Spencer Museum of Art — Attraction in Lawrence

There are some notable museums in Lawrence, among them KU's Spencer Museum Of Art with its eclectic and impressive collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Angelo Bronzino, Albert Bierstadt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Édouard Manet, Frederick Remington, and John Singer Sargent just to name a few.

The museum is not very large, but the building has recently reopened after an extensive renovation. Unlike many museums, the new floor plan lends itself very well to a continuous and simple path on which you can view every piece without having to bounce around from side to side or room to room. The vast majority of the collection is on the second floor.

The Spencer lacks many of the more famous artists and some of my favorites, including Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Lautrec, VanGogh, PIcasso, and Dali. However, for a rather small museum, the Spencer has an impressive collection and is well worth a visit, particularly considering that entry is free.

Having been to some of the world's greatest museums, including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and l'Orangerie (Paris), the British Museum and Tate Modern (London), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Guggenheim (NYC), the Vatican Museums, Galleria dell'Accademia and Galleria degli Uffizi (Italy), Museo del Prado and Museo Picasso Málaga (Spain), and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to name just a few, I must compare the Spencer to them when considering a rating. Although not on the same level as any museum listed above, the Spencer is impressive on several levels, an excellent value, and entertaining way to spend two to three hours.

CombatCritic Gives KU's Spencer Museum Of Art 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More...

Situated in a scenic corner of the campus, this museum is home to some 45,000 works of art, which make up a collection larger than that of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in nearby Kansas City. With a collection this vast, you can expect to find some compelling pieces of work here. Galleries have an easy-to-follow flow and feel fresh, but seating is a bit lacking (I don't like to carry a stool around).

The first (technically the third) floor is mostly devote to special exhibitions. Unfortunately, it was in the midst of an installation during my visit. The permanent exhibitions on the second (fourth) floor are arranged thematically instead of by geographic areas/time periods seen in most art museums. This is a workable approach but it fails to deliver to me here. In places I feel there is just a mishmash of objects which don't combine to tell a coherent story.

But still, I would encourage you to come and draw your own conclusion. This place is free and the staff are friendly. It can be easily incorporated into a visit to the campus and the natural history museum...

I just got to visit this University Museum for the first time and was impressed. The current show is called Temporal Turn: Art & Speculation in Contemporary Asia. The works were contemplative and beautiful. As well as on a scale I did not expect. Most were commissioned for this show. The permanent collection while close together and almost claustrophobic, boastsart by Georgia O'Keefe, Ansel Adams, Louis Jimenez, Andy Warhol and more, as well as works from long ago, and populist art. I could have spent several more hours exploring. If you have time stop by this unique and fascinating Museum. Parking is close by, but does cost. The museum...