Director's Welcome
Welcome! I am delighted you are visiting our website, and I look forward to seeing you in our galleries at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
The museum’s history is rich and the collection is deep, so I urge you to visit often. You will discover true originals, mankind’s greatest achievements, from ancient to contemporary works of art. You will also feel the power of community, as we celebrate diverse cultures and mark important days with festivals, dancing, talks, tours and classes.
Discover the museum at your own pace, by yourself or with family and friends. Make it your museum!
¡Saludos!
Julián Zugazagoitia
Mission
Where the power of art engages the spirit of community
We welcome and provide free admission to all, and deliver unparalleled opportunities to enjoy, appreciate and understand the finest visual arts and the varied cultures they represent—on our campus, online, and throughout Kansas City.
As an institution of national and international renown, we establish and adhere to the highest professional standards and practices in research, scholarship, presentation, interpretation and care of our collections.
We serve as a vital partner in the educational, social and cultural life of our community, using our collections and programs to build an environment where people can gather, share and contemplate the greatest creations of humankind.
Every day, in all we do, the Nelson-Atkins is committed to nurturing excellence, inspiring creativity and building community through the power of art.
History
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art arose from the instincts and ambitions of two private individuals who shared the dream of providing a public art museum for Kansas City and the surrounding region.
William Rockhill Nelson, founder of The Kansas City Star, was convinced that for a city to be truly civilized, art and culture were necessities.
When he died in 1915, the bulk of his estate was used to establish the William Rockhill Nelson Trust for the purchase of works of art.
Kansas City school teacher Mary McAfee Atkins had similar aspirations. She provided the city with approximately one-third of her million-dollar estate to purchase the land for a public art museum.
The Nelson estate was combined with Mary Atkins’ legacy to build an art museum for the people of Kansas City. The William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts opened to the public Dec. 11, 1933.
On June 9, 2007, the Nelson-Atkins unveiled the Bloch Building, an addition designed by Steven Holl Architects, which increased gallery and storage space for the growing collection.
Today, the Nelson-Atkins maintains collections of more than 35,000 works of art and welcomes 500,000 visitors a year.
Land Acknowledgment
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is revisiting our Land Acknowledgment to create an inclusive, collaborative, and accurate statement that honors the Native American communities that are connected to the land around the museum.
Trustees and Staff
Board of Trustees
Richard C. Green, (CHAIR)
Evelyn Craft Belger (VICE CHAIR)
William B. Taylor (TREASURER)
Ramón Murguía (SECRETARY)
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
Mary Atterbury
Ann Kaufmann Baum
Grant Burcham
Ramin Cherafat
Dr. Valerie E. Chow, M.D.
Paul DeBruce
Don Hall, Jr.
Shirley Bush Helzberg
Sandra Lawrence
Steve McDowell
Sara S. Morgan
Leo Morton
Ramón Murguía
Mark O’Connell
Marny Sherman
Kent Sunderland
Henry W. Bloch*, Chair Emeritus
Donald J. Hall, Chair Emeritus
Sarah F. Rowland, Chair Emerita
Estelle Sosland*, Chair Emerita
Honorary Trustees
G. Kenneth Baum
Menefee D. Blackwell*
Thornton Cooke II*
Charles A. Duboc*
Laura Kemper Fields*
Cliff C. Jones, Jr.*
Herbert Jones*
Alan R. Marsh
Fred L. Merrill*
Harry C. McCray, Jr.*
Milton McGreevy*
J.C. Nichols*
James P. Sunderland*
Herman R. Sutherland*
William Volker*
Adelaide Cobb Ward
* Deceased
Museum Leadership
Julián Zugazagoitia
Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell Director & CEO
Tammy Bluhm
Vice President, Finance
Anne Manning
Deputy Director, Education and Interpretive
Hathaway Maranda
Vice President, Development
William Keyse Rudolph
Deputy Director, Curatorial Affairs
Mandy Stone
Vice President, Earned Income & Guest Services
Kelly Summers
Vice President, Human Resources
Steven Waterman
Deputy Director, Design & Experience
Toni Wood
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Curatorial Staff
Stephanie Knappe, Ph.D.
Samuel Sosland Curator, American Art
Ling-en Lu, Ph.D.
Associate Curator, Chinese Art
MacKenzie Mallon
Specialist, Provenance
Aimee Marcereau DeGalan, Ph.D
Louis L. and Adelaide C. Ward Senior Curator, European Arts
Kimberly Masteller
Jeanne McCray Beals Curator of South and Southeast Asian Art
William Keyse Rudolph
Deputy Director, Curatorial Affairs
April Watson, Ph.D.
Curator, Photography