César López (b. 1991, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala), Structural Form: Globe (expanded) (2025). 5052 H3 Aluminum, Chain, Hardware, Aluminum Rod, Shaft Collar, Motor (1RPM). 48 x 48 x 48 in. 121.92 x 121.92 x 121.92 cm. (© César López. image courtesy the artist)
On view March 6–August 9, 2026, at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
As Kansas City prepares to welcome the world in 2026, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art presents The World in Kansas City, a timely group exhibition that reflects the city’s long-standing global connections through the work of acclaimed contemporary artists with meaningful ties to the region.
The Idea
Inspired by conversations around the 2026 Global Football Tournament and the anticipated influx of international visitors to Kansas City, this exhibition celebrates the global connections that already surround us. For hundreds of years, people from different regions of the world have migrated to the area for a variety of reasons—from fleeing upheavals in their homelands to seeking new opportunities. These histories of movement, resilience, and exchange have shaped the cultural fabric of the region. Kansas City’s artistic community has long reflected this dynamic. Supported by area universities, arts institutions, and organizations, the city continues to draw artists from across the globe who contribute diverse perspectives and ambitious creative practices. The World in Kansas City highlights significant contemporary artists with global backgrounds and meaningful connections to the region and explores interconnectedness and exchange, which form the foundation of the context we’re in.
A Focused Approach
The World in Kansas City brings together a focused group of accomplished contemporary artists whose work reflects the depth and diversity of global experience in the region. The exhibition features artists with roots in places such as Mexico, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Nigeria, Jamaica, Germany, and Ukraine—each connected to Kansas City through birth, education, or significant time spent living and working in the region.
Across painting, sculpture, photography, film, and mixed media, the exhibition highlights the range of contemporary artistic media. Works by Hung Liu, Hong Zhang, Akio Takamori, Heehyun Choi, César López and Paul Anthony Smith, among others, demonstrate the ambition, creativity, and artistic excellence of the artists featured, while celebrating the global influences that continue to shape Kansas City’s creative identity.
Organized by Jessica S. Hong, Chief Curator of Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The World in Kansas City is on view through August 9, 2026. Museum admission is always free.
