Remember when galleries were “Look, but don’t touch”? This spring, you won’t have to shush wonder.
Step beyond the frame to experience multisensory exhibits. From temporary collections to permanent, life-sized presences, the local art scene is unveiling old-world wonders in a new light your family will Louvre.
Renaissance
Known as the “rebirth,” this era (1350-1620) shifted art from medieval abstract to realism of the ideal. That is to say, greats like Leonard da Vinci focused on the beauty of natural anatomy.
An easy way to recall icons of this period is to hearken back to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. One such legend has a permanent piece in the Savior Pastoral Center.
Pietà (Replica) — Michelangelo
Where: Savior Pastoral Center (Kansas City, Kan.)
Exhibit status: Permanent
Cost: Free
Michelangelo had a way of chiseling marble to look soft to the touch. His statue, Pietà, depicts the emotional scene of Mary cradling Jesus’ body after his crucifixion.
Although the original resides in the Vatican, this exact cast evokes no less reverence. This Pietà is open to the public for a spiritual and tactile experience as visitors are welcome to pray and touch the statue. Pictures are permitted.
Baroque
In a word? “Drama” sums up the Baroque period (1600-1750). Much like the theater, this style used lighting and props to tell stories.
Master painter Rembrandt van Rijn used his brush to illustrate intense biblical scenes and high-contrast portraits. The Nelson-Atkins hosts one of his most famous works, Young Man in a Black Beret, on view in the European Art galleries (P17).
Young Man in a Black Beret — Rembrandt
Where: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Exhibit status: Permanent
Cost: Free
Make this portrait the introduction of a hands-on experience by enrolling your child in a youth class at the museum. The Nelson-Atkins routinely offers “People and Portraits” for 7- to 9-year-olds ($75). This two-part intensive class is broken into 90-minute sessions that pair gallery time with studio work.
KC Parent Pro Tip: In special cases, need-based scholarships are granted for youth studio classes. Guardians may complete the application online or email questions to Scholarships@Nelson-Atkins.org.
Art Nouveau
In this era, botanical lines and curves redefined the art scene. Art Nouveau — literally “New Art” (1890-1910) — flirted with nature and modernity. This style left heavy contrast in favor of color and unity.
And not just on canvas: Art Nouveau left a gorgeous mark on everything from Tiffany stained glass to architecture and advertisements. One of the primary illustrators of the movement was Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. From mid-April through August, families can see over 100 pieces of his revolutionary work on display.
Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line — Alphonse Mucha
Where: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Exhibit status: April 18-Aug. 30
Cost: $22 for the public; free for members
Timeless Mucha highlights the artist’s lingering influence on modern genres such as Japanese manga and American comics. Also on view is a companion exhibit exploring Mucha’s own inspiration — particularly one actress, Sarah Bernhardt.
Mucha’s Muses: Sarah Bernhardt and the Spirit of Art Nouveau
Where: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Exhibit status: Thru Jan 17, 2027
Cost: Free
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Impressionism (1870-1880) shined on the everyday moments. Bold brushstrokes became a signature of this beloved era. An emphasis on natural light created a levity on the canvas that extends to the viewer to this day.
The subsequent movement, Post-Impressionism (1880-1900) kept to similar subjects but rejected standard techniques. Artist Vincent van Gogh used unnatural colors and hurried strokes while Georges Seurat pioneered pointillism, a style in which dabs of pure color are applied to the canvas instead of being swirled on a palette.
As the granddaughter of an art teacher, I distinctly remember my grandma teaching me “Dot Seurat” to help me recall the father of pointillism. When she told me stories about van Gogh, it felt like she was talking about a favorite uncle. To this day, I can’t see Kansas sunflowers without thinking of his paintings — or see water lilies without thinking of Monet.
Monet’s garden in Giverny, France, was a well-tended five acres. Closer to home, the Overland Park Arboretum has dedicated about one acre as a botanical tribute, with subtle blooms and flowing colors that reflect off the pond.
Looking off toward the bridge, a life-sized statue of Claude Monet captures the artist painting the view reminiscent of Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies. Families are welcome to sit next to Monet on the bench for a photo opportunity.
Monet Garden
Where: Overland Park Arboretum
Exhibit status: Permanent
Cost: Free for ages 5 and under; $3 for ages 6-17; $7 for adults
KC Parent Pro Tip: Visit Monet for free — the arboretum waives general admission for guests on the first Tuesday of every month (dates this spring: April 7, May 5 and June 2).
Monet’s affinity for flowers is best summarized by the artist himself: “I must have flowers, always and always.” This fascination and the symbolism of Monet’s flowers is explored in a limited-time exhibit at The Nelson-Atkins.
Monet’s Garden and the Secret Language of Flowers
Where: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Exhibit status: Thru April 19
Cost: $10 for public; $8 for members
In 2025, an immersive experience debuted that melds storytelling with three-dimensional light and sound — all in hopes of providing a deeper understanding of 19th-century France and the painters who shaped it. You can view the works of Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Cézanne during this guided exploration of the Bloch Galleries.
A Beautiful Disruption: Impressions of Light & Sound — Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne
Where: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Exhibit status: Permanent
Cost: $10/public; $8/member
Tours occur on Fridays at 6:00 and Sundays at 10:15 and last 45 minutes.
Modern
Radical experimentation and abstraction define Modern art (1860-1970). The subject scope narrowed to self-expression over realism, with painters leaning on creative liberties to show how they saw the world instead of how the world actually is.
Best known for this lively style is Pablo Picasso. And beginning in May, families can experience his creativity in an entirely new way: through movement!
Picasso: Art in Motion
Where: Museum of Art + Light (Manhattan, Kan.)
Exhibit status: May 2-Nov. 2
Cost: TBA
This dynamite display will take over the Mezmereyz immersive gallery — approximately the size of four basketball courts. With 108 projectors and nearly 200 million pixels, Picasso’s masterpieces will be on a grand scale in full color and motion! Kids will be awed by this out-of-frame and fantastically unhinged exhibit.
KC Parent Pro Tip: Spot Frida Kahlo in Westport! The passionate Mexican painter and cultural icon is featured on a mural at Café Corazón.
Nichole Parks showcases masterpieces in KC to inspire colorful family memories. She resides in Overland Park with a petite Picasso who’s partial to the color brown.