KALAMAZOO—August 21, 2024
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is proud to share Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century with the community.
The KIA’s centennial year celebrations continue in Legendary Voices, which will be on view from Saturday, September 7, 2024 through Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Featuring 50 unique groupings by 111 artists, spanning a century of acquisitions, gifts, and commissions, Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century celebrates the breadth of the KIA’s impressive collection. Looking toward our future and that of our community, Legendary Voices focuses on the art and artists that have and continue to engage us regionally, nationally, and globally.
Expect new and familiar works in dialogues that offer fresh ways to consider age-old subjects and genres of artmaking. These selections offer new perspectives and deeper insights into artistic processes spanning several centuries, while also emphasizing notable events and moments during the last century.
“We are thrilled to share this outstanding exhibition that shows what the KIA has accomplished over the last 100 years as we look forward to the next century. Legendary Voices emphasizes our dedication to artistic excellence and our commitment to engaging the community in shaping our permanent collection. We invite you to become part of the conversation as you encounter new and familiar works that will offer new perspectives on established subjects and methods of making art.” – Michelle Hargrave, Executive Director
Themes such as abstraction, American life and our environment, history, identity, and portraiture offer shared narratives about our common humanity, creating unexpected parallels. These connections explore how artists draw from their unique cultural contexts and individual experiences to consider the state of being human, address society’s most pressing issues, and represent the communities and spaces they inhabit or the people they encounter.
Be inspired by the stories of local to global artists who have helped shape our exceptional, indeed legendary, collection and community.
Legendary Voices Members’ Preview
Friday, September 6; 5:00 – 6:00pm
Legendary Voices Public Reception
Friday, September 6; 6:00 – 8:00pm
About the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA), is located in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. The mission of the KIA is to promote and cultivate the creation and appreciation of the visual arts in West Michigan. We believe the arts are for everyone; they inspire, fulfill, and transform. As the largest fine art museum and community-based art school in the region, the KIA provides access to art and art making experiences not otherwise available. The KIA holds more than 4,600 fine artworks in its permanent collection; presents touring and collection exhibitions in 10 galleries; offers four terms of art classes at the Kirk Newman Art School; and houses the KIA Gallery Shop, featuring artwork by local artists and international artisans; as well as an Art Library. Our exhibitions and programs are designed to appeal to diverse, intergenerational audiences through broad representation, engaging content, and strong partner collaborations. The Kirk Newman Art School has nurtured the creative passions of tens of thousands of students around the region, state, and beyond, annually welcoming more than 3,400 enrollments. Students of all ages engage with our talented and committed faculty as a part of an exciting fine arts curriculum that includes ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, drawing/painting, printmaking, fiber, photography, glass fusing and enrichment program.
This year, the KIA will begin its centennial celebration with free admission during the entire month of July, various special exhibitions, events, and programs to commemorate its 100th anniversary.