Illumination

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Illumination
Illumination
Kris Ercums, curator
Gallery 407, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

This exhibition explores the concept of illumination, both as light and knowledge. By contrasting works associated with light and those conjuring darkness, Illumination seeks to expand awareness about the hidden and obscured.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Raqs Media Collective (founded 1992), रात दिन दिन रात (Rāta-Dina, Dina- Rāta) Night & Day, Day & Night
रात दिन दिन रात (Rāta-Dina, Dina- Rāta) Night & Day, Day & Night
Raqs Media Collective
2015
U Sunok (1958–2023), The Moon
The Moon
U Sunok
2006–2011
Luis Alfonso Jimenez (1940–2006), Howl
Howl
Luis Alfonso Jimenez
1986
Frederick John Eversley (1941–2025), Pale Lens
Pale Lens
Frederick John Eversley
1970
Bruce Beasley (born 1939), Tigibus
Tigibus
Bruce Beasley
1968
Lisa Grossman (born 1967), Navigating
Navigating
Lisa Grossman
2018
Jacopo Palma il Giovane (circa 1548–1628), Christ in Gethsemane
Christ in Gethsemane
Jacopo Palma il Giovane
circa 1590–1605
Ernst Prophète (born 1950, active 1960s–present), but...I dreamt
but...I dreamt
Ernst Prophète
circa 1975
Jane Bunker (born 1945), Genesis
Genesis
Jane Bunker
2005
Gustave Courbet (1819–1877), Soleil Couchant, Marine
Soleil Couchant, Marine
Gustave Courbet
1865 or 1869
Jim Dine (born 1935), Two Boys Looking
Two Boys Looking
Jim Dine
2006
Franz Ludwig Catel (1778–1856), Nuns in the Certosa Cloister, overlooking a Moonlit Sea towards the Faraglioni, Capri
Nuns in the Certosa Cloister, overlooking a Moonlit Sea towards the Faraglioni, Capri
Franz Ludwig Catel
circa 1823
Richard Lindner (1901–1978), untitled
untitled
Richard Lindner
1956
Penius Leriche (born 1940), Woman Leading a Blind Man
Woman Leading a Blind Man
Penius Leriche
circa 1970
Meissen Porcelain Factory (active 1710–present), Blindfolded Cupid
Blindfolded Cupid
Meissen Porcelain Factory
1800s
Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902), Sunset on the Plains
Sunset on the Plains
Albert Bierstadt
circa 1887
Rombout van Troyen (1605–1656), The Burning of Troy
The Burning of Troy
Rombout van Troyen
early 1600s–mid 1600s
fireplace grill
fireplace grill
1500s
Elihu Vedder (1836–1923); Chelsea Tile Works, Soul of the Sunflower
Soul of the Sunflower
Elihu Vedder, Chelsea Tile Works
1882
The Annunciation roundel
The Annunciation roundel
circa 1500
Judith holding the head of Holofernes
Judith holding the head of Holofernes
1563
Cenni di Francesco di Ser Cenni (active 1369–1415), Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
Cenni di Francesco di Ser Cenni
circa 1410–1415
Ward Lockwood (1894–1963), The Possessors
The Possessors
Ward Lockwood
circa 1960
Sassetta (circa 1400–1450), Madonna and Child with Saints
Madonna and Child with Saints
Sassetta
late 1400s
Beatrice Wood (1893–1998), chalice
chalice
Beatrice Wood
1982
Philip James de Loutherbourg (1740–1812), A Shipwreck
A Shipwreck
Philip James de Loutherbourg
circa 1770
Eric Pape (1870–1938), Sun Dappled Entrance, Egypt
Sun Dappled Entrance, Egypt
Eric Pape
1891
Carl Spitzweg (1808–1885), Moonlit Scene with Castle Ruins
Moonlit Scene with Castle Ruins
Carl Spitzweg
mid-late 1800s
Albert Y. Wong (born 1947), untitled
untitled
Albert Y. Wong
1974
Claude Buck (1890–1974), The Conqueror Worm
The Conqueror Worm
Claude Buck
1920
William Fleming (active 1940s–1950s), We Who Are About to Die
We Who Are About to Die
William Fleming
1946
Frederick Stuart Church (1842–1924), Blossom and Decay
Blossom and Decay
Frederick Stuart Church
1880s
Taro Izumi (born 1976), Napoléon
Napoléon
Taro Izumi
2009
Lilly Martin Spencer (1822–1902), Baby Chicks
Baby Chicks
Lilly Martin Spencer
1886
Irene Tsosie, sand painting depicting sun and eagle
sand painting depicting sun and eagle
Irene Tsosie
late 1900s–1994
Giovanni Battista Crosato (circa 1697–1758), Christ Brought Before Pilate
Christ Brought Before Pilate
Giovanni Battista Crosato
circa 1720–1730
Neha Choksi (born 1973), Iceboat
Iceboat
Neha Choksi
2012–2013
Nuremberg armorial stained glass roundel
Nuremberg armorial stained glass roundel
1564
landsknecht (mercenary soldier)
landsknecht (mercenary soldier)
circa 1600
Artist Unknown, Optometrist sign
Optometrist sign
Artist Unknown
circa 1910
Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823–1880), Morning in the Adirondacks
Morning in the Adirondacks
Sanford Robinson Gifford
1867
standing warrior holding a lance
standing warrior holding a lance
circa 1700
Ellen Lanyon (1926–2013), Poyet Projection
Poyet Projection
Ellen Lanyon
2000
Kuwata Takurō (born 1981), 茶碗 chawan (tea bowl)
茶碗 chawan (tea bowl)
Kuwata Takurō
2017
Wu Chi-Tsung (born 1981), Still Life 02 - Orchid
Still Life 02 - Orchid
Wu Chi-Tsung
2009

Events

January 21, 2023
Activity
Illuminating Warmth
1:00–4:00PM
Spencer Musem of Art, Kress Gallery, 409 Lee Study Center
February 19, 2023
Talk
Night & Day, Day & Night
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
June 22, 2023
Talk
Prairie/Prairie River
10:15–11:00AM
Spencer Museum of Art, 409 Lee Study Center
June 24, 2023
Activity
Medieval Times
1:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
October 29, 2023
Talk
The Conqueror Worm
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
October 29, 2023
Activity
The Conqueror Worm
3:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
February 29, 2024
Performance
Displacement and Identity: The Faces of Odysseus
5:30–7:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art
June 24, 2024
Activity
Imaginarium: Art Adventure @ KU’s Spencer Museum of Art
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 401 Loo Gallery, 405 Gallery, 406 Stewart Gallery, 407 Kress Gallery
September 8, 2024
Talk
Pale Lens
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
September 12, 2024
Social
Representation, Physical Expression, and Human Connection
4:00–6:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 1301 Mississippi St
October 20, 2024
Talk
The Conqueror Worm
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 407 Kress Gallery
December 19, 2024
Activity
Hearth and Home
3:00–4:00PM
December 19, 2024
Activity
Hearth and Home
5:30–6:30PM
April 27, 2025
Talk
We Who Are About to Die
2:00–3:00PM