This fall, the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas presents three compelling exhibitions that exemplify its commitment to collaboration, education, and community engagement. Each exhibition draws on partnerships across KU and the region, offering visitors a chance to explore diverse perspectives through art.
Soundings: Making Culture at Sea
Guest curated by Prof. Emily Casey in collaboration with Spencer’s Celka Straughn, this exhibition emerged from faculty teaching and research and asks: What does the sea look like in the artistic imagination? How does “thinking with” the sea shape human relationships? Featuring works that span centuries and continents, the exhibition explores the sea’s political, ecological, and cultural significance. Students in Prof. Casey’s fall course will engage with the exhibition and share insights through a public program on Thursday, November 13.
My Mother’s Tongue Ties Me Together
As the 2025 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards exhibition, this show highlights the work of Noelle Choy, Hùng Lê, and Merry Sun, three artists of Asian descent exploring themes of memory, migration, and cultural mythmaking. Their installations range from mixed-media sculptures to textiles and sound-based architectural forms. A public artist talk and reception will be held Saturday, December 6, with a livestream available via the Spencer’s YouTube channel.
Iⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe: Return of the Sacred Red Rock
This exhibition celebrates the rematriation of Iⁿ’zhúje’waxóbe, a 28-ton red quartzite boulder returned to Kaw Nation from the City of Lawrence, Kansas. Curated by the Spencer’s Curator for Public Practice Sydney Pursel alongside an advisory committee of Kaw Nation citizens, the exhibition features works of art by local and Indigenous artists reflecting on the rock’s cultural significance and the collaborative community effort to return the Rock. Public programs include a documentary screening on Saturday, November 8 and an artist discussion on Thursday, November 13.
Together, these three exhibitions invite visitors to engage with art as a lens for understanding history, identity, and community. Visit the Spencer Museum website to explore upcoming events and programs.
