Reading the World explores artistic investigations into forces of nature. Together the works displayed prompt viewers to consider their own encounters with the natural world, their ecological and political contexts, and how they become reflected in a wide range of mediums.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the History of Black Writing, a research center at the University of Kansas that specializes in the recovery and preservation of texts by Black writers. This exhibition extends the goals of the project’s archive of Black storytellers to include art and visual culture. Featured works by contemporary artists […]

The Spencer Museum collaborates with contemporary photographer Accra Shepp to share two photographic projects, Occupying Wall Street and The Covid Journals. Through these portrait series, Shepp reveals a sense of community, hope, and resilience during an era of tremendous social, political, and environmental change. Shepp began photographing the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York’s Zuccotti Park on […]

The interactive installation “How the Light Gets In” was created by artist Sarah Newman in collaboration with Hyunjin Seo and the KU Center for Digital Inclusion in the William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications. It shares the experiences of formerly incarcerated women reentering society. Newman and Seo collaborated with women in reentry through […]

Opening in fall of 2021, Debut will feature artwork from the Spencer Museum’s collection that has never been exhibited in our building since it opened in 1978. The eclectic artwork assembled is explored through seven broad thematic sections. Debut will remain on view for the duration of Phase II renovation and the complete reinstall of our fourth-floor collection galleries. […]