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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Wed. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
39 reviews for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
FREE! A world class art museum that is FREE!
It's HUGE. They have beautiful grounds with sculptures all over. It makes us want to come there and picnic sometime.
Most of their artwork is PRISTINE! You can find artwork from the 1600's that looks like someone commissioned the piece of art last year. Everything is bright and has clean lines. I loved the portraits, British pieces, modern art (yes I typically hate modern art), etc.
We plan to come back. We only saw about 1/4 of the museum. Were there many famous pieces? Perhaps not, but it was amazing art nonetheless and I appreciated it. I'd love to have some of these pieces hanging in our home.
The architecture of the buildings are art themselves. The old wings and the new wings as well as the grounds. Check it out at night. It glows! The reflecting pool is nice as well.
Parking is not free, but inexpensive garage parking.
The art or architecture? I'm not sure which one is more outstanding.
Things that are great:
There's a little of everything for everyone in terms of artwork.
Modern art is very hit or miss. The new wing mostly has art that's a hit.
Noguchi art display in the new wing.
Foodcourt is in a stunning courtyard in the middle of the old wing.
Larger than life shuttlecocks that won't strike fear into the hearts of badminton haters.
Rainy days are easily forgotten while roaming around for hours.
It's free! How can you beat that?
For my first trip to KC, I decided that this would be my first stop. It did not disappoint. Who would have thunk it? A world class museum right in the heart of KC! Brilliant!
The real star of this place is the Asian art collection. Truthfully I am not a big fan of Asian Art and often skip it when going to a museum but man this place was impressive. It's probably one of the best collections I have ever seen.
I am a big fan of Impressionist art and while this is not the Art Institute of Chicago or anything, the collection is not too bad.
The interior of the museum is quite impressive too. It makes me feel like I'm in Spain. There is a nice courtyard off to the left of the foyer where you can take a nice rest from museum seeing and have a drink.
The new Bloch building is nice too although the art collection is a little underwhelming. Although there is a statue of guard in there that I actually thought was a guard. Kinda creepy.
One of the best art museums in the country.
I have been to the Nelson before, ages ago, but I had never been to the Bloch building.
I was blown away. It wasn't just the art that was housed inside, but the building itself that really caught my eye. Everywhere you turn there is an interesting view down a splintered corridor, or up towards a ceiling with loads of natural light streaming in.
And then there were the exhibits. I was impressed by their special exhibit they had called "Art in the Age of Steam" which focused on art that had rail travel as a theme. It spanned all medias and all ages.
I can't say enough about this museum. It is a wonderful part of Kansas City, and when you are done touring around the Bloch, make sure you walk around the Sculpture Garden.
Spend a day. A true jewel for the Midwest and the metropolitan area. Location is somewhat isolated from urban amenities, but is within a few blocks from the Country Club Plaza and has many city bus stops near it. On a nice day...walk from the Plaza to the Scuplture Garden and enjoy one of the Kansas City's most pleasant park settings. Park on Oak and avoid paying for the garage.
Steven Holl went OFF with the Bloch building Wow...interiors can be breathtaking and give you goosebumps. Contemporary works in the galleries now just jump out at you. The Warhol, the Judd, the Nevelson, the de Kooning, the David Smith sculptures. The Bloch building is an attraction itself without thinking about everything else in the rest of the campus-like environment. Asian galleries are inspiring and filled with many incredible Buddhist pieces.
The Nelson is FREE. Yes, this museum which is a treasure-- I could spend days and days in here and not get bored-- is free and open to the public. This is, by far, one of the best cultural attractions in the region.
I can't believe it took me 6 months to make it here, but this place really impressed me.
really, i just wanted somewhere to walk outdoors on this gorgeous day and remembered the sculpture garden at the nelson. what a good idea! i made my way inside to use the toilet and got sidetracked by dadaism, french impressionists, ceramics and beautiful architecture in the building. about an hour later, i walked around the garden. really, really nice. i loved all the students on the grass hanging out, dogs playing and eventually a flag football team showing up. really made a sense of community that i felt was missing here in kc.
I don't think a lot of KC natives realize how amazing this museum is. The Asian art collection is one of the best in the country and I love the courtyard and sculptures. The museum and it's surroundings are very inspiring and if there is any place to visit while in Kansas City, it's the Nelson.
I absolutely love this place. I keep on saying to everyone that this place is the only thing keeping me alive in KC and seriously that statement has been true thus far.
The collection is impressive to say the least. I have no idea how they can maintain this awsome building, art collection, parking garage, and employees yet make it free to the public. It's better than any museum in SF or LA (minus the Ghetty of course) and yet it lacks visitors... I don't mind it though, I like empty museums and hearing my heels clink through out the musuem.
Sculpture garden is awsome... I love their signature birdie (don't know the proper name) and I'd love to have a picnic by it some day as soon as it stops raining and thuderstorms go away for good. Irregardless even in the rain, it's fun to walk around and admire the sculptures outdoors.
Parking is $5 and is worth it when it's raining but you can also find plenty of free parking on the street as well. If I had any plans to stay in KC longer, I'd definitely become a member for just $60 a year.
Thank you Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for making my stay in KC worthwhile and providing only form of educational entertainment here in Missouri.
Oh, and their guest services lady is super curteous and helpful. It makes me want to volunteer here just for fun.
This has always been ones of the finest art galleries in the whole country. It is easily up there with the National Gallery in DC (one of my other favorite galleries). It was always a great place with an amazing collection spanning the history of art.
Then Steven Holl came along. He totally transformed the museum for the better, and Kansas City is better because of it. Now the collection is split between pre-modern (and I guess a little early modern) in the pre-modern building, and modern to contemporary in the modern building...Duh! The classic building is beautiful, solid, and heavy with it's extensive use of marble and stone. The addition is light-filled, airy, and porous with its multiple entries. The intimate galleries are calm and not over cluttered, letting the pieces take your attention. Then, look up! The soaring curved ceilings bring the light in from the sky lights and distribute it through the subterranean spaces. No two rooms are alike!
One trip is never enough. The collection is so vast that if you take time to read about every piece (the descriptions are very informative and well written) you will never get out of there in a day. That's ok...they change out the art every few months (at least some of the pieces in the addition) and the experience changes depending on the time of day, the season, and the weather conditions.
Then there is the whole sculpture park. What a pleasant place to spend an afternoon! Henry Moore sculptures along with gigantic pop art shuttlecocks make for an interesting mix. Don't forget to weave your way through the green roofs that cover the new addition.
Also, don't forget to see it aglow at night!
Truly the best thing in Kansas City, maybe the Midwest (barring Chicago)
This museum is absolutely gorgeous and filled with amazing amount of art. You could easily spend a day here wandering from gallery to gallery. The sculpture garden has a large amount of Henry Moore pieces and is a nice place to take a stroll or have a picnic. A must-see for visitors to the KC area.
This is my favorite museum. I have been going there for many years and I am always impressed. This is a must see in Kansas city. Eating in the indoor courtyard is a true treat. For all the people who think kc has little to offer, you need to visit. This is a spectacular museum. The summer camps are great for kids.
I can not say enough about this fine gallery. I roamed the halls here as a child for hours on end and spent many hours smoking pot out by the Volker Fountain in the late 60s (statue has run, right?). I love the way they have managed to add the new wing and keep the older building in tact. My friends in California look at me like I'm nuts when I rave about an art gallery in Kansas City, but I would recommend a trip to KC JUST FOR a visit here. Fine Chinese collection, outstanding impressionists, the shuttle cocks on the lawn, and that amazing temple. And, there is NO admission fee. Not quite sure how they manage that, but it is a wonderful thing. Our docent commented that with all the schools in the area, the management hopes that a student walking by may need to drop in just to use the restroom, but will become interested enough to check the place out. This is a wonderful, wonderful place with amazing programs and a fantastic collection that was amassed by one of the finest eyes in the business. Good thing I'm not religious, the thoughts I had looking at the Caravaggio could damn me to hell. Seriously, folks, if you've not been, GO! (And if you have been, go again.) This would be the highlight of any vacation. And I should add that the old Rockhill neighborhood is still quite lovely, too.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2008
Just returned from a trip to Kansas City -- I grew up here and spent a good percentage of my… Read more »
This museum is beautiful, from the art (of course), the building and outside sculptures, and even the store and restaurants inside.
The museum store is always fun to look at because it has local jewelry and artwork, as well as books and other knickknacks that make great birthday or Christmas presents for the 'artistic' people in your life. They have 2 restaurants, but I have only been to the cafe. It had a more casual feel, with open cafeteria style seating and pretty simple food. They have a happy hour every Thursday from 6-8 with cheap tapas ($5 for 3 selections). There is a fun crowd that goes; a good networking base if you are in the art/museum/cultural world (or even the business world)!
Nelson-Atkins has free admission, which is a definite perk. I like to come here to relax and find inspiration for my writing and just to spend some free time during the weekend.
Growing up I was into art and took tons of art classes (nerd). One of my favorite past-times was going with my mom on Saturday afternoons for free admission to the Nelson.
This place is amazing. I recently spent several hours on a Sunday afternoon roaming the halls by myself. Everything. EVERYTHING you could want to see is there.
The sculpture garden is so fun to walk around in on a nice day. The new Bloch Building has all the modern pieces and it's so cool! My art habits ended in high school but I still love this place and will forever recommend it to anyone visiting KC.
PS The Shuttlecocks are so fun to play around!
I visited Nelson-Atkins pretty soon after moving here and talk about the wonderful impression it gave me. KC truly has a gem with this museum. I was in a state of awe walking in and out of rooms and halls full of beautiful sculptures and art pieces from every corner of the earth. At my visit I had a limited amount of time and can see myself spending an entire day taking everything in next visit!
I'll give it five stars for the area. I grew up next door and have been there dozens of times. This is a fantastic gallery. It is weak as far as modern art goes. It is very, very strong in Impressionism, but besides that the modern collection is weak (compared to the level of art in the rest of the gallery), excepting the Henry Moore work that they have and some decent pop art. By and large, they have a modern collection that represents artists and gernres rather than having some of the best work.The oreinetal collection is fantastic. I got an art history degree at KU, about 30 miles to the west, and there werer Asian students coming to Kansas to study their native art because the collection at the Nelson was so good. Wow. The buildings are very nice (I like the old one, I grew up in it). This is as cosmo as KC gets. I like the LACMA, Chicago AI, -and of course the Louvre and some others better. But the Nelson Atkins is way up there.
Go to the plaza (shopping/restaraunt district a few blocks west on 47th - done in the Spanish architectural style of Seville) and the Nelson in one shot and you've seen a lot of the culture in KC. Also the Kemper Museum just a few blocks to the North has some good modern art ,and the KC Art Institute school is up there also - sometimes they have exhibits you can check out. You can do a day walking the plaza and going in and around the Nelson if you wanna do some struttin'. The Crossroads District is the downtown art scene area and they have a First Fridays art walk. The old cow town is really pretty darn artsy fartsy.
God bless this museum. The worst part about it, is that the people who don't live nearby cannot soak up the great things this place has to offer more often.
When I first moved to the midtown area, I used to kind of drive around the Nelson and think, 'Oh, yea, the museum. I'll go there someday. It'll be good for my brain and stuff.' And life went on. And on. You know the grind, the same-old same-old, wringing out the last bit of happiness from your daily rituals. Sometimes things change, and you get a little umph from the synchonicity of life, but most of the time it's like the movie Office Space (not really, but go with me here).
So because I knew of the great scones at the restaurant inside the museum (what a great combo, better than the gift shop), I forced myself to break my habits and wandered around this place full of pictures and sculptures. It was nothing less than rejuvinating. I mean, most of the stuff I can't understand as far as Baroque period or Dutch rennisance, but I have eyes and can see. The black marble pillars in the main room of the original building themselves made me just in awe for like 10 minutes. Boy, nowhere else in this city will you find actual marble columns. Not even the City Hall, not even the main branch of the public library. Only at the Nelson. And it's black marble. One of the docents told me it was marbled in Italy and shipped here when they built the place in the 30s. Wow. Nothing less than wow.
It's stuff like this that gives you perspective on things. I don't know how it does that, but it's definately not a bad thing. I guess the only caveat is, you have to visit on your own volition, not because someone else told you to (like this review), or because you want to be able to tell people that you've been to the nelson. Go just to go, without a deadline or anywhere to be or do.
In addition, there is a recent addition, which is a modern take on the art collection, and it is quite a building. Full of light and with a lawn on the roof, it is a great box for art. I haven't fully explored it, but they are showing a lot a great stuff, both new and old (they had a collection of Renoir recently).
Great place. We are lucky to have it in KC.
This is one of my favorite places in the city, and it is FREE for goodness sake!!! So,we explore often -sometimes for short visits, sometimes longer. It seems there is always something new to discover here.
I can't add much beyond what has been said. I just wanted all to be aware of my favorite exhibit...the Chinese Temple Gallery on the second floor. The Seated Guanyin Bodhisattva is one of my very, very favorite pieces of art ever. Check it out.
My wife and I are big fans of all kinds of art, and we love visiting this museum whenever we have the chance.
The collection that is here is very good, crossing many eras. They also recently added new building that houses the more modern contemporary art, which was quite good as well.
Besides the art collection being top notch, if you like to see older "marble everywhere" buildings that feel very elite and regal, this is an amazing building to walk around.
One of the best art museums in the country - and I've been to many in San Francisco, Denver, and Chicago as well.
I love the Nelson! The staff are full of wisdom and a willingness to show you the ropes. And the grounds are just as beautiful as the works on the inside. I come here for inspiration sometimes...that probably sounds corny but it's true. Oh ahd PS don't touch the Birdies...we had to learn the hard way.
This is the museum that other museums want to be when they grow up.
Seriously, if you're into classical type stuff, then this is it. Now me, I can take or leave modern art... preferably leave it. So when I look at all those cool old paintings of horrible things happening to religious people or European aristocrats and some such, I feel inspired. They have great pieces of Asian works, too.
I can't believe in Atlanta they charge you to go to their craptastic museum. This place is free! And awesome! Five effin' stars!
I love the Nelson-Atkins. I've been a member for awhile. Excellent Gallery the collection is second only to Chicago art institute in the Midwest. Don't compare this to the Louvre or the Met. They have a great collection of impressionist paintings. It's a beautiful facility just to wander around the grounds and the trademark shuttlecocks.
A few words on the new monstrosity of an addition to house contemporary art. I'll get to contemporary art later. The Nelson-Atkins is a beautiful building of great stature and pride. A historic piece of Kansas City architecture to be defiled by the large white square Home Depot-ish building placed on the East side of the campus. In someone's zeal to make a name for themselves they have built this eyesore to house the art of those who were less talented at art than marketing themselves. Contemporary art has it's place, don't get me wrong, on the Western wing of the third floor where people rarely venture. Ok, that was wrong. I really like some. There were some real giants in the field. I dislike when sloppy painting is pushed off as as vision and accepted as contemporary art in the local gallery and art school, that's all.
There is something for everyone here. The older building houses what you would expect in an art museum. The Bloch building is its hipper side where you can find the modern and contemporary art and any special exhibitions. The outdoor sculpture garden is really cool. The shuttlecocks are a welcome break from the formality of Nelson-Atkins building. I am also a Henry Moore fan, so I was glad to see some of his work.
Some good things to know - if you are a member, you get to park in the garage for free, plus you get a museum discount. I am actually a reciprocal member (my main membership is at SDMA), so I had all the privs of a member. I'll definitely be back to explore the museum further the next time in KC.
I grew up going to the Nelson with great frequency, but hadn't been back for several years. Driving by today and seeing those familiar giant shuttlecocks on the lawn had me demanding an afternoon at the museum from my parentals. The new Bloch Building is amazing from an architectural standpoint, and I was so glad to still see Henry Moore sculptures flanking the gardens. It blows my mind that admission remains free. You'd better be making donations when you come, else I'll hunt ye down and clobber you.
The Nelson is a great place to look at art, with something for virtually everyone. Their collection ranges from classical antiquities to modern art, and if you're interested in Asian and Indian art, you're in luck. Some of my favorite pieces include a great Caravaggio portrait of a young and brooding St. John the Baptist, a mesmerizing landscape by George Inness, and of course the giant shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenberg, which lie scattered around the museum grounds like leftovers from a badmitton match of the gods.
While you're there don't neglect your stomach! Take a load off and grab a bite at the Rozzelle Court restaurant. The food is ok, but the atmosphere, on the other hand, is totally charming. Once you step inside you'll swear you're in an Italian courtyard.
I sure wish I would have had more time. I get so little free time when I travel for work and with this museum I could have hung out in for hours. The collections were amazing ranging from comtemporary, to photography, to classical baroque, and impressionism, to ancient art. I was very pleased, but what really makes the museum even better is the architecture. The museum is split in to 2 sections or buildings. There's the Bloch building that exhibits contemporary art, photography and African art. Its a slender, long building that connects the eastern end to the original building which is a neoclassic structure. The contrast of the two buildings is stricking. I loved them both for different reasons, but where I found myself sitting at the end of my visit was in the beautiful classic courtyard on the second floor where I had a wonderful latte from the small cafe located there. I was very happy I took the time to see the gallery before my long flight back to Seattle... and I was terribly sick that day. So this was definately worth the effort.
In protest to this Jonathan S., I believe the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to be much better than i expected an art museum of Kansas City to be. Of course in comparison to larger cities like L.A., Boston, San Francisco, or areas or Europe, The Nelson-Atkins pales a bit, however, the works housed here are pretty impressive as a whole.
Also, if I had to chose, I would much rather visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum than the Kemper.
This is *the* place to take out-of-towners. The Nelson easily rates as one of the best art museums in the region, and their collection of Chinese scroll paintings is regarded as one of the best in the country. While some of the collections are small, the pieces are all well selected and representative of each particular style and era. You could potentially spend all day here and not see everything.
Admission is free, but special exhibitions will cost you. The food leans on the pricey side, but it's all high quality ala carte and cafeteria style. I recommend eating in the Rozelle Court for the atmosphere. While I have some minor reservations regarding the interior layout of the Bloch building, it is a wonderful piece of architecture that opens the museum up in an interesting, positive way. If you have a spare afternoon, I'd suggest taking a walk through the sculpture park. It's a great fusion of traditional formal landscape and modern art and oh-so relaxing.
There's nothing better than waking up in the early afternoon after a long night of brutally rough drunkeness and deciding to go to the art museum. I was hungover, supremely sore, and still sleepy when I threw on my chinelas and kinda got drug to the museum. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, but I'm so glad I did. I spent three hours there and it wasn't enough. I didn't even notice how bad my feet ached until I left. It's a beautiful place, and not difficult to manipulate even when still half-drunk with a hangover. Awesome. I must go there many times. Hopefully, sans hangover.
As a kid growing up in the metro, the Nelson was for school field trips and Girl Scout outings. Now that I'm making my own plans, this is a perpetual hit! The free admission - I know, can you believe it?!?! - means I can gather friends and family without worrying about who can afford it. The new Bloch building is even better in person than the pictures I've seen in magazine articles.
My son and very-best-travelling-buddy, who is 9 years old, very much enjoyed the museum. He wasn't so hip on the "art on the wall," but liked the artifacts, the cloister, and the temple room. And the big Buddha is still there! It's hidden in a stairwell behind the Japanese room that doesn't go anywhere, but it's still there.
The staff is always friendly and helpful. My son found a docent who took a liking to him, so he had a personal tour of the Chinese furniture collection on our most recent visit. Anyone who takes care of my kid is high on my list!
This was my second trip to KC but only my first to the museums. I agree with all of the favorable reviews on this site. As a Chicago native, I obviously have a bias towards the Art Institute. But, I have to concede that the Nelson is absolutely first class in its own right. The grounds are immaculate and remniscent of old-fashioned European parks. The outdoor sculptures are whimsical but interesting. And of course, the new contemporary wing breathes new life into an old, elegant building. The architecture alone works to greet visitors, with its nice melding of old and new, light and dark...I thought the exhibits were also beautifully hung and displayed. My favorites included the ancient Chinese art and all of the Wayne Thiebaud! And I was pleasantly surprised by the number of important works this museum has- Monet, Diebenkorn, Rembrandt...as far as I am concerned, not enough people know what a treasure this place is. As a side note, the gift shop was perfect in almost every way, but I do wish that they had regular postcard-sized postcards of the exterior of the museum. The larger ones just didn't suit my needs. I also really appreciated the friendly, enthusiastic service- from the guards, the restaurant personnel and the gift shop staff. Great experience and I will be back!
A classic museum and for some reason a surprise to me to find such a nice collection of art. A great building and grounds. The folks of Kansas City are Lucky to have such a place. My only complaint is the bathrooms eat cell phones. I put mine down to do my business and it disappeared. Must be a ghost.
Actually, the Nelson-Atkins is considered to have a world-class collection. Which, incidentally, none of the museums in LA really do (I should know, I work at one of them). It of course does not compare with the Louvre or any of the flagship museums in the world. It's a smaller museum (not tiny-- if you want to do it right, leave 3 hours or so), but there really isn't anything second-rate about the artwork found here. And, unlike places like the Met or the Chicago Art Institute, the Nelson is free! And those in the know park on the street.
The museum is especially noted for its Asian art holdings, but I love the sculpture garden most. Tons (literally, I'm sure) of Henry Moore bronzes, and of course, the controversial shuttlecocks.
The Nelson's huge acquisition last year of the Hallmark Photography Collection (an awesome collection of American photography--not pictures on greeting cards) should only strengthen the museum's cache.
I grew up taking art classes at the Nelson (incidentally, their children's programming is awesome), so of course I'm biased. But in the years since, I've been around the art block a bit, and the Nelson's nothing to sniff at.
On par with the better art-museums across the country, the new Bloch wing makes the Nelson Atkins a must visit. Beautiful balance between contemporary and ancient with the two parts of their campus. We like taking our toddlin kids there to walk around Saturday mornings...but wish they allowed us to carry our diaper bag with us instead of making us attach it to a stroller.
The Nelson has a great collection, and I love visiting each summer I'm in town. The shuttlecocks are strange and wonderful, and the buildings themselves are beautiful.
In some corners lie guestbooks for anyone to sign, I recall. In one, at the bottom of a page, a friend and I found someone had written "I want to touch your buddhas." We looked at each other in silent agreement. There were indeed a tempting collection of buddhas on display.
Also, admission is free, though donations are accepted (and worth it).
I live a block behind this place and its the crown jewel of Kansas City... I love this place. If you want to go to a museum, eat at a cafe, walk your dog, play foot ball, walk around a huge sculpture garden, or just enjoy the view, this is the place to do it!
The Nelson-Atkins is Great! How anyone could give it less than five stars is beyond me. A selection of Impressionist paintings, Asian, African, middle Eastern art, middle-ages religious paintings, icons, and sculptures, modern and post-modern art, photographic... The new Bloch addition was glowingly reviewed in The New Yorker and elsewhere. The Roselle Court is a very good restaurant in its own right. The Nelson is a great place for a first date, or for a leisurely day of admiring the creative impulse of gifted artists over the last thousand years. Since the Bloch addition, the original museum has been redecorated and reorganized, so it's even better than ever!
This is the only real artsy fartsy place to go in Kansas City, at least where you aren't expected to fork over lots of money and know lots of "artistes." For the region, the selection is superb. This is a proper museum experience, with creepy old people guards that follow you around to make sure you don't spit on the paintings. Their recent addition has some extraordinarily famous photographs and some interesting contemporary art. The only other place is the art museum at KU in Lawrence.
