Accessible art: Show inside the City Hall Art Gallery puts focus on Lenexa artists

When Catherine Kirkland and her husband, Hamilton, were searching for a new home in 2008, they didn’t know a whole lot about Lenexa.

They found their home in the Johnson County city — and Catherine Kirkland found a lot more. She found a perfect spot to develop her career as an artist.

The Kirklands not only found the right home, Catherine Kirkland found a place for her career as an artist. On Aug. 24, Kirkland’s piece, “100,000 Stars,” was awarded Best of Show at the 32nd annual Lenexa Artists’ Show.

The show, which spotlights Lenexa artists and is up through Oct. 1, is one of the cornerstone events at the City Hall Art Gallery, located inside Lenexa City Hall, 17101 W. 87th St. Parkway.

“I love we are featuring Lenexa residents,” said Susanne Neely, recreation supervisor and Lenexa Arts Council liaison for Lenexa Parks & Recreation. “It’s an opportunity for them to show their work and to be celebrated in our community.”

The show features 34 artists this year, making it one of the largest shows in its history, Neely said.

The Lenexa Artists’ Show was the first exhibit when the gallery opened in 2017. Another annual event, The HeART of Lenexa Contest, is usually held in late winter. At other times of the year, the Lenexa Arts Council curates 2D and 3D art shows from individual artists throughout the region.

The gallery offers a lot, Neely said.

“The space was designed with the art in mind,” she said. “It shows really well.”

The move, Neely said, also allowed art to be displayed to the public more. She said the former gallery was only open during the hours the former city hall was open — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Now, with the Public Market and everything going on, there is a lot more time,” Neely said. “The gallery is more accessible to people. More people are seeing it. More artists are wanting to be in it.”

“This gallery also is designed to accommodate larger pieces,” she said.

Neely loves the connections made through the gallery, which is often filled with people.

“It inspires people,” Neely said. “The quality of art and the interest in the art is wonderful.”

Kirkland was one of the first artists to have a solo show in the new city hall in 2018.

She likes it because of the varied audience.

“It’s a different art gallery,” Kirkland said. “There are people who go through there who might never go through an art gallery.”