Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City Art Institute Founded in 1885, the Kansas City Art Institute is a private, independent fully-accredited college of Art & Design.
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KCAI provides a rigorous, diverse curriculum and an immersive studio experience for students who are passionate about the realization of their ideas. KCAI offers 13 majors: Animation, Art History, Ceramics, Creative Writing, Fiber, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Product Design and Sculpture. The mission of KCAI is to prepare gifted students to transform the world creatively through art and design.

08/21/2026

Paige Bennett / Paige Bennett (’26 KCAI Ceramics Department) creates sculptures that often explore figure fragmentation, choosing which parts of the figure to emphasize to build a narrative.

“A lot of the themes in my pieces are things in my life that I don’t often talk about with a lot of other people, and I’m kind of using my artwork as a way to start conversations and, like, kind of open up to people,” she says.

This Saturday, she opens her first solo exhibition:

International African American art museum of KC Presents:
Impact: An Unwritten Catalog

Opening Reception:
Saturday, August 22, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Impulse Art Gallery
1007 Armour Road
North Kansas City

Closing Reception:
Saturday, September 19, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

She explains that her deepest interests from a young age have been figurative painting and drawing, with a focus on anatomy and capturing the human form in two dimensions. Through the KCAI Foundation Department program, she found a new direction in sculpture, translating that 2D experience and study into three-dimensional form, which shaped her journey at the Kansas City Art Institute.

She says, “I like to stay in pretty low [firing] temperatures because I like to keep things pretty matte for the most part, and then I’ll have shinier, more satin glazes as a highlight to certain parts. Especially in ceramics, when you cover a piece in just something all shiny, you kind of lose a lot of the sculpting—especially because it is just, like, melting into all of the crevices.”

“With my drawings, I usually tend to do landscapes, and I kind of want to bring that into a more sculptural realm. Having settings where people clearly used to be but aren’t anymore evokes a different kind of feeling that I want to continue to explore in the future. I’ve been working at this kind of smaller scale now because I feel like I can more thoroughly get through some ideas.”

08/20/2026

📦 Move-In Day 2026 at the Kansas City Art Institute! 📦

We’re so excited to welcome students back to campus as they move into Barbara Marshall Residence Hall and the KCAI Studio Apartments! It’s a big moment for so many students who have been anticipating this day for months, if not years, with many having attended Pre-College ArtLab (PCAL) multiple times throughout their high school careers.

We’re also so happy to welcome our transfer students to the Kansas City Art Institute as they take part in New Student Orientation.

RAs (Resident Assistants) Eve Williams | (Junior, ) and Kenli Mobisa | (Senior, and Creative Writing) share their perspective on Move-In Day, from the flurry of creative expression filling each space to the nervous excitement that comes with a move to independence.

“With family saying goodbye, there’s nervousness in the air, but there’s still this nice, new feeling of new beginnings with the studio spaces, and also our new, like, homes,” Williams says.

students Sam Wellengorf, Nikki Rubino, Madelyn Baker also share their thoughts as they settle into their rooms

We can’t wait for the first day of classes on Monday!

Artists. Chefs.ARTFARE 2026 brings together two creative worlds for one unforgettable evening. Experience a collaborativ...
08/18/2026

Artists. Chefs.

ARTFARE 2026 brings together two creative worlds for one unforgettable evening. Experience a collaborative menu where artists inspire chefs, and every dish tells a story of creativity, connection and mutual inspiration.

ARTFARE | Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
📍 Vanderslice Hall | Kansas City Art Institute | 4415 Warwick Blvd.

🎟️ Tickets & Patron Levels available at kcai.edu/artfare

Among the group of 11 pairings, KCAI Painting Department Associate Professor Samantha Krukowski (samantha krukowski) is collaborating with Chef Ted Habiger (Ted Habiger) of Oil on Linen and Room 39.

Habiger is an Honorary Chair of the event along with Tiffany Thompson, who was an early recognizer of Krukowski’s work at her urban farm (located a half block from KCAI campus) called Little Art Farm (little art farmer).

“They were trying to figure out what I was doing.’ And then Tiffany said, ‘Oh, this is an art practice. Like, all of this.’ And I said, ‘Thank you. Thank you for knowing that,’” Krukowski said. The food harvested from the farm will be featured in the ARTFARE menus.

As Honorary Chairs, Tiffany & Ted will also host a special PATRON PARTY at the space on September 16 from 5:30–8 p.m. The evening will explore the central concept of ARTFARE through food grown on the site, drawing inspiration from Krukowski’s work, views nature as a collaborator and challenges the idea of the artist as the sole maker.

🔗 Visit kcai.edu/artfare for Patron Levels and details.

For example, the table settings may incorporate Krukowski’s “Ground Paintings,” materials that have been buried in the ground for two years, resulting in designs and marks that are difficult to predict. The pair may also incorporate eco-printed table coverings, created through a lesser-known process that leaves behind ghostly markings and natural color.

For the ARTFARE event, each chef/artist pairings draw inspiration from one another, with each chef ultimately creating and presenting a dish inspired by that collaborative process. As guests move through the space, they’ll encounter a one-of-a-kind dining experience shaped by these creative exchanges.

📷: Ash Parsons Story

08/18/2026

ARTFARE | Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
📍 Vanderslice Hall | Kansas City Art Institute | 4415 Warwick Blvd.

🎟️ Tickets & Patron Levels available via kcai.edu/artfare

ARTFARE 2026 brings together two creative worlds for one unforgettable evening. Experience a collaborative menu where artists inspire chefs, and every dish tells a story of creativity, connection and mutual inspiration.

For example, Chef Ted Habinger (Ted Habiger) of Oil on Linen & Room 39 has been paired with KCAI Painting Department Associate Professor Samantha Krukowski (samantha krukowski) whose artistic practice centers around a space a half block away from Vanderslice Hall - an oasis-like urban farm: little art farmer.

Tiffany Thompson and Ted Habiger are the Honorary Chairs of ARTFARE 2026 and will also host a special PATRON PARTY at the space on September 16 from 5:30–8 p.m. The evening will explore the central concept of ARTFARE through food grown on the site, drawing inspiration from Krukowski’s work in the garden and her broader creative practice, which views nature as a collaborator and challenges the idea of the artist as the sole maker.

🔗 Visit kcai.edu/artfare for Patron Levels and details.

For the ARTFARE event, Ted and Samantha will join 10 other chef/artist pairings, each exploring the connections between food and artistic practice. The pairs are encouraged to engage in conversation and draw inspiration from one another, with each chef ultimately creating and presenting a dish inspired by that collaborative process. As guests move through the space, they’ll encounter a one-of-a-kind dining experience shaped by these creative exchanges.

We hope to see you at these events!

Micah Parsons (KCAI Camera Arts ’29) | (Mouse☀️ / mouseinthestu) reflects on projecting films at Screenland Armour: “The...
08/13/2026

Micah Parsons (KCAI Camera Arts ’29) | (Mouse☀️ / mouseinthestu) reflects on projecting films at Screenland Armour: “There’s kind of a tactile nature to it where you’re holding the movie itself in your hands, and you know, that’s like the actual product that was created to then be projected onto a screen, rather than just scanned into a computer, digitized, and then had that sent out to everyone.”

Looking forward to the first day of fall classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, Micah shares how his love of photography and moving images led him to a job at Screenland Armour (408 Armour Rd, North Kansas City), working up to projecting films (after a lot of training).

It means working hands-on with 70mm film prints, including Christopher Nolan’s recent release, Odyssey Movie. Parsons says (based on what he’s witnessed at Screenland Armour) interest in 70mm continues to grow, driven in part by what audiences are seeking out: the unique experience of seeing a film projected on physical film.

Working with the reels, Parsons says the experience makes him think somewhat linearly about the enormous amount of work that goes into creating a single film, from production to the moment it reaches the screen. He also reflects on the power of 70mm film and the positive feeling of presenting a movie as the director intended.

“I almost feel like this is a retaliation in sorts to the digital age and the age of AI and everything. The fact that there is a push to go back to analog, more back to basics, and everything, it does make me a little bit more hopeful for the future, that there can be a world where stuff like this can still exist.”

As he enters his second year at KCAI, Parsons is looking forward to learning more about the darkroom. “The confidence in which the professors that I’ve met have spoken about the art form and stuff just has me very convinced that I’m in good hands.”

At the same time, he’ll continue his management role at Screenland Armour, where he encourages anyone at KCAI, or anyone who simply wants to nerd out about film and 70mm screenings, to stop by and say hello.



📷 by Ash Parsons Story

08/13/2026

Looking forward to the first day of fall classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, Micah Parsons (Mouse☀️ / mouseinthestu) (KCAI Camera Arts ’29), shares how his love of photography and moving images led him to a job at Screenland Armour, where he has trained as a projectionist.

That means working hands-on with 70mm film prints, including Christopher Nolan’s recent release, Odyssey Movie. Parsons says (based on what he’s witnessed at Screenland Armour) interest in 70mm continues to grow, driven in part by what audiences are seeking out: the unique experience of seeing a film projected on physical film.

“There’s kind of a tactile nature to it where you’re holding the movie itself in your hands, and you know, that’s like the actual product that was created to then be projected onto a screen, rather than just scanned into a computer, digitized, and then had that sent out to everyone,” he says.

Working with the reels, Parsons says the experience makes him think somewhat linearly about the enormous amount of work that goes into creating a single film, from production to the moment it reaches the screen. He also reflects on the power of 70mm film and the positive feeling of presenting a movie as the director intended.

“I almost feel like this is a retaliation in sorts to the digital age and the age of AI and everything. The fact that there is a push to go back to analog, more back to basics, and everything, it does make me a little bit more hopeful for the future, that there can be a world where stuff like this can still exist.”

As he enters his second year at KCAI, Parsons is looking forward to learning more about the darkroom. “The confidence in which the professors that I’ve met have spoken about the art form and stuff just has me very convinced that I’m in good hands.”

At the same time, he’ll continue his management role at Screenland Armour, where he encourages anyone at KCAI, or anyone who simply wants to nerd out about film and 70mm screenings, to stop by and say hello.

🎥 The ripple effect of a renewed fascination with analog media on the KCAI campus. 🎥

Spark by Hilton Kansas City Plaza-Streetcar is a preferred hotel of the Kansas City Art Institute, conveniently located ...
08/11/2026

Spark by Hilton Kansas City Plaza-Streetcar is a preferred hotel of the Kansas City Art Institute, conveniently located just steps from campus. It’s a great spot to stay whether you're in town for prospective student tours, move-in weekends, gatherings, special events, or end-of-semester exhibitions!

Make your discounted reservation at kcai.edu/spark

Plus, guests staying at Spark by Hilton also receive 15% off at KCAI-operated locations including the Marble & Canvas Alumni Art and Décor Store, KCAI Art Supply Store, KCAI Printing Center, Wylie Dining Hall, and Café Nerman!*

👉 Book your stay today at kcai.edu/spark

*Discounts are subject to standard policies and exclusions.

By the time she graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, Mabel Johnson | Mabel Made (’25 Kcai Fiber) had already bu...
08/10/2026

By the time she graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, Mabel Johnson | Mabel Made (’25 Kcai Fiber) had already built an extraordinary national presence, selling hundreds of distinctive garments, from couture designs to everyday wear, while earning multiple national and regional awards.

Johnson’s work explores the quiet power of transformation. “I first learned this as I sat beside my mom, watching her turn scraps of old curtains, bedsheets, and tablecloths into something entirely new,” Johnson said. “It has since evolved into new silhouettes, colors, and forms.”

That philosophy deepened during her time in the Kansas City Art Institute’s Fiber program, where faculty encouraged her to see clothing not simply as something to wear, but as a medium for sculptural expression. Through their mentorship, she explored volume, form, and material in new ways.

Those ideas culminated in MABELMADE, Johnson’s senior spring solo exhibition at Haw Contemporary (1600 Liberty Street, KCMO). Spanning the gallery’s entire first floor, the exhibition featured more than 30 garments and fiber-based forms shaped through hand pleating, embroidery, piecing, and repurposed textiles.

“Each garment is a collage of the things I am drawn to. Colors seen within my everyday life, paintings on my wall, illustrations from books—pieced together into silhouettes that transform the familiar into something entirely new,” Johnson said.

The collection helped earn Johnson a prestigious Wingate-Lamar Fellowship from the Center for Craft, providing her with the opportunity to spend the next year in Florence, Italy, studying sculptural pattern making at Polimoda while researching historical costume.

“I’m really grateful to KCAI for encouraging students to apply for opportunities like this,” Johnson said. “It gives us the chance to keep growing and developing our work after graduation. My time in Fiber has shaped how I think about clothing and craft, and how my work can move beyond the walls of my studio.”

Congratulations Mabel! 📷s by Ash Parsons Story

08/06/2026

David T. Beals III Studios for Art and Technology recently hosted a collaborative workshop with Ignition Lab (powered by Eighty-Seven & Running) at Operation Breakthrough, where high school students learned to safely operate a vacuum former, create custom molds from their prototypes, and cast cement coasters. The experience introduced students to the complete product development process, from concept development and prototyping to mold-making and final production.

KCAI alum Elena Smith (’24 KCAI Product Design department) now serves as the Product Design Facilitator at Ignition Lab. A former Beals Studios work-study student mentored by the staff of the David T. Beals III Studios for Art and Technology, Elena’s journey reflects the lasting impact of mentorship and hands-on learning. Seeing her return to guide the next generation of makers demonstrates how Beals Studios’ influence extends beyond the studio.

The workshop was co-taught by Beals Studios staff members Mike Cerv and Ki Jean Sierra. In this video, students share their experiences at the Kansas City Art Institute, including Shameer Andrews, who reflects on how developing these skills has helped her imagine what she can create next. She describes the process as a stepping stone, where small projects can grow into larger ideas and future opportunities.

Earlier this year, Ki Jean Sierra brought KCAI students to Operation Breakthrough’s campus to explore how the skills they develop at Beals Studios can translate into careers after graduation. Hosting Ignition Lab students at KCAI brings that relationship full circle, giving high school students a firsthand look at a college studio environment while introducing them to the creative opportunities available at KCAI.

Thank you to Ignition Lab and Operation Breakthrough for collaborating with us and helping create new pathways for the next generation of makers.

☀️We are so proud of this year's PCAL students, who spent two weeks living on campus and experiencing life at KCAI while...
08/05/2026

☀️We are so proud of this year's PCAL students, who spent two weeks living on campus and experiencing life at KCAI while exploring studios in Animation, Illustration, Interdisciplinary, 2D+3D Design, Ceramics, and Painting.☀️

In addition to their primary studio, every student also participated in courses across other disciplines, including Art History and life drawing.

🔗 Visit this link to be the first to know when registration opens for next summer's PCAL program! kcai.edu/interestedinpcal 🔗

At PCAL, students work alongside KCAI faculty in collaborative studio environments, developing technical skills while exploring creative processes in areas such as storytelling, character design, wheel throwing, painting, digital modeling, product design, sculpture, and more. Through demonstrations, individualized feedback, and hands-on projects, students gain experience with professional tools, materials, and techniques.

Each studio encourages experimentation, creative problem-solving, and artistic growth while building confidence in the creative process. Whether animating original characters, creating illustrations, throwing pottery, developing paintings, designing in 2D and 3D, or exploring KCAI's interdisciplinary Foundation curriculum, participants gain meaningful studio experience, connect with peers, and discover new ways of making, thinking, and creating as artists and designers.

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4415 Warwick Boulevard
Kansas City, MO
64111

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