Krannert Art Museum (KAM) is the second largest general fine art museum in the state of Illinois and operates within the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Open to the public, the museum is renowned for its impressive permanent collection of more than 11,000 works of art. It also hosts a myriad of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
Learn about some of the rotating exhibits you should visit at KAM this summer.
Vibrant Lives: Allen Stringfellow
This installation, which runs until Aug. 5, highlights the work of Champaign native Allen Stringfellow. Stringfellow crafted watercolor works, collages and sculptures that focus on the lives of African Americans, particularly those in the communities in which he was raised. Stringfellow infused his own experiences into all of his pieces, whether his works expressed the pride of vibrant communities in the South Side of Chicago, the radiant energy of jazz clubs or the joyful exuberance of open-air baptisms at Urbana’s Crystal Lake. Visitors can also experience his Art at the Y display “Uncle Allen” at the University YMCA.
To Know The Fire: Pueblo Women Potters and the Shaping of History
Handed down through the generations, pottery making in Pueblo communities has long been associated with lineages of renowned women potters. “To Know The Fire'' is an exhibition that brings together a selection of earthenware vessels from the Pueblo communities of New Mexico and Arizona. This collection includes an array of miniature vessels that will entrance guests with their stunning form, color and surface design. These works will be on display at KAM until Sept. 3.
Latina Community ‘Voces’
Created through a collaboration between KAM, Girls Go For It! (GGFI), and the College of Education, the Latina Community 'Voces' multimodal exhibit represents the varied cultures, languages and histories of local Latinx communities. Students worked together to imagine, design and curate an exciting exhibition that represents and honors their aspirations, hopes and stories. In turn, visitors will gain opportunities to build cross-cultural understandings, relationships and solidarity with Latina/x girls. Stop by KAM this summer to view this inspiring piece, which will be open to the public until July 9.
Fake News & Lying Pictures: Political Prints in the Dutch Republic
Round out your summer with a visit to “Fake News & Lying Pictures”, which debuts on Aug. 25 and runs until Dec. 17. This exhibition explores the ways early modern Dutch printmakers used prints to shape public opinion around historical events, create political heroes and villains, and form consensus for collective action. You can see more than 100 prints and illustrated books, with allegories, satires, cartoon strips, portraits, maps and “news prints.” Make it a first stop on your late summer campus visit or visit with friends during KAM Fest, the museum's Welcome Week art festival.
