Opening on November 19, 2026, Outside : Inside is an exhibition of contemporary sculpture organized by The Museum of Kansas City in collaboration with the Smith Family Foundation.
Curated by collector Dwight Smith, the exhibition brings together works by eight renowned Kansas City-based visual artists: Mark Cowardin, Kevin Demery, Jill Downen, Cheryl Gail, Leon Jones, Hùng Lê, César Lopez, and Adams Puryear. Many of the participating artists are also educators, teaching at national institutions including the Kansas City Art Institute and Johnson County Community College.
Through this collaboration, the Museum celebrates the achievements of artists whose work and influence have helped shape Kansas City’s contemporary art community. Their practices offer visitors an opportunity to explore distinctive artistic practices while experiencing the vitality and creative legacy of our city.
Outside : Inside is an important part of The Museum of Kansas City’s ongoing transformation. Recently, the Museum completed the exterior restoration of the Carriage House, as well as the interior and exterior restoration and rehabilitation of the Lodge, the former horse trainer’s home. As work continues on the remaining historic buildings and grounds, the Museum is preserving the character and architectural legacy of the site while introducing new exhibitions and experiences, contemporary design, updated amenities, and innovative ways to engage with the property. This work also extends beyond the Museum’s boundaries as the institution begins to reimagine its relationship with the adjacent parkland, supporting the preservation and activation of this special public space.
By bringing sculpture into the landscape and Corinthian Hall, Outside : Inside invites visitors to interact with the Museum in unexpected ways. The exhibition creates a dialogue between the site’s architecture, landscape, history, and the work of artists practicing today. By doing so, the Museum offers fresh ways of seeing both art and place. In turn, these encounters encourage connection and belonging, inviting visitors to engage with our city’s history while bringing their own experiences and interpretations to the Museum.
Outside : Inside opens Thursday, November 19, 2026, with five works installed on the Museum grounds and one work presented inside Corinthian Hall. Over the following months, additional works will be introduced both outdoors and within Corinthian Hall, allowing the exhibition to unfold gradually across the Museum’s indoor and outdoor spaces. These installations complement the Museum’s existing exhibitions and programs while offering fresh ideas, experiences, and perspectives that invite visitors to engage with the Museum in new ways.
Outside : Inside will remain on view through April 4, 2027.