Ulrich Museum of Art - Wichita State University

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Eric Joyner, 'What We Ought Not, We Do,' 2006. Oil on wood panel, 48 x 64 inches. Collection of Mark Holt, Photograph Eric Joyner and the Shooting Gallery, San Francisco Robots: A Cultural Icon in Contemporary Art
August 22 – December 18, 2009

Since the early 20th century, images and ideas about robots have evolved from awkward, mechanical creatures to more sophisticated androids with artificial intelligence. As robotic technology catches up with the wild imagination of science fiction novels, movies, and animation, the dreams and fears anticipated in these stories may become reality. Organized by the San Jose Museum of Art and on national tour, Robots: A Cultural Icon in Contemporary Art presents 27 artworks by 15 contemporary artists. They respond to the romantic and sinister myths of robots and probe wide-ranging attitudes toward these mechanical creatures in the American psyche.

Snap: Andy Warhol Photographs, 1970-1987
September 5 – December 18, 2009

Pop artist Andy Warhol was a prolific photographer and the most famous portraitist of the 20th century; his images of figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Mao Zedong are now iconic. This exhibition of 110 works–a recent gift to the Ulrich Museum–provides an opportunity to better understand Warhol’s portrait practices by moving beyond these icons. The figures portrayed in this show include both celebrities and unidentified individuals. Among the more famous sitters are actress Liza Minnelli and hockey star Wayne Gretzky.

The Weight of Words: Artists Work with Language
ongoing

Love. Rage. Solace. Three of the artists in this installation have focused on these deceptively simple words and the ways they function as signs for complex thoughts. Other artists have invented stories told with rich combinations of pictures and texts. Dating as far back as the inscriptions in ancient art and the illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages, language has played an important role in the visual arts. Today, the use of words is a particularly compelling feature of many contemporary artistic practices. This installation explores those practices with highlights from the Ulrich’s permanent collection.

Make It New: Abstract Art from the Collection
ongoing

The dominant artistic approach of the 20th century, and still vital today, abstraction gives artists license to see the world anew and calls upon them to develop new ways of expressing that view to others. From the gestural canvases of Robert Motherwell to the exacting geometric prints of Sol LeWitt, the Ulrich's collection is rich with significant examples of abstract art. This installation highlights that strength and explores the breadth of the abstract tradition and its continuing evolution.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

Crossroads: The Art of Gordon Parks
January 23 – April 11, 2010

This nationally touring exhibition celebrates the life work of one of America’s most accomplished 20th-century artists. Photographer, poet, novelist, composer, musician, and fi lmmaker, Gordon Parks (1912-2006) spent a lifetime shattering barriers in his pursuit of truth, beauty, social justice, and artistic expression. This retrospective includes examples of Parks' work in black-and-white documentary and fashion photography as well as his later color work. The photos are paired with highlights from the Gordon Parks Papers, the artist’s archive recently acquired by WSU and part of Special Collections and University Archives at Ablah Library.

Freedom to Expand: Contemporary African American Art from the Collection
January 16 - April 25, 2010

With paintings, prints, and mixed-media artworks from the Ulrich’s collection—including pieces by Kerry James Marshall, Kara Walker, Mark Bradford, and others—this installation highlights the creative practices of contemporary African American artists. From the legacies of the Civil War and the 1960s civil rights movement to the late-20th-century African Diaspora and complex questions about national and ethnic identity in an increasingly globalized America, one finds in their work deeply thoughtful considerations of historic events and popular culture.

Art of Our Time: Selections from the Ulrich Museum of Art Collection
April 24 – August 8, 2010

The Ulrich Museum of Art boasts a nationally significant collection of modern and contemporary artworks and has amassed a 20th- and 21st-century art collection valuable for both its breadth and quality. In addition to paintings, photographs, and video, the collection includes sculptures, prints, and drawings that provide rich examples of such key artistic movements as early American modernism, abstract expressionism, pop, and minimalism. This exhibition includes more than 40 works, the treasures culled from a collection of more than 6,300. The exhibition offers a significant opportunity for lifelong learners to explore the sweep of artmaking over the past one hundred years and to develop a deeper knowledge of its key artists and masterworks.

WSU School of Art and Design Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition
May 1 - 30, 2010

Graduate candidates from the School of Art and Design mount an exhibition of work completed during thesis semesters.

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

www.ulrich.wichita.edu/pastexhibitions
Click here for a list of past exhibitions.






CURRENT EXHIBITIONS Robots: A Cultural Icon in Contemporary Art August 22 – December 18, 2009 Since the early 20th century, images and ideas about robots have evolved from awkward, mechanical creatures to more sophisticated androids with artificial intelligence. As robotic technology catches up with the wild imagination of science fiction novels, movies, and animation, the dreams and fears anticipated in these stories may become reality. Organized by the San Jose Museum of Art and on national tour, Robots: A Cultural Icon in Contemporary Art presents 27 artworks by 15 contemporary artists. They respond to the romantic and sinister myths of robots and probe wide-ranging attitudes toward these mechanical creatures in the American psyche. Snap: Andy Warhol Photographs, 1970-1987 September 5 – December 18, 2009 Pop artist Andy Warhol was a prolific photographer and the most famous portraitist of the 20th century; his images of figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Mao Zedong are now iconic. This exhibition of 110 works–a recent gift to the Ulrich Museum–provides an opportunity to better understand Warhol’s portrait practices by moving beyond these icons. The figures portrayed in this show include both celebrities and unidentified individuals. Among the more famous sitters are actress Liza Minnelli and hockey star Wayne Gretzky. The Weight of Words: Artists Work with Language ongoing Love. Rage. Solace. Three of the artists in this installation have focused on these deceptively simple words and the ways they function as signs for complex thoughts. Other artists have invented stories told with rich combinations of pictures and texts. Dating as far back as the inscriptions in ancient art and the illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages, language has played an important role in the visual arts. Today, the use of words is a particularly compelling feature of many contemporary artistic practices. This installation explores those practices with highlights from the Ulrich’s permanent collection. Make It New: Abstract Art from the Collection ongoing The dominant artistic approach of the 20th century, and still vital today, abstraction gives artists license to see the world anew and calls upon them to develop new ways of expressing that view to others. From the gestural canvases of Robert Motherwell to the exacting geometric prints of Sol LeWitt, the Ulrich's collection is rich with significant examples of abstract art. This installation highlights that strength and explores the breadth of the abstract tradition and its continuing evolution. UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS Crossroads: The Art of Gordon Parks January 23 – April 11, 2010 This nationally touring exhibition celebrates the life work of one of America’s most accomplished 20th-century artists. Photographer, poet, novelist, composer, musician, and fi lmmaker, Gordon Parks (1912-2006) spent a lifetime shattering barriers in his pursuit of truth, beauty, social justice, and artistic expression. This retrospective includes examples of Parks' work in black-and-white documentary and fashion photography as well as his later color work. The photos are paired with highlights from the Gordon Parks Papers, the artist’s archive recently acquired by WSU and part of Special Collections and University Archives at Ablah Library. Freedom to Expand: Contemporary African American Art from the Collection January 16 - April 25, 2010 With paintings, prints, and mixed-media artworks from the Ulrich’s collection—including pieces by Kerry James Marshall, Kara Walker, Mark Bradford, and others—this installation highlights the creative practices of contemporary African American artists. From the legacies of the Civil War and the 1960s civil rights movement to the late-20th-century African Diaspora and complex questions about national and ethnic identity in an increasingly globalized America, one finds in their work deeply thoughtful considerations of historic events and popular culture. Art of Our Time: Selections from the Ulrich Museum of Art Collection April 24 – August 8, 2010 The Ulrich Museum of Art boasts a nationally significant collection of modern and contemporary artworks and has amassed a 20th- and 21st-century art collection valuable for both its breadth and quality. In addition to paintings, photographs, and video, the collection includes sculptures, prints, and drawings that provide rich examples of such key artistic movements as early American modernism, abstract expressionism, pop, and minimalism. This exhibition includes more than 40 works, the treasures culled from a collection of more than 6,300. The exhibition offers a significant opportunity for lifelong learners to explore the sweep of artmaking over the past one hundred years and to develop a deeper knowledge of its key artists and masterworks. WSU School of Art and Design Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition May 1 - 30, 2010 Graduate candidates from the School of Art and Design mount an exhibition of work completed during thesis semesters. PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS www.ulrich.wichita.edu/pastexhibitions Click here for a list of past exhibitions.