Topeka
Kansas
Mulvane Art Museum
Mission:
The mission of the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University is to provide members of the Washburn community and Topeka residents and visitors a museum where they can learn to think independentally and critically about art, appreciate art as a vehicle for communicating human values, and value the diversity of human creativity.
History:
Joab R. Mulvane, 1837-1929, came to Kansas in 1876 and distinguished himself as one of the most successful Kansan's of his generation. The breadth of his interests has shaped Kansas and beyond especially in shipping logistics given the strategic advantage of Kansas as a single point distribution hub for North America. He was president of at least nine railroads and presided over the Chicago, Kansas and Western Railway Company, as its President, when it built over 900 miles of rail lines for the Santa Fe. In 1922 Mulvane pledged a gift to build the Mulvane Art Museum and the building opened to the public in 1924. In 1946, through the encouragement of Alexander Tillotson, Director of the Washburn Art Department, the Topeka Junior League spreaheaded the formation of a group now known as the Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum.
Accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1988, the Mulvane Art Museum, one of the oldest art museums west of the Mississippi, houses a collection of approximately 4,000 objects from around the world including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photographs and decorative art. While international in scope, the Museum's collection focuses on the works of artists from Kansas and the Mountain Plains region of the Unitied States. In addition to exhibiting works from the collection the Museum also presents changing exhibitons featuring artists from around the world.
Upcoming Events at Mulvane Art Museum
Exhibition - Women of Abstract Expressionism
Exhibition - In This Place: American Dreams
Exhibition - Craving Light: The Museum of Love and Reckoning
Exhibition - Endangered Art: Reclaiming a Legacy
Exhibition - Women of Abstract Expressionism
Exhibition - In This Place: American Dreams
Exhibition - Craving Light: The Museum of Love and Reckoning
Exhibition - Endangered Art: Reclaiming a Legacy
Exhibition - Women of Abstract Expressionism
Exhibition - In This Place: American Dreams
Exhibition - Craving Light: The Museum of Love and Reckoning
Exhibition - Endangered Art: Reclaiming a Legacy
Exhibition - Women of Abstract Expressionism
Exhibition - In This Place: American Dreams
Exhibition - Craving Light: The Museum of Love and Reckoning
Recent News
Mulvane Art Museum News - September 27, 2024
Upcoming Events The Mulvane Art Museum Story Oct. 8, 5:30 - 6:30 pm Upper Level Galleries In celebration of the Mulvane's 100-year anniversary, join Director Connie Gibbons for a talk about the museum's history. Learn about the Mulvane's…
Read More »A Heartfelt Thank You for 100 Years of Art at the Mulvane
Season's Greetings! As we stand on the brink of a new chapter in the Mulvane Art Museum's storied history, we are filled with immense gratitude and excitement. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who has played a role in…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter - August 2023
The Mulvane Art Museum is going through some changes. Construction on the main galleries has begun— the museum is now a hard hat zone. We expect construction to last around 8 months as the old HVAC system is replaced. The Rita Blitt Gallery…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter - April , 2023
When the Mulvane Art Museum opened in 1924, efforts to build a collection of art began almost immediately. One hundred years later, that collection has grown to more than 6000 artworks. In those early years, protocols for the preservation and care…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter March 2023
Endangered Art Feeding the Sacred Ibis Anatole Henri de Beaulieu was a student of nineteenth-century painter, Eugène Delacroix. His paintings are characterized by an interest in figures and scenes from the Near and Middle East. The…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter - February 1, 2023
Gallery Talk Rachel Epp Buller Thursday, Feb. 2 1:30 - 2:30 pm Hear from Rachel Epp Buller, the artist featured in the WUmester exhibition Invitations to Listen. She created the art in this show as a response to her daily listening walks…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum : Upcoming Public Events
The Mulvane Art Museum is hosting a series of free programs this spring that allow our community to engage with our collection, exhibitions, and interactive art spaces. Stay up to date on our in-person and digital offerings by following us on…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter - January 17, 2023
Mulvane Art Museum: New Exhibitions Open for Spring 2023 The Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University presents two new exhibitions, on view until March 18, 2023. Invitations to Listen features art that Rachel Epp Buller created in response to…
Read More »Mulvane Art Museum Newsletter - January 9, 2023
Message from the Director Welcome to 2023 and 99 years of art at the Mulvane Art Museum. There is much going on behind the scenes as we prepare for 2024 and our centennial celebration and I hope you will stay tuned to this space as we roll out…
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