Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is pleased to present “Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum” with a free opening reception taking place Thursday, May 16, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Celebrating Kemper Museum’s twenty-fifth anniversary year, enjoy complimentary beer and wine provided by Café Sebastienne and cocktails thanks to Tom’s Town Distilling Co. of Kansas City.
The festivities will continue Friday, May 17, at 6:00 p.m. with an Artist Talk by Los Angeles-based artist Liza Lou. Lou’s major exhibition “Backyard and Kitchen” ignited amazing public interest in her work. Returning to Kemper Museum, Lou will talk about how her work has evolved. Public programming at the Museum is always free, for all ages, with a total of twenty special programs scheduled in conjunction with this exhibition, which runs through August 25, 2019.
Presenting well-known works by artists in the Museum’s Permanent Collection such as Louise Bourgeois, Deborah Butterfield, Petah Coyne, and Frank Stella—alongside new acquisitions from the past five years, including works by Firelei Báez, Nick Cave, Barbara Chase-Riboud, David Hockney, Rashid Johnson, and Amy Sherald—visitors have an opportunity to experience the breadth of contemporary art featured in Kansas City, including the Museum’s newest acquisition, Noctilucent (2018), by Liza Lou making its debut.
“Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum” emphasizes the Museum’s trajectory of collecting and exhibiting art by celebrating the alignment of these combined histories today and with eyes toward the future. “The language of gesture continues to be expressed and felt through the creative vision of the hundreds of artists whose works activate the Museum and whose unique lexicon, with gestural grounding, drives relevant dialogue and intention into the world,” stated Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Stay connected throughout the course of the exhibition as Kemper Museum announces two additional phases that will transform and refresh the Charlotte Crosby Kemper Gallery, creating new conversations and revealing surprise works.
“Lexicon: The Language of Gesture in 25 Years at Kemper Museum” is organized by Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, and curated by Erin Dziedzic, director of curatorial affairs. A complete list of public programs taking place in conjunction with this exhibition can be found at kemperart.org.
Support for Kemper Museum is generously provided by members and donors. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is open 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday; and 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. All exhibitions and public programs at Kemper Museum are free.
About Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Kansas City’s renowned FREE contemporary art museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in October 1994 and boasts a rapidly growing Permanent Collection that uniquely bridges modern and contemporary works of art featuring artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Helen Frankenthaler, Willem de Kooning, Georgia O’Keeffe, Keltie Ferris, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Richard Mosse, and Ursula von Rydingsvard. Special exhibitions, installations, lectures, and workshops, as well as youth, teen, and family programs are regularly hosted at the Museum. For more information about Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art visit kemperart.org.
