January 17-May 13, 2017
During the late 1920s artist John Steuart Curry (1897-1946) gained national attention for his portrayals of Kansas. At the height of his career, during the 1930s, he would become associated with prominent Regionalists Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri and Grant Wood of Iowa.
Much less is known about Curry’s early years as an artist. An exploration of his career beginnings provides a deeper understanding of the conceptual and formal underpinnings of his later success. This exhibition explores Curry as a student and early professional through more than thirty drawings, paintings, and magazine illustrations. A major mural on loan from the Burr Living Trust of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, will be a centerpiece of the installation, which will present never-before-viewed objects from the museum’s collection, numbering over 900 Curry works.
The exhibition is organized by Curator Liz Seaton and members of a spring 2016 seminar, comprised of students from K-State and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Related Events:
Sea Adventures, Western Dramas, and Dog Tales: John Steuart Curry as Illustrator Lecture by Liz Seaton