Welcome to the Wichita Art Museum, a dynamic cultural hub located in the Museums on the River District near Downtown Wichita. Our mission is to connect people, ideas, and American art through remarkable experiences. With a permanent collection showcasing over 10,000 artworks, spanning historical to contemporary pieces, celebrating the essence of American artistic heritage. Notable artists featured include Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, and Louise Nevelson.

Explore diverse exhibitions, engage in thought-provoking programs designed for adults, and enjoy family-friendly activities. Connect with Wichita’s cultural scene through unique art experiences. Whether you prefer contemporary or classic art, WAM provides a vibrant space for all ages to foster a deeper connection with the arts.

Exhibitions: Explore our prized permanent collection and Special Exhibitions, which bring diverse artworks to the region, extending the museum’s cultural impact.

Guided and Self Guided tours: Explore the Wichita Art Museum with a guided or self-guided tour. Discover our collection or special exhibition. Book online for an immersive tour with a WAM guide at the museum.

Programs: WAM’s educational programming offers varied levels of engagement and participation with the core belief that we connect people, ideas, and art through remarkable experiences.

Events: WAM offers a wide variety of events for each age group and interest. From artist talks and creativity workshops to lively parties and cultural experiences.

WAM Nights: Join us on Fridays until 9 pm for WAM Nights, featuring after-hours access to galleries, special programs, and a chance to experience art in a new way.

PLAY: Visit PLAY, a vibrant drop-in space for visitors of all ages. Engage in rotating activities that support creative play and connect to works of art in the collection.

Museum Store: Don’t miss our Museum Store, where your purchases contribute to supporting WAM’s educational programs and events. Join us on this artistic journey, where every visit is an opportunity to explore, create, and connect.

Art Garden: Experience our Art Garden, accessible 24/7, transformed into a lush oasis along the Little Arkansas River. With over 100 new trees, 600 shrubs, and 20,000 perennials, the garden melds art and nature for a breathtaking landscape.

Wichita Art Museum – where every visit is an invitation to discover, create, and connect with the vibrant world of art. Plan your visit today and see you at WAM!

The Wichita Art Museum opened in 1935 and is home to the Roland P. Murdock Collection, one of the premier collections of American art. With a nationally distinguished collection, an Edward Larrabee Barnes- designed facility, and a growing audience, the museum is a public/private partnership, owned by the City of Wichita and managed by Wichita Art Museum, Inc. The Wichita Art Museum connects people, ideas, and art through remarkable experiences. 

The Wichita Art Museum, founded in 1935, has a distinguished history in South Central Kansas and the Midwest.

The bequest of Louise Caldwell Murdock and subsequent establishment of the Roland P. Murdock Collection forms the initial impetus for the museum. Mrs. Murdock’s will, written in 1915, specified that the income from her estate, following the death of her closest relatives, should be used for the purchase of art for the City of Wichita—a collection named in memory of her late husband, Roland, who was the younger brother of Wichita Eagle founder Marshall M. Murdock and business manager of the family-owned newspaper. From 1939 to 1962, Mrs. Elizabeth Stubblefield Navas, Mrs. Murdock’s friend and business associate, selected works of American art for the museum. Now 10,000 strong, the prized collection emphasizes American art and is nationally recognized for its distinction.

Louise Caldwell Murdock (1857–1915) was an American interior designer and architect. Her family moved from New York to Wichita in 1871, where her father, J.E. Caldwell, opened a Queensware store on North Main Street. In 1877, she married Roland Pierpont Murdock and together they founded the Twentieth Century Club in Wichita in 1899. Louise served as its president until 1906. Following her husband’s death in 1906, she studied interior design in New York City with Frank Alvah Parsons. Returning to Wichita, she designed and built the Caldwell Murdock building on East Douglas, which became the city’s tallest at seven floors.

In 1915, Louise Murdock dedicated herself to ensuring her hometown would have an art museum, generously donating her family fortune to acquire a “significant collection” of American art. Entrusting her friend and professional colleague, Elizabeth Stubblefield Navas, with the task of assembling the art collection, the two women left an indelible mark on Wichita and the surrounding region, a legacy that endures to this day.

The Wichita Art Museum connects people, ideas, and art through remarkable experiences.

VISION:
To be an essential cultural leader in a thriving region, fostering creativity, joy, and belonging.

VALUES:
• Our welcome is real. All people have a place at WAM as we strive to be an organization of authentic kindness, joy, access, and inclusion.

• Our community is our guide. Nothing happens without collaboration and true partnership with our community.

• We aim high. We dare to deliver breathtaking art and experiences that spark creativity, conversation, and empathy.

• We care for our people. We respect the talent that powers our organization and promote a positive, problem-solving work environment.