Summer classes Registration opens soon!
Registration for summer classes begins April 15 for members and April 22 for the general public. Family Level Membership and above are eligible for presale access.
Artists at Play
Explore the creative vision of Niki de Saint Phalle, renowned for her bold and imaginative sculptures, paintings, and public art installations, then get creative in 3D! Design a playful work of art with a friend or on your own to take with you at the end of the night. All skill levels are welcome, and all supplies are provided.
Friday | One session class | 6–8 p.m.
May 17 | Classroom 4 & 5
$50 public | $40 Members
Register
Expressive Lines
Step into the vibrant and fantastical world of Niki de Saint Phalle known for her bold colors, expressive forms, and larger-than-life sculptures, then draw your inspired own creations. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Fridays | Three session class | 1:30–3:30 p.m.
July 19–August 9 | Instructor: Suzann Geringer
$150 public | $120 Members
Register
Explore and Create: Tsa Tsa Workshop
Immerse yourself in the featured exhibition, Sonam Dolma Brauen’s, My Father’s Death, with curator Kimberly Masteller as she speaks on Brauen commemorating her father’s passing using Tsa Tsa and Tibetan monks’ robes. Participants will create a Tsa Tsa, which are sometimes made in Tibet for funeral rituals and memorial purposes. Participants are welcome to bring small mementos to cast inside their clay Tsa Tsa. Children ages 6 and up can attend with an adult. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Thursday-Friday July 11-12 | Two session class | 1:30–3:30 p.m.
$100 public | $80 Members
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Painter Studio Gouache
Get into gouache! Develop the fundamentals of staining, layering, and dry brushing as you bring your creations to life. Explore the museum collection for a variety of landscapes. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Thursdays | Three session class | 1:30–3:30 p.m.
August 1–15 | Instructor: Berry Teghtmeyer
$150 public | $120 Members
Register
The Artful Story
Learn to fuse art and storytelling with Sue Moreno, a local artist featured in A Layered Presence / Una Presencia Estratificada exhibition and Iván Ramirez, professional storyteller through Storyteller for Change and the Latinx Education Collaborative. Explore some of the museum’s best stories, then bring a photo to include in the collage that represents your personal story. Family and friends will be invited to the last session for a share-out of the work created in class. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Wednesday-Friday | Three session class | 1:30–3:30 p.m.
June 26–28 | Instructor: Sue Moreno & Iván Ramirez
$150 public | $120 Members
Register
Artists at Play
Explore the creative vision of Niki de Saint Phalle, renowned for her bold and imaginative sculptures, paintings, and public art installations, then get creative in 3D! Design a playful work of art with a friend or on your own to take with you at the end of the night. All skill levels are welcome, and all supplies are provided. (16+)
Friday, July 19 | One session class | 6–8 p.m.
$50 public | $40 Members
Register
Spring classes Registration closed - classes ongoing
Watercolor Florals
From Roses to Cherry Blossoms, flowers have the power to enhance our mood and uplift any space they adorn. In this class, we will look at the museum collection for inspiration and discover techniques for painting flowers in watercolor. Students will explore the ‘direct’ watercolor approach, floral composition, and observational painting. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Thursdays | Four week class | 1:30–4 p.m.
March 28–April 18 | Classroom 6
$250 public | $200 Members
Instructor: Barry Teghtmeyer
Built in Clay
Explore various hand-building techniques in clay. Use coil and slab building to create artwork that is functional, decorative or both! Find ceramic pieces throughout the museum’s collection to gather inspiration. All supplies provided and all experience levels are welcome.
Fridays | Six week class | 1:30–4 p.m.
March 29–May 3 | Classroom 5
$375 public | $300 Members
Instructor: Angela Rangel
Explore and Create: Inspired by Glamorous Women
Delve into the exquisite creations showcased in the Glamorous Women, Gender & Fashion exhibition. Unravel the embroidered theater images by exploring the gallery and archived documents with the Curator of Chinese Art Ling-En and Spencer Reference Library staff. Let your creativity flourish as you create your very own artwork. All supplies are provided. Sips and Snacks are available for purchase in the Bloch Lobby.
Michelle Chan is an interdisciplinary artist based in Kansas City, Missouri. Her work addresses being an American-born Chinese through the lens of pop culture and consumerism.
Friday | One session class | 6–8:30 p.m.
April 5 | Classrooms 4 & 5
$60 public | $48 Members
Instructor: Michelle Chan
Storytelling Workshop
Every artwork tells an exciting story! Develop storytelling skills with Sue Moreno, a local artist featured in the A Layered Presence exhibition and professional storyteller through Storyteller for Change and the Latinx Education Collaborative, Iván Ramirez. Explore some of the museum’s best stories, then create a collage with a photo you would like to include in your artwork. In the last session, share your story with family in friends in the final session. All supplies are provided.
Image courtesy of the artist.
THIS CLASS HAS BEEN POSTPONED
Textile Adventures
Learn new sewing techniques in this hands-on class! Explore the museum for ancient and contemporary ways of creating fiber-based artworks. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Saturdays | Four week class | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
April 6–27 | Classroom 6
$200 public | $160 Members
Instructor: Lily Erb
Painter Studio: Acrylics
Get your palettes ready for Painters Studio! Develop the fundamentals of painting, brush techniques, and composition as you bring your imagination to life on canvas. Look at works from museum’s Medieval to Contemporary collections for a variety of painting styles. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Saturdays | Six week class | 1:30–4 p.m.
March 23–April 27 | Classroom 4
$375 public | $300 Members
Instructor: Suzann Geringer
Botanical Drawing
Blossom in the world of botanical drawing! Search the museum’s collection for flowers and foliage then develop drawing, shading, and composition skills to produce stunning botanical drawings. All skill levels are welcome, and supplies are provided.
Saturdays | Three week class | 1:30–3:30 p.m.
March 23–April 6 | Classroom 6
$150 public | $120 Members
Instructor: Lorraine Elmore
Scholarships & Cancellations
A limited number of need-based studio class scholarships are available. To apply, please complete the scholarship application form. If you have questions, please contact scholarships@nelson-atkins.org for more information.
Cancellations made five business days prior to a class may be refunded, less a $15 processing fee per enrollment. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than five business days prior, due to absence, or after a class begins. If a class is cancelled due to low enrollment, your enrollment fee will be refunded in full. We do not issue credits toward future classes or workshops if you cancel your enrollment or miss a class. There are no make-up classes due to absence. Switching enrollment from one class/workshop to another will result in a $10 transfer fee on a per student/per class basis.