When the Mulvane Art Museum opened in 1924, efforts to build a collection of art began almost immediately. One hundred years later, that collection has grown to more than 6000 artworks.

In those early years, protocols for the preservation and care of collections by museums were in their infancy, and artworks sometimes suffered when they were exposed to less than ideal environments. The Mulvane's collection was not exempt from the damage that can occur from exposure to light, inconsistent humidity and temperature, pollution, pests, and improper handling and storage.

In 2018, the Mulvane launched the Endangered Art Program, which raises funds to save some of our most important works. Conservation of more than 25 paintings has allowed us to intervene in and stabilize these works for future generations. Be sure to check out Endangered Art Conserved, our latest exhibition of paintings that have undergone treatment!

As we prepare to celebrate one hundred years of art at the Mulvane Art Museum in 2024, our newsletter, social media, and website are undergoing a makeover. I hope you enjoy the new look and take time to explore everything the Mulvane is doing. In this newsletter and those that follow, we will share news about exhibitions, collection updates, and events, including the 5th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Rita Blitt Gallery on Saturday, May 6, and the Mulvane Art Fair June 3 & 4.

Although the main museum galleries will be closing for renovation after the Art Fair, we have some exciting exhibitions and programs planned across campus this summer and fall. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks and months.

Conservation Conversations

Peggy Van Witt

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Mulvane Art Museum

Join us for a conversation with Peggy Van Witt about the conservation treatments she and her team completed on the paintings in our current exhibition Endangered Art Conserved !

This program is free and open to the public.

Celebrating 5 Years - Rita Blitt

May 6, 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Rita Blitt Gallery & Sculpture Garden

Join the Mulvane Art Museum, Rita Blitt, and friends in a celebration of five years of art at the Rita Blitt Gallery. Enjoy refreshments and a special performance by Ilana Silverstien and Stephen Krieger.

Get creative with Monique Robins

Tuesdays, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Room 16, Garvey Fine Arts

The next and final meeting of the semester will be May 2nd from 4 - 6 pm.

Volunteers can now sign up for the 2023 Mulvane Art Fair, scheduled for June 3 and 4.

Volunteers play a huge role in the success of this exciting event. Apply today!

Volunteer For The Art Fair 

In this lithograph, artist Nick Cave confronts the way Black men are perceived in American culture. Watch Kehinde Wiley, another artist who investigates Black representation, discuss his work: How Kehinde Wiley is Reshaping the Monumental

Endangered Art Conserved

This exhibition highlights the dramatic transformations of paintings from the permanent collection that have been recently conserved. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress of the Endangered Art Program, which was established 5 years ago to support the technical study and conservation of paintings in the collection.

The fascinating works on view have been repaired, restored, and renewed, ensuring that they will endure for the next 100 years and beyond.

Dancing Waters

Rita Blitt Gallery

Join us in a celebration of 5 years of exhibitions and programs in the Rita Blitt Gallery & Sculpture Garden. Blitt's exuberance is on display with paintings and sculptures that resonate with light and movement, articulating the dance of water around the world.

John Doyle: Healing Across Cultures

In his multi-suite lithograph series The Great Human Race, artist John L. Doyle explored different professions across cultures. The works in this exhibition belong to the Medicine Men suite, in which Doyle depicted traditional healers.

These prints were curated by the Mulvane’s student gallery staff. Their selections invite you to contemplate the WUmester theme of health and healing.

Invitations to Listen

Rachel Epp Buller created the new works in this exhibition in response to her daily walks during a residency in Alberta, Canada. During her walks, Buller explored how listening can be carried out not just with the ears but with the whole body.

Her art encourages you to slow down, use your senses to ground yourself in the present, and simply listen.

The Art of Healing: Exploring Inner Life in Contour Drawing

Mabee Library

Elizabeth Layton and Robert Ault were two Kansas artists who explored the healing power of drawing in their practices. Layton took up contour drawing in her 60s as a way of working through depression. Ault was an art therapist who believed in the healing potential of creative practices.

Their drawings channel anxieties, explore personal struggles, and express hope and resilience.

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