Current Exhibitions

 

Home/Land: Wahzhazhe Artists Speak

August 18, 2026 – July 24, 2027
Does the land where you were raised shape your concept of home? What if you live in diaspora? How do you name “home?” Wahzhazhe/Osage artists Norman Akers, Anita Fields and Ryan RedCorn explore ideas about home and homeland through a wide range of mediums: painting, print, textile, ceramic, photography and poetry. Forced from Kansas to Oklahoma in the late nineteenth century by U.S. government policies, the Wahzhazhe endured to build a strong sovereign nation. The artists’ stories invite others to consider how history and landscape shape their notions of home, land and belonging.

America 250: The Pursuit of Happiness

Self-guided gallery tour

Available through December 31, 2026
On July 4, 2026, the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To commemorate America’s semiquincentennial, the Beach Museum of Art has selected artworks that encourage reflection on what it means to pursue happiness. Together, these works reveal a range of American experiences and aspirations, touching on themes of freedom, prosperity, well-being, dignity, belonging, and hope.

Rural America

September 2, 2025 – September 26, 2026
Works from the museum’s collection depict life in rural America, highlighting both the challenges rural communities face as well as the unique qualities that sustain them. These primarily historical images offer a lens through which to consider the struggles and strengths of today’s rural communities. The exhibition will be in two parts.

2026-2027 K-State Common Work of Art

Each year, the K-State First Book committee selects a common reading for first year students to provide a shared intellectual experience. The 2026 K-State First Book is Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work by David Isay. To complement the K-State First Book selection, the museum presents Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton’s drawing Business Business Business, You Gotta Have Art, the Common Work of Art. In the context of the First Book, Layton's work invites reflection on work and success: How does the contrast between “BUSINESS” and “You gotta have ART” suggest different ideas about careers and achievement? What kinds of jobs today require both creativity and business expertise?

STE[A]M: Exploring Science and Math through Art

Ongoing with new selections
This colorful exhibition supports STE[A]M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math plus Art) learning experiences for school-age students and ARTSmart program participants at the Beach Museum of Art. Through works in the collection, students explore concepts in their science curriculum like light waves, refraction and the science behind rainbows. The exhibition is also used for the museum’s Intersection of Math and Art tour for older elementary and middle school students exploring geometric concepts like 2-D and 3-D tessellations.

Collection Galleries

Ongoing with new selections
Featured works are curated from the 12,000+ objects in the museum collection—from historical through contemporary work in a wide range of media—focused on the art of Kansas and the region. Visit the galleries and make discoveries that matter to you!