Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art facts for kids
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| Established | May 6, 1966 |
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| Location | 2818 Frederick Avenue, Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States |
| Public transit access |  St. Joseph Transit |
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art is a cool place to see art in St. Joseph, Missouri. It's located in a beautiful old house that used to belong to Mr. and Mrs. William Albrecht. This museum has a huge collection of American art from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. It's also a busy cultural spot, offering special art shows, fun learning programs, and exciting events for everyone in Northwest Missouri.
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A Special Building for Art
In 1906, William Albrecht started a company called Western Tablet. It became very successful, making the famous Big Chief tablet that many kids used for school. In 1933, Mr. Albrecht bought land on Frederick Avenue. He built his amazing "dream house" there.
Years later, in 1965, the Albrecht family gave their mansion to the St. Joseph Art League. They wanted it to be an art gallery, honoring Mr. and Mrs. William Albrecht. The Albrecht Art Gallery opened on May 6, 1966. It started with six pieces of art in its permanent collection.
In 1991, a large 21,000-square-foot addition was built onto the back of the house. This new part was designed by Herb Duncan. It added a big gallery space, two tower galleries, a dining room, an auditorium, a gift shop, and classrooms. At this time, the museum became The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. This new name honored Mr. R. Crosby Kemper, who was a big supporter of the museum.
Amazing Art Collections
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art has many different types of art. You can explore several galleries, each with its own special theme.
American Portraits
The Terry and Kay Oldham Portrait Gallery shows off paintings of people by some of the greatest American artists. These artists include John Wollaston, Gilbert Stuart, and John Neagle. They painted these portraits in the 1700s and 1800s.
Modern Art Today
The museum also has a large collection of contemporary American art. "Contemporary art" means art made in our time, usually from the 1960s to today. You can see these works in Thedinger Gallery and the JP Barclay Gallery. Sometimes, you'll find special "pop-up" shows throughout the museum too.
Art of the American West
The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art has a strong collection of Western art. This art shows scenes and people from the American West. You can see these paintings in the Manning and Bebe Grimes Western Art Gallery. Famous artists like Olaf Wieghorst, James Reynolds, and Thomas Hart Benton have their work displayed here.
Regionalist Prints
The Schroeder Gallery features prints by famous Regionalist artists. "Regionalist art" is a style from the early to mid-1900s that focused on realistic scenes of rural American life. Important artists in this style include Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood, and John Steuart Curry.
Special Art Shows
Both upstairs and downstairs galleries are used for rotating exhibitions. "Rotating exhibitions" means the art on display changes regularly. These shows often feature different artists or special themes. There is also an annual exhibition that showcases art by museum members. These galleries include the J. Douglas and Susan H. Essen Gallery, the Alison Wyeth-Campbell Gallery, the Steuart and Charlotte Campbell Gallery, and the Thedinger Gallery.
