Information
Landmark: Krannert Art Museum (KAM)City: Champaign Urbana
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Krannert Art Museum (KAM), Champaign Urbana, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
On the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, the Krannert Art Museum draws visitors with its vast collection, lively exhibitions, and hands-on educational programs.Founded in 1961, KAM has been a lively hub for art and culture, drawing in students, faculty, and residents from across East Central Illinois-whether for a quiet afternoon in its sunlit galleries or a bustling evening event.The museum celebrates visual arts with free access to its permanent collections, rotating exhibitions, and lively public programs, from quiet gallery walks to hands-on workshops.You’ll find the museum at 500 East Peabody Drive in Champaign, Illinois, just a short walk from the heart of campus and easy to reach for visitors coming from farther away.You can park in the nearby lots-meters run on weekdays, but evenings and weekends are free.The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District buses stop right by the museum, making it easy to get there without driving.The building’s designed for full accessibility, with wide entry doors, ramps, large-print signs, and space for service animals.We’re open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays we stay until 8 p.m. when university classes are in session.Saturday hours run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - the quiet hum of the galleries fades on Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays when we’re closed.Admission’s always free, thanks to generous donations and university support, so everyone can enjoy the art.The Krannert Art Museum houses more than 11,000 pieces, from ancient pottery to modern paintings, reflecting a wide range of cultures, eras, and artistic styles.Its collections are celebrated for their rich variety, with *Art Since 1948* spotlighting modern and contemporary pieces-paintings that burst with color, bold sculptures, immersive installations, and multimedia works crafted by some of the most influential artists of the era.Encounters: The Arts of Africa showcases both traditional and modern works, capturing the continent’s vibrant heritage and the skill of its artists-like the intricate beadwork shimmering in the light.The Olsen Collection holds an extraordinary array of Ancient Andean art, from delicate Nazca pottery to intricate Inca and Moche artifacts, each telling the story of pre-Columbian civilizations.Harlan E.…and Theresa E., her laughter bright as the clink of glasses in a quiet café.Moore Gallery showcases decorative arts-from the smooth glaze of hand-thrown ceramics to gleaming glassware, finely crafted furniture, and richly woven textiles-each piece revealing skill and style from different eras.Trees Collection: This selection showcases European and American paintings, tracing artistic and historical movements from the Renaissance to the early 1900s, from gilded altarpieces to sunlit Impressionist streets.Each year, KAM puts on six to ten special exhibitions-sometimes filling the gallery walls with vivid, freshly painted canvases.These exhibitions showcase celebrated artists from across the country and around the world, delving into themes, media, and historical moments as varied as a charcoal sketch beside a gleaming bronze sculpture.Recent and upcoming exhibitions include *Elizabeth Catlett’s Three Women of America: Art and Social Change*, running October 5, 2024, through March 23, 2025, and spotlighting the bold, textured work of Catlett-an African American artist who uses her art to confront social justice issues and explore African American identity.“Making Place for the Arts at Home: Performance and Midcentury Modern Architecture,” running from January 30 to July 12, 2025, invites visitors to explore how midcentury homes became stages for the performing arts, from a piano tucked beside a sunlit window to living rooms opened for intimate theater.The museum offers galleries, classrooms, and welcoming public spaces, all built to host everything from bold art exhibitions to lively neighborhood gatherings, with light spilling across polished wooden floors.Right now, the Kinkead Pavilion-a gallery and event space-is shut for renovations, with fresh paint and new lighting on the way, and it’s set to open again in fall 2025.Even so, the main galleries stay open, and you can wander through them without a single rope blocking your way.KAM is passionate about connecting with the community through a lively mix of educational programs-think artist talks where you catch the spark in a painter’s eye, panel discussions that dive deep into exhibition themes, public lectures from scholars and curators, hands-on workshops for families, and performances that weave seamlessly into the visual arts on display.Each event is crafted to enrich your visit, spark conversations about art, and open doors to learning for both university students and the public.The Krannert Art Museum isn’t just a place to store paintings-it’s a lively hub where art, learning, and community meet, often over the warm glow of afternoon light spilling through its gallery windows.Free admission shows exactly what it’s about-opening the doors so anyone can step in and experience the art.The museum champions research, fosters learning, and celebrates a rich tapestry of artistic traditions, offering scholars, artists, students, and curious visitors a place to explore and be inspired, whether by a quiet sketch or a bold canvas.You can reach the Krannert Art Museum at 500 East Peabody Drive in Champaign, Illinois, or call 217‑333‑1861 for the automated line.Step inside and you’ll find a place alive with art-where people come to learn, share, and connect over creative works.With its vast collections, lively exhibitions, and diverse programs-from hands-on workshops to evening gallery tours-it’s a cultural stop you won’t want to miss in Champaign-Urbana.
