Spend an inspiring afternoon exploring Kansas City’s vibrant art scene at Art Beat, a collaborative showcase between the Kansas City Art Institute’s Gallery, UMKC’s Gallery of Art, and Rockhurst University’s Greenlease Gallery/Panacea Project Space. Enjoy music at each stop, along with complimentary sips and treats. Whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or just curious to explore, the University Art Hop is your perfect Saturday plan to celebrate creativity, connection, and campus collaboration.
LOGISTICS: The trolley will start at KCAI, travel to UMKC, and onward to Rockhurst University in 20–25-minute intervals. There is parking located on each campus. Start your art hop wherever you wish! The trolley is meant as a fun way to travel, but please be mindful of time and where you park!
The UMKC Gallery of Art is proud to present Spirit in the Fire, a dynamic exhibition of recent works by Leo Esquivel. Showcasing his latest explorations in sculpture, digital art, and Mardi Gras ephemera, this exhibition invites viewers into a vibrant, multifaceted world of cultural symbolism and material experimentation. Esquivel’s sculptural works push the boundaries of common construction materials into dreamlike, fantastical entities that blur the line between the physical and the imagined. The exhibition also celebrates Esquivel’s deep connection to Kansas City’s Mardi Gras traditions, featuring an array of Krewe artifacts: ornate masks, elaborate hats, and three-dimensional banners, each brimming with color, pageantry, and cultural resonance. Complementing these physical works are a series of digitally rendered characters that evoke themes of cultural assimilation, transformation, and the forging of new mythologies.
The Kansas City Art Institute is proud to introduce a new biennial tradition: ArtSalon: KCAI Alumni Exhibition, presented in collaboration with the KCAI Gallery. This exhibition celebrates the creativity and impact of KCAI alumni across decades and disciplines, reflecting the lifelong connections within our community. By arranging the works chromatically, the installation foregrounds color as a unifying element, allowing diverse approaches and materials to be seen in conversation with one another. In a spirit of mutual support, all works are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting both the participating artists and the KCAI Annual Fund, which supports student scholarships. ArtSalon embodies KCAI’s mission to champion artists at every stage of their careers while investing in the next generation of creative visionaries. Curated by Alumni Jori Louise Cheville (’04 Ceramics), Sara Haug ('16 Printmaking + Painting), and Marianne Laury (’12 Sculpture). Jane Voorhees graciously underwrites this exhibition.
The Greenlease Gallery / Panacea Project Space will showcase an art hop highlight: Song for the Muses, a rotating exhibition by Sierra Faust and Benjamin Havey inspired by Hesiod’s Theogony and presented alongside select works from the Van Ackeren permanent collection of religious art. Experience a rich dialogue between past and present as visual and musical interpretations unfold. The day features live piano sets by composer and performer Ben Havey, beats from DJ Fat Sal, and an open sketching session in the gallery—perfect for artists and the art-curious alike. Mingle, create, and enjoy complimentary food and drinks while exploring the exhibition and connecting with the community.
