Past Exhibitions

Explore exhibitions from the past year. To learn more about all of our past exhibitions, please search our online collection.

Past Exhibitions

Soundings

Making Culture at Sea

August 12, 2025–December 14, 2025
Dolph Simons Family Gallery, The Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Gallery

This exhibition explores how in the past and present the world’s oceans are a space for cross-cultural reflections on the relationship between humans and the earth.

A large ship with three masts flying an American flag sinks as smoke billows out and sea life gathers nearby

Eternal Spring: Bamboo

July 1, 2025–December 7, 2025
Kemper Family Foundations Balcony and Ingrid & J.K. Lee Study Center

Bamboo has captivated the imagination of East Asian artists and poets for centuries. This installation complements the ceramics on view in Eternal Spring in the Lee Study Center.

A brown, square wooden stool with four legs

Eternal Spring

Ceramics from the Weare-West Family Trust

June 12, 2024–November 30, 2025
Ingrid & J. K. Lee Study Center

Explore a collection of Asian ceramics that represent concepts of health, prosperity, and immortality.

A tall white ceramic pot with bamboo, tress, and flowers painted on it in blue

Western Art History and Buddhist Art

November 4, 2025–November 30, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation features art that supports the Western art history survey and the Art of Buddhism courses.

A woman wearing a deep blue garment sits holding a baby with a halo; she is flanked by an angel and praying figures on each side

A Humane Society?

Considerations of Care in the More than Human World

October 7, 2025–November 2, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation for visiting Spanish, American studies, and environmental studies classes features artworks that touch on the humane and inhumane treatment of people and animals.

A man stands amidst cacti and goats with soldiers pointing guns at him in the background; there is a halo with crosshairs around his head and he holds one small goat while raising a hand in a blessing pose

Hot as Hell

July 15, 2025–September 7, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

Hot as Hell presents a group of black, white, and red works from our collection depicting fire, devilry, and all things hot within the comfort of an air-conditioned gallery.

Horses and people navigate a field in front of an immense fire

Still Life Reimagined

June 3, 2025–July 13, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation explores the history of the still life genre and highlights works that push the boundaries of still life through their subject, appearance, or medium. 

Photograph looking down on a kitchen surface with a green pepper in a stock pot and other tools

Bold Women

February 18, 2025–July 6, 2025
Sam and Connie Perkins Central Court, Dolph Simons Family Gallery, Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation Gallery, Larry & Barbara Marshall Family Balcony

An African American female mannequin stands with outstretched arms wearing a purple and blue dress with a large skirt and a white maid’s apron

Eternal Spring: Pines

January 17, 2025–June 29, 2025
Kemper Family Foundations Balcony and Ingrid & J.K. Lee Study Center

The ability of pine trees to remain green during winter and live for centuries has made them closely associated with immortality throughout East Asia. This installation complements the ceramics on view in Eternal Spring in the Lee Study Center.

A twisted pine tree dominates the center of a six-panel folding screen with a gold background; two colorful birds perch on the trunk

Peace and Conflict in the Space Between

May 6, 2025–June 1, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation features selections from the collection to support the upcoming KU conference “Peace and Conflict in the Space Between,” May 28-30, 2025.

A line of soldiers carrying flags charges forward with a Native American and cowboy in the foreground

Japanese Sculpture & Natural Wonder

April 8, 2025–May 4, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation features selections from the collection to support a Japanese Sculpture art history course and Spanish course called "Natural Wonders." 

Detailed drawing of an alligator in green against a blue background

Empty Chrysalises

Four Spatial Installations for Celebrating Bold Women

March 5, 2025–April 6, 2025
Marvin Grove

This outdoor installation presents four sculptures made from recycled materials created by architecture students in conversation with the Bold Women exhibition.

An adult stands inside a six-sided sculpture with an opening that rests on the ground of an industrial space

Pop! Goes the Spencer

March 11, 2025–April 6, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

This installation features selections of Pop art from the collection to support the art history course American Art and Culture Since 1990.

A cartoon depiction of a sun with bright yellow rays outlined in blue rising behind red and blue hills

Let's Get Medieval

February 11, 2025–March 9, 2025
Jack & Lavon Brosseau Center for Learning

Selections from the collection from or inspired by the middle ages for the art history course The Medieval Fantasy.

An open book with cream-colored pages and handwritten text decorated with bright flourishes of color

Native Fashion

September 1, 2024–January 5, 2025
Sam & Connie Perkins Central Court, Dolph Simons Family Gallery, Estelle S. & Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation Gallery

High-heeled Converse sneakers covered in red beadwork with two butterflies and a pregnant Indigenous woman

Eternal Spring: Cranes

June 12, 2024–December 29, 2024
Kemper Family Foundations Balcony and Ingrid & J.K. Lee Study Center

Ink painting of two cranes standing on pine branches, Chinese characters line the left of the painting