The special exhibition Timeless Mucha celebrates the visionary graphic work of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), whose elegant figures and whiplash lines came to define the Art Nouveau movement and transformed visual culture around the world.
Featuring more than 100 works from the Mucha Trust Collection, this exhibition traces Mucha’s rise from a struggling artist in Paris to an international sensation – and explores the enduring influence of his imagery across illustration, design, and pop culture.
Don’t miss the companion exhibition, Mucha’s Muses: Sarah Bernhardt and the Spirit of Art Nouveau.
His magic line
At the heart of Mucha’s art is his distinctive use of line: bold and sinuous whiplashes that form flowing hair, ornate borders, and radiant halos. Timeless Mucha invites us to trace these revolutionary compositions and learn the visual language that inspired generations of artists.
Birth of a modern style
Mucha’s breakthrough came when he was commissioned to design posters for actress Sarah Bernhard. Floral and florid, these distinctive poster designs fused the modern with the mythic and invented a new kind of celebrity image.
Mucha’s advertisements solidified his signature style – elongated forms, ornamental detail, a sense of quiet grandeur – and typified Art Nouveau’s most recognizable expression.
Pop culture poster child
Mucha’s line reached beyond Art Nouveau. Decades later, his visual language resurfaced in unexpected places: the swirling psychedelia of the 1960s, the expressive dynamism of Japanese manga, even the bold storytelling of American comics.
Timeless Mucha follows the artist’s enduring legacy among artists and designers – and within our collective imaginations.
Members see special exhibitions for free
In return for their support, Nelson-Atkins members receive myriad benefits — including early access and free daily admission to special exhibitions like Timeless Mucha.
Visit the Nelson-Atkins Info Desk in Bloch Lobby to ask about rolling the price of your exhibition ticket into the cost of a new membership.
Related programs
Joe Quesada: From Mucha to Marvel
What makes an artist’s work truly timeless? Alphonse Mucha’s iconic style bridged fine art and popular culture. From the sinuous lines of Art Nouveau to the visual language of modern comics, Alphonse Mucha’s influence continues to shape how stories are told through images. Legendary comic artist and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief, Joe Quesada explores Mucha’s lasting impact on visual storytelling. This lecture provided in collaboration with KC Design Week.
Disco Nouveau: A Silent Disco
Disco Nouveau: A Silent Disco brings a fresh twist to your favorite experience. Inspired by the flowing elegance and artistry of the Timeless Mucha exhibition, this members-only event invites you to slip on your headphones, sip a complimentary welcome cocktail provided by Suntory, and move between three live DJs spinning all event long.
Night/Shift: Iconique
Art nouveau poster child Alphonse Mucha is the evening’s muse whose floral glamor rewrote the visual language of pop culture. Local artists cultivate a night of curvilinear creativity — bursting with tunes by queer musicians, drag fashion, and sapphic flirty flair.
Additional Resources
Shop Timeless Mucha gifts
Browse Museum Store picks inspired by the exhibition
Inside the exhibition
Select art
Organized by the Mucha Foundation, Prague, in collaboration with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. In Kansas City, generous support provided by: Paul DeBruce and Linda Woodsmall-DeBruce, Evelyn Craft Belger and Richard Belger, Neil Karbank and Gretchen Calhoun, Shirley and Barnett Helzberg Jr., Bill and Sara Morgan, the G. Kenneth and Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund, Nancy and Rick Green, Don Hall Jr., JE Dunn Construction, Hallmark Cards, Inc., the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank, Trustee, the Campbell/Calvin Fund for Exhibitions, and the Henry & Marion Bloch Foundation Fund.
