21st-century glass, and an impressive array of Pre-Columbian art.

Art Garden

The Wichita Art Museum also features a newly established Art Garden, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Located alongside the Little Arkansas River in the heart of the city, the Art Garden is roofless museum spread over eight acres and features a diverse variety of fauna and flora from Kansas with more than 100 new trees, nearly 600 shrubs, and more than 20,000 perennials and grasses. The Art Garden is also home to 13 outdoor sculptures that blend seamlessly into the lush landscaped environment. Admission to the Art Garden is free.

Education

The Wichita Art Museum offers a variety of educational programs designed to brings people, ideas, and American Art together in order enrich lives and build a spirit within the local community. Programs aim to inspire curiosity and learning through informative and engaging programs for adults, teens, and youth. Adult programs include Wichita Art Chatter, Senior Wednesdays, and WAM for Adults, while family programs include Family ArtVenture, Winter Art Mania, Artcation, and special events such as the annual Summer Birthday Bash and Ice Cream Social.

The Living Room is a lively, interactive gallery for young visitors to explore their inner artists through make it/take it art activities and a variety of art projects. The bright and spacious area encourages families and friends to participate in a range of experiences linked to what's on view in the galleries with fun, physical exercises and activities and art-making projects.

Visitor Information

The Wichita Art Museum is located at 1400 West Museum Boulevard in Wichita and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from Noon to 5:00 pm. Admission to the Museum is free every Saturday. Docent-led group tours are available during museum hours, but need to be booked at least three weeks in advance, and there is no admission charge for student groups. The Museum Café is open for brunch, lunch, and beverages until 3:00 pm during Museum hours and the Museum Store is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

1400 West Museum Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67203-3200, Phone: 316-268-4921

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