Alumni Weekend
Friday, September 11 - Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Alumni Relations Office is hosting its annual Alumni Weekend this fall at the Kansas City Art Institute.
All alumni are invited to return to campus for a lively weekend of workshops, panel discussions, and creative social events with food, drinks, and plenty of time to reconnect.
Please register by August 21, 2026
Friday, September 11
Morning
10–11:30 a.m.
KCAI Fantastic Hat Parade
Location: KCAI Campus
4415 Warwick Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Evening
7–10 p.m.
Loopty Loo Opening Party
Produced by Likewise KC
Location: Emily & Todd Voth Artspace
16 E 43rd St, Kansas City, MO
Loopty Loo Opening Party Featuring Cellphone Rollercoaster
7–10 p.m.
Emily & Todd Voth Artspace
Cellphone Rollercoaster
A performative sculptural installation by Noelle Choy (KCAI Faculty, Painting) and William Lanzillo, Cellphone Rollercoaster invites visitors to participate by sending their cellphones on a wild ride to experience this miniature amusement park within the gallery.
Likewise KC is an event design studio founded by KCAI alum Sara Lucas ('16 Graphic Design) and Mollie Bailey.
Saturday, September 12
Morning
9–10 a.m.
Check-in and Breakfast
Vanderslice Reception Rooms and Mildred Kemper Terrace
9–11 a.m
Campus Tour
Meet outside Vanderslice on Rowland Commons
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
[Panel Discussion] Crafting Careers: The Evolving Curriculum at KCAI
Epperson Auditorium
[Workshop] Ceramic Monoprinting
Ceramics Elective Studio
[Workshop] Relief Printing with Two Tone Press
Lower Epperson
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
[Activity] DIY Laser-Cut Keychain Activity at Beals Studio
David T. Beals III Studios for Art and Technology
Afternoon
12–1:30 p.m.
Lunch
Vanderslice Reception Rooms and Mildred Kemper Terrace
1–3 p.m.
Campus Tour
Meet outside Vanderslice on Rowland Commons
1:30–3 p.m.
[Panel Discussion] Alumni in Practice: Community Presentations by KCAI Alumni
Epperson Auditorium
[Workshop] Ceramic Monoprinting
Ceramics Elective Studio
[Workshop] Relief Printing with Two Tone Press
Lower Epperson
[Activity] Live Printing on T-shirts with Viva La Tinta
Rowland Commons
3–5 p.m.
Department Gatherings
KCAI Faculty will open the studio departments to welcome back alumni!
5–8 p.m.
Exhibition Opening Reception of Twenty-Two Springs: Two Tone Press and KCAI Ceramics
KCAI Gallery & Campus Green
PANEL DISCUSSION
Crafting Careers: The Evolving Curriculum at KCAI
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Epperson Auditorium
Led by Director of Alumni Relations and Professional Practice, Cory Imig, this faculty panel provides a "state of the school" look at how KCAI's evolving curriculum integrates experiential learning and real-world partnerships to prepare students for professional creative careers.
Panelists:
Marie Bannerot McInerney (Prof & Chair of Fiber)
tyler galloway (Prof & Joyce C. Hall Chair of Graphic Design)
Miguel Rivera Ortega (Assoc Prof & Chair of Printmaking)
David Terrill (Prof of Illustration)
PANEL DISCUSSION
Alumni in Practice: Community Presentations by KCAI Alumni
1:30–3 p.m.
Epperson Auditorium
Led by Alumni and Professional Practice Manager, Audrey Kesler, Alumni in Practice is a community-centered Alumni Weekend event featuring a series of short presentations from KCAI alumni across disciplines, industries, and career stages.
If you are interested in participating in this series, please click here to fill out the interest form by June 30.
WORKSHOP
Ceramic Monoprinting, Hosted & Presented by Art+Design Labs
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. & 1:30–3 p.m.
Ceramics Elective Studio
Led by Caroline Stran (‘19 Ceramics), learn the basics of monoprint transfers. Participants will learn the steps of this printmaking technique and how it can be applied to ceramics. Each participant will get a chance to paint and transfer their own unique print of the KCAI frog to take home with them.
WORKSHOP
Relief Printing with Two Tone Press, Hosted & Presented by Art+Design Labs
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. & 1:30–3 p.m.
Lower Epperson
Led by Michelle Dreher (‘01 Design & Art History) and Angie Dreher, this workshop is designed as a creative, "get your hands dirty" experience where participants use LEGO tile blocks as a printing matrix. Instead of traditional hand-carved linoleum, you build your design using the geometric shapes of bricks to create a relief surface.
ACTIVITY
DIY Laser-Cut Keychain Activity at Beals Studio
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
David T. Beals III Studios for Art and Technology
Led by Studio Coordinator Ki Jean Sierra (‘22 Graphic Design), Beals Studios will guide and support alumni with a hands-on DIY laser-cut keychains experience and showcase their capabilities through laser cutting and 3D printing demonstrations.
ACTIVITY
Live Printing on T-shirts with Viva La Tinta
1:30–3 p.m.
Rowland Commons
Led by Edwing Mendez (‘14 Graphic Design) and the Viva La Tinta team, alumni can watch Viva La Tinta print shirts live that they can take home as a keepsake for Alumni Weekend 2026. Bring your own T-shirt to print, limited will be available the day of the event.
Sunday, September 13
Morning
10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Farewell Brunch with Nerman Family President, Dr. Peggy Shannon and the Alumni Weekend Featured Artist
Vanderslice Reception Rooms and Mildred Kemper Terrace
Afternoon
3–5 p.m.
KCAI Ren Fest Happy Hour
Location: Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Book Your Hotel
Book your stay at our preferred hotel partner Spark by Hilton Kansas City Plaza Streetcar for Alumni Weekend 2026.
Located on Main St. and a five minute walk from campus, Spark by Hilton is offering a discounted rate for our alumni visiting from out of town. Click the button below to book your room today.
Please book your hotel by August 21, 2026.
Other hotels within walking distance of campus include:
See Who's Coming to Alumni Weekend:
Randi Bachman ('22 Ceramics)
Erick Bachmann ('86 Sculpture)
Gail Barnett-Holdgraf ('91 Fiber)
David Beall ('96 Illustration)
Paige Beltowski ('15 Fiber)
Sarah Berger ('86 Painting)
Mary Lou Brous ('82 Design)
Vi Carlile ('18 Illustration)
Londyn Carter ('25 Ceramics)
Goldfish Cavanaugh ('25 Animation)
Jeff Cochran ('03 Photo/New Media)
Michael Crane ('79 Photography)
Jeffrey S. Crowe ('93 Ceramics)
Kris Deleon ('25 Animation)
Terry Diel ('67 Painting)
Bryan Dilks ('93 Design)
Melody Eber ('10 Fiber)
Allegra Eccles ('24 Graphic Design)
Brett W. Ellis ('99 Design)
Miriam Feingold ('00 Painting)
Stanton W. Fernald ('95 Design)
Henry Frier ('23 Film)
Ed Gallucci ('13 Photography)
Luis Garcia ('04 Design)
Doreen Hann ('93 Design)
Clint Hanson ('18 Sculpture)
Shari Hartbauer ('86 Photography)
Holly J. Hayden ('03 Illustration)
Andrew Hergert ('07 Painting)
Ben Hill ('22 Painting & Art History)
Joseph R. Hoffman ('96 Illustration)
Melvin Hogan ('00 Design)
Kathryn Hogan ('00 Design)
Roger Houts ('06 Painting)
Cara L. Humphries ('88 Sculpture)
David Hunt ('88 Painting)
Nina Jaramillo ('25 Animation)
Mandy Johnson ('05 Painting)
John Johnston ('96 Photo/Video)
Mark Kabak (attended, '71-'73)
Mark Kelley ('00 Painting)
Chris Kienke ('94 Design)
Rebecca A. Koop ('79 Ceramics)
Donald J. Lauter ('71 Design)
Chris LaValley ('89 Painting)
Kim Lindaberry ('76 Ceramics)
Gardner Littleton ('21 Animation)
Jaimie Malone ('25 Animation)
Jessica McGan ('04 Painting)
Saffie Miles ('24 Illustration)
Lexie Millikan ('15 Fiber)
William Musser ('00 Sculpture)
Michael Nau ('81 Design)
Peggy Nichols ('76 Painting & Printmaking)
Robyn Nichols ('79 Design)
Penelope Nicolopolis ('77 Painting & Printmaking)
Jenna Norris ('22 Illustration)
Tom North ('80 Photography)
Robert Perez ('79 Painting)
Troy Perry ('19 Interactive Arts)
Shelly Pinto ('86 Painting)
Nancy L. Purington ('73 Painting)
Jazmyne Roddy ('17 Animation)
Phil Shafer ('00 Photo/New Media)
Alan Sharpe ('23 Animation)
Mary Shortino ('85 Photography)
Catherine Singleton ('96 Ceramics)
Debra Smith ('93 Fiber)
Nicole Snow ('09 Fiber)
Jennifer Su ('14 Photography)
Ann Suellentrop ('97 Photo/Video)
Sandra Summers ('83 Painting)
Gary Sutton (Retired Faculty)
Cindy Sutton ('88 Painting)
Mark F. Szymanski ('99 Illustration)
Bee Tucker ('25 Animation)
Stephen Van de Castle (attended '79)
Jennifer Walker ('83 Sculpture)
Lily Walker ('07 Fiber & Art History)
Davin Watne ('94 Painting)
Rose Weisburd ('87 Design)
Hal Wert (Retired Faculty)
Thomas Wesselmann ('76 Photography)
Leo Wille ('25 Animation)
Creighton Yost ('96 Photography)