Opening Reception | Twenty-Two Springs: Two Tone Press and KCAI Ceramics
Date & Time
Sept. 12, 2026 @ 5 p.m.
Location
KCAI Gallery | 4415 Warwick Blvd, Kansas City MO 64111
The KCAI Gallery is pleased to present Twenty-Two Springs: Two Tone Press and KCAI Ceramics, an exhibition celebrating the unique, enduring intersection of letterpress printing and ceramics at KCAI.
The exhibition will be on display September 12 through October 18, 2026
Since 2005, Two Tone Press—founded by sisters Michelle Dreher (’01 Illustration & Art History) and Angie Dreher—has collaborated with graduating students and faculty of the KCAI Ceramics department to create a custom letterpress poster for each annual juried exhibition.
The 22 posters and 100 ceramic works on display are rich with narrative, revealing the layered histories and parallel processes within this enduring partnership. It simultaneously marks the milestones of the graduating seniors, the starting point of Two Tone Press, and the retirement of celebrated faculty chair Cary Esser. Featured ceramic works were sourced from the department’s teaching collection, juried by Dr. Stephanie Fox Knappe, Sanders Sosland Senior Curator, Global Modern and Contemporary Art and Head, American Art at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and artist/founding member of the Kansas City Urban Potters, Meredith Host (‘01 Ceramics). The exhibition traces stories from first impression to final firing—a record of marks made to last.