Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

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Leedy-Voulkos Art Center The Heart of the Kansas City Crossroads Arts District | Est. 1985 | Come join the fun and support local artists!
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MISSION & VISION
Founded in 1985 by Jim Leedy, with the vision of initiating a permanent and thriving art community in Kansas City; the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center's mission is to profile world class artwork by Kansas City's creative community of painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, designers, printmakers, craftsmen and more. For the past 30 years, we've continued the founder's legacy of sharing professional resources with developing artists to help leverage their exposure during monthly First Friday openings. We exhibit compelling shows of international, national, and regional artist, but our main focus is to provide a venue to support students and local artists in order to retain Kansas City's talented creatives. FIRST FRIDAYS
On the first Friday of every month, the majority of galleries and retailers open their doors free of charge to the public to debut new exhibitions or showcase new products. This "block party" draws thousands of visitors through the area in one evening. In the warmer months, gallery-goers can be dazzled by street performers, dine from a food truck, and enjoy live music in the streets. We're open from 6pm-9pm every First FRiday of every month throught the year. For more information, please visit the
Crossroads Community Association
WWW.KCCROSSROADS.ORG

10/23/2026

Jim Leedy wore this denim jacket for decades. Over the years, students, artists, friends, colleagues, and even strangers gave him hundreds of buttons, pins, and patches. Each addition represents a connection to someone or something in Jim’s life and offers a glimpse into the community he helped build.

Did you ever give Jim a button or pin for his jacket? We’d love to hear about it!

Here’s a question for everyone: How many items do you think are on this jacket? Reply to this email or leave your guess on our Instagram post by 1:30 PM on Friday, October 30.

The person whose guess is closest to the actual number of items on the jacket will win a Leedy Foundation T-shirt! We’ll announce the winner shortly after the guessing closes.

Join us in person for Leedy Foundation Friday with D2 Research on Friday, October 30, from 1–2 PM at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. Stop by to see Jim’s jacket up close. You may even recognize a button or two!

HELP KEEP THE LEGACY GOING

The Leedy Foundation is preserving Jim Leedy’s work and the history of the artists, Crossroads, and community he helped nurture.

You can help by visiting LVAC, sharing our posts, supporting artists, making a donation, or learning more about Jim’s life and work on the Foundation website.

Every bit of support helps keep this history alive.

Life is Fleeting. Art Endures.

10/17/2026

Meet the Artist: Jeremy Fish "On the Road of Dreams"
TODAY | Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, 2012 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA

Join us Saturday, October 17th, 11 am-4:30 pm at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center for a special opportunity to meet San Francisco-based artist Jeremy Fish during his Route 66 road trip and exhibition, On the Road of Dreams.

Free & open to the public. See you there!

What Quilts Carry: Artists in ConversationJoin us on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 2 PM, for a conversation with arti...
10/17/2026

What Quilts Carry: Artists in Conversation

Join us on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 2 PM, for a conversation with artists from What Quilts Carry about quilting, shared foundations, and the lasting influence of KCAI’s quilting tradition. Moderated by Kim Eichler-Messmer, followed by audience Q&A.

Free & open to the public. See you there!

Leedy Foundation FridayA glimpse into Jim Leedy’s artistic process in the mid-1970s.This photograph was taken on the gro...
10/16/2026

Leedy Foundation Friday

A glimpse into Jim Leedy’s artistic process in the mid-1970s.

This photograph was taken on the grounds of the Kansas City Art Institute, where Jim taught, in front of the dorms. Look closely at the surface of the piece, and you can see a mold of Jim’s face. He also used found objects to make impressions in the clay, leaving behind traces of both himself and the materials around him.

As we continue documenting Jim’s life and artistic legacy, these photographs, artworks, and family keepsakes help bring his story into focus, one piece of history at a time.

HELP KEEP THE LEGACY GOING

Preserving Jim Leedy’s work also means preserving the artists, the Crossroads, and the community he helped nurture.

The Leedy Foundation is researching, documenting, archiving, and sharing this history for future generations.

There are many ways you can help:

❤️ Share this post
❤️ Visit Leedy-Voulkos Art Center and bring a friend
❤️ Buy a piece of art
❤️ Make a donation
❤️ Help spread the word about Jim Leedy and LeedyVille
❤️ Visit the Foundation website to learn more about Jim’s life and work

Every visit, purchase, donation, and share helps keep this history alive.

Life is Fleeting. Art Endures.

Rodrigo Alvarez | Isaac Tapia | Cesar Velez ARCHIVED ALCHEMYOctober 2 - November 21, 2026Front Gallery ARTIST TALK | S...
10/16/2026

Rodrigo Alvarez | Isaac Tapia | Cesar Velez

ARCHIVED ALCHEMY

October 2 - November 21, 2026
Front Gallery

ARTIST TALK | Saturday November, 14th, 2026 | 1-2pm

RSVP Online

Alchemy was the ancient science and speculative philosophy devoted to turning lesser metals into gold, curing disease, and prolonging life. A migratory practice, it spanned continents and centuries. Studied in China, India, Greece and Egypt, it reached Europe in the 12th century through Arabic texts translated into Latin. Alchemists were sincerely trying to understand the world with the tools available to them, and their experiments gave rise to pharmacology and modern chemistry.

The works in this exhibition are a modern form of alchemy. Working from personal experience, interviews and memory, the artists have used the tools available to them to create a body of work that archives a migrating history rooted in selfless sacrifice, beauty and resilience. To these artists, the retelling and preservation of these undocumented stories holds the key to prolonging life, curing traumas, and has more value than gold itself. They invite you to experience this exhibition of American history with an open mind and an open heart.

Megan Karson In ResidenceSeptember 4 - November 21, 2026Opie Gallery​Two months, two seasons, two coasts. This collectio...
10/16/2026

Megan Karson
In Residence
September 4 - November 21, 2026
Opie Gallery​

Two months, two seasons, two coasts.

This collection of photographs was made using the wet plate collodion process, one of the earliest forms of photography dating back to the 1850s. Handmade on sheets of metal and glass, these images were created during two month long artist residencies, one on an island in Washington in the spring, and another in the woods of Maine in the late fall. Each of these residencies allowed for intentional and intimate study of the local ecosystems, resulting in a visual storytelling map of the similarities and differences of these two environments.

Artwork is available for purchase:
• 18 x 22 inch framed prints: $600
• 18 x 40 inch framed prints: $1,000

Visit LVAC and browse the entire exhibition catalog online to pick out yours today!

10/15/2026

Meet the Artist: Jeremy Fish

On the Road of Dreams

Saturday, October 17 | 11 AM–4:30 PM

Join us at Leedy-Voulkos Art Center for a special opportunity to meet San Francisco-based artist Jeremy Fish during his Route 66 road trip and exhibition, On the Road of Dreams.

A road trip across Route 66 from West to East in a 1987 Toyota Corolla named the Golden Eagle. This San Francisco based artist is taking a whimsical and nostalgic look at transportation and some imaginary vehicles with this collection of new screen printed artwork. These 20 signed and numbered print editions were drawn and printed specifically for this series of six art exhibitions along (or near) Route 66 in the fall of 2026. The prints range from pop cultural influences to the history of transportation. From horse drawn wagons, to the current self driving car invasion. A celebration of the classic American road trip on The Mother Road during her centenarian anniversary in a sweet old Japanese car.

All 18 × 18 inch prints are $100 each or 3 for $200.

Stop by anytime between 11 AM and 4:30 PM to meet Jeremy Fish , see the exhibition, and celebrate the centennial of the Mother Road.

10/15/2026

Static Bloom | Art Collective

Featuring the work of
Stuart Asprey | Jason Cytacki | Robert Dohrmann

August 7–October 30, 2026
Back Gallery

Static Bloom brings together three artists exploring American culture through material, image, and narrative. Through ceramics, painting, and sculpture, their work considers myth, memory, consumption, humor, and the everyday objects and images that shape our understanding of American life.

Stop by to see the full exhibition and visit our website to learn more. For purchase inquiries, please message us.

10/13/2026

Kim Eichler-Messmer
What Quilts Carry: Eighteen Years of Quilting at KCAI
September 4 - December 5, 2026
Main Gallery

Today we’re highlighting Lexie Abra Millikan.

Stop by to see the full exhibition and visit our website to learn more.

RSVP to Artists in Conversation Event
Saturday, October 17th at 2pm.

10/13/2026

Rodrigo Alvarez, Isaac Tapia, and Cesar Velez
ARCHIVED ALCHEMY
October 2 - November 21, 2026
Front Gallery

Artwork Credit:
Isaac Tapia

Artist Talk | Saturday, November 14th | 1-2pm
RSVP Online

Address

2012 Baltimore
Kansas City, MO
64108

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+18164741919

Website

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