Spencer Museum
of Art

University of Kansas 
1301 Mississippi Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
(785) 864-4710

Free Admission
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday 12 - 5PM   Thursday: 10AM -  8PM

Spencer Museum of Art Map

Spencer Museum of Art - Lawrence, Kansas
Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art - University of Kansas
Spencer Museum of Art - Lawrence, Kansas

The Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence, Kansas has seven galleries which display selections from the University of Kansas permanent collection of more than 25,000 works of art. Special exhibitions are displayed in four additional galleries. During the school year, the Spencer Museum of Art offers workshops and art lectures almost every day of the week.

Thursday is the busiest day at the Spencer Museum of Art. The galleries are open until 8PM, and a changing schedule of films, musical performances, and lectures are offered at 7. During lunch during the academic year, from 12:15-12:45, enjoy a brief, focused discussion of an exhibition or work of art. 

Walk-Ins Welcome Fridays - The Spencer Museum has a print room that is not open to the public. It includes etchings by Kiki Smith, photographs by Aaron Siskind and many other items. Each Friday the Spencer opens its Print Room for requests to view items from 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 4pm. The Print Room is located on the south hallway off the museum's 

I like the Spencer Museum of Art, but don't always agree with the decisions that have been made about how to exhibit the art. Several "innovative" exhibition techniques have been tried, with various levels of success.

The Wilcox Classical Museum and KU Natural History Museum are both a short walk away on the University of Kansas campus.

17th and 18th Century Europe Gallery - Spencer Museum of Art
17th & 18th Century Europe Gallery

Mawdsley sculpture at Spencer Museum of Art
Alpha-Omega: Water Tower #5 by Richard W. Mawdsley

Inovative display at the Spencer Museum of Art
Each of the artifacts in this display is arranged with a question intended to interest and prepare visitors for more
active display.

Robert Tuttle water colors
During my most recent visit to the Spencer Museum, an entire gallery was devoted to
Robert Tuttle water colors on ruled loose leaf notebook paper

20/21 Gallery in Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence
20/21 Gallery

Violet Persian Set with Red Lip Wraps by Dale Chihuly
Violet Persian Set with Red Lip Wraps by Dale Chihuly is better lighted, but visitors have
to go find a notebook and look up the work to even find out who created the work.

Art by John Steuart Curry and Thomas Hart Benton
Works by two famous regional artists.
Top: sketch for Tragic Prelude by John Steuart Curry.
Bottom: The Ballad of the Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley by
Thomas Hart Benton.

Faberge and 19th Century European Jewelry
Faberge and 19th Century European Jewelry donated by University of Kansas Alumni


The Bedazzler by Patrick Dougherty was built from silver maple, roughleaf dogwood & hackberry saplings in 2009

Spencer Museum of Art Map
Spencer Museum of Art Map

Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art website
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copyright 2007-2022 by Keith Stokes