KCAI Permanent Collection

The Artspace is home to the Kansas City Art Institute’s permanent collection of fine art. KCAI began acquiring works in 1885, and today the collection includes an eclectic range of more than 1,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, contemporary and historical prints, works on paper, design objects, folk art, outdoor sculptures, and a range of decorative art and collectibles. The KCAI permanent collection serves as a teaching collection, and Selections from the Collection exhibitions are often organized to complement programming and other exhibitions at the Artspace.

The KCAI permanent collection features a substantial collection of prints produced by Landfall Press, owned and operated by Jack Lemon (’63 Painting) in Santa Fe, N.M. These prints have been featured in Artspace exhibitions including Landfall Press: 1970–2000,  Big and Beautiful, Storyline: Inviting Narratives, Process in Printmaking and Chicago Art: Early and Contemporary Imagery and Influence, and 100 Proof.

In 2017, the Artspace placed a large selection of artworks by Missouri self-taught artist Jesse Howard in the permanent collection of a number of prominent American museums, enabling the creation of a fellowship focused on art history, collection care, and museum practice for KCAI students and alums. The Jesse Howard Fellow and KCAI academic interns have opportunities to provide curatorial and managerial support for the permanent collection, including curating Selections from the Collection exhibitions or other special projects in the Cohen Resource Room.

Staff

Raechell Smith, Director and Curator
816.802.3574
rmsmith@kcai.edu

Marcus Cain, Manager of Operations & Communication
816.802.3571
mdcain@kcai.edu