Johnson County Library is proud to share the work of Kansas City metro area visual artists in our library art galleries. We have ten library branches with dedicated art gallery spaces to inspire people of all ages and beautify our libraries. We seek a diverse selection of artwork that inspires, educates and promotes community connection. If you're a local artist interested in submitting your artwork for consideration, learn more here.
While we are taking a break from in-person Exhibitions due to COVID-19 precautions, we will continue to feature interviews with some of the best visual artists in the Kansas City metro area.
Kansas-City-born illustrator, painter, ceramicist and part-time junk collector, Dick Daniels is a child of the 50’s who blossomed in the full glare of the psychedelic ‘60’s, influenced by the underground commix movement, abandoned amusement parks, American folk art and cheap...
Why do I paint? To delineate an interpretation of the visual world is a process of comprehending the balance, tension and wonders of life. As Degas said: “Painting is not what you see but what you make others see.” When I paint the landscape, tension is created as I strive...
Introduce yourself and describe your work and the media/genre you work in.
I’m primarily a photographer. It’s my first love. The last couple of years I’ve been exploring digital means for making art. These drawings are done on a tablet.
What would you like people to...
Introduce yourself and describe your work and the media/genre you work in.
Hi, my name is Melanie Nolker and I am a full time oil painter here in the Kansas City area. I paint with the colors of Monet, and with a palette knife (a small trowel) instead of a brush. Using...
Introduce yourself and describe your work.
My name is Matt Hawkins. I’m a paper toy making, toy designing, illustrating, banjo picking, incessant doodler working away in an attic in Overland Park.I weave humor and energy into bold, whimsical art for humorous and often...
Artist Statement: Tarot cards have been around since the 15th Century, used for playing games and divination. Until the invention of the printing press, each deck was drawn by hand. I have always been fascinated with tarot cards as a tool for introspection. It was a few...
Artist statement: I want to make a non-destructive and positive impact in the world through sustainable art and sustainable living. I pull items out of the waste stream giving them a different purpose than initially intended to use them in a new ways, collaging images...
Chris received her BFA in Painting and Drawing from the Kansas City Art Institute, her MA in Art Education and Ceramics from the University of New Mexico and currently teaches at Blue Valley Northwest High School. By day she helps kids dive deeper into the world of ceramics...
Art is fun—even when Life isn’t. I like to make things. I enjoy life and believe in art that entertains, delights the eye and engages the mind. My work involves nature, family or a sense of place that is infused with a playful spirit. I try to produce my impressions of ...
Jean McGuire is a Kansas City native who returned to painting four years ago after a 40-year hiatus. Most of her paintings are done with her fingers, but she’s not afraid to use a brush when needed. In her most current work she experiments with the effects of spattering or...
