Two Van Gogh exhibits in Kansas City? What to know about each to plan your visit
If you’ve been waiting for your chance to see a larger than life Vincent Van Gogh painting or to take your photo in front of those iconic sunflowers, you’re in luck. Kansas City will soon be the temporary home to two separate immersive Van Gogh exhibits.
We broke down what the difference is, when they’re open, who’s behind each and everything else you need to know to be able to experience the famous painter in a whole new way.
The short of it: Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art are putting on Van Gogh Alive: The Experience. It’s already running, and will go until the middle of January. The national touring exhibit Immersive Van Gogh is coming to a mystery location in Kansas City in February. Its original December opening has been delayed.
Here’s what else to know to keep them straight and plan your visit.
Van Gogh Alive: The Experience
Starlight and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s “large-scale, immersive multi-sensory experience” opened on Oct. 21 and goes until Jan. 14.
So, what is it?
Starlight has transformed its stage into a museum dedicated to the 19th-century artist.
The exhibit combines high-definition projections of Van Gogh’s art with digital surround sound. The moving and transforming images of the art are projected at a large scale, making it possible to notice small details and new angles.
Take note: there are no physical paintings on display as part of the exhibit.
When can I visit?
The exhibit is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Entry into the exhibit is blocked out in 20-minute increments. That means you have to show up in the specified 20-minute window that your ticket is for. Only a certain number of people can be in the exhibit at once, so make sure you arrive on time.
The final entry is one hour before the exhibit closes. On holidays, it’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How long will I spend there?
You can take it at your own pace, but it’s safe to plan for around 60-90 minutes inside. The main attraction lasts around 45 minutes, and other areas to explore, including a “sunflower room” and a replica of Van Gogh’s bedroom.
How much does it cost?
- Free for kids under 4
- $29.99 for kids ages 5-18, college students with a valid ID
- $45 for regular price admission
Veterans and people over 65 can get 10% off.
You can get your tickets here.
One last thing: Since the exhibit is indoors, masks will be required for visitors.
Immersive Van Gogh
This exhibit comes to town in a mystery location now starting Feb. 28. The opening was planned for Dec. 1, but has been delayed “due to challenges in finding a suitable venue.”
Corey Ross, the show’s producer, told The Star in May that people shouldn’t expect it to be in a museum or established place where folks have gone before.
Is this exhibit different than the one at Starlight?
Besides the mystery location, the concept seems pretty similar.
The exhibit will include 500,000 cubic feet of projection, 60,600 video frames and 90,000,000 pixels to create a 360-degree walk-through experience that is special to the Kansas City installation.
“Each city has its own identity and its own execution,” Ross said in May. “The music is the same and the overall concept is the same. It’s really the adaptation to the building and the architecture of the building that varies from city to city. And then we try within and around the gallery to create something that’s unique to the city.”
You can get tickets here. Prices range from $39-$49 before fees, but times with limited availability are as high as $70
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 1:00 PM.