By: JUI MHATRE
Kansas State University
Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art is celebrating contemporary Kansas artists with the launch of a new Kansas Triennial series and inaugural exhibition.
The "Kansas Triennial 25/26" exhibition opens on Aug. 5 in the Marion Pelton Gallery and the Archie and Dorothy Hyle Family Gallery. It runs through May 31, 2026, and features works by Kansas artists Mona Cliff, Mark Cowardin, Poppy DeltaDawn and Ann Resnick.The exhibition builds on the museum's longstanding commitment to honoring the region while providing artistic learning opportunities to Kansans. By featuring artists working today, "Kansas Triennial 25/26"connects the museum's diverse artistic history with Kansas' creative future, fostering dialogue about the relationship between past influences and present innovation.
"The Kansas Triennial isn't just an exhibition — it's a platform," said Kent Michael Smith, director of the Beach Museum of Art and curator of the triennial exhibition. "It gives us the chance to pause every few years and take stock of what artists in this state are doing, what they're grappling with and how they're innovating. It reflects the incredible depth and range of work being created here in Kansas right now. Our goal is to support those voices and make space for them in a way that feels lasting, rigorous and grounded in place."
The museum's new Kansas Triennial series will feature a curated exhibition every three years, showcasing the dynamic voices of Kansas-based artists. The series highlights the wide variety within contemporary art and Kansas' rich, ever-evolving artistic landscape.
Kansas artists featured in new exhibition at Beach Museum of Art
Four Kansas artists will be featured in the inaugural Kansas Triennial exhibition, and their work ranges from sculpture and beadwork to woodburning and weaving.
Mona Cliff, Lawrence, is a multidisciplinary visual artist and an enrolled member of the Aaniiih, Gros Ventre, Tribe who contributes beadwork-based wall hangings that combine traditional Indigenous techniques with contemporary design. Her works merge natural forms and cultural resilience, offering vibrant and dimensional compositions rooted in heritage and experimentation.
Mark Cowardin, Lawrence, presents sculptural installations constructed from wood, metal, ceramics and industrial components. His practice navigates themes of consumption, sacredness and interconnected systems, often incorporating functional elements like ladders and lighting to represent both utility and metaphor.
Poppy DeltaDawn, Lawrence, is a conceptual textile artist who creates intricately woven and woven-inspired works that explore identity, bodily autonomy, resistance and perseverance. Through bold palettes and complex textures, her pieces speak to transformation, visibility and presence.
Ann Resnick, Wichita,contributes emotionally resonant works created through pyrography and monoprinting. Her practice is rooted in personal and collective memory, with materials — often humble and minimal — serving as vessels for grief, reflection and the passage of time.
Learn more about "Kansas Triennial 25/26" art and artists with free public events
The community has several opportunities to engage with the artists of the "Kansas Triennial 25/26" exhibition during free events at the Beach Museum of Art this fall.
The exhibition opening and reception event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, and all triennial artists will be in attendance as special guests.
The public can also learn more about the work in the exhibition from the artists at several Artist Talk events:
- Mark Cowardin: 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025
- Poppy DeltaDawn, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Mona Cliff, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2026
The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at 701 Beach Lane at the southeast corner of the K-State campus in Manhattan. Opened in 1996, the museum is dedicated to connecting regional art, culture and communities, with a mission to collect, preserve, research and present the visual art of Kansas and the surrounding region.
Through exhibitions, educational programs, and campus and community partnerships, the Beach Museum of Art serves as a vital cultural resource for students, scholars and the broader public. Its hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Admission is free, and free parking is available adjacent to the building. Visit the museum's website for livestream events and online exhibitions, and view special programs on the museum's YouTube channel. For more information about upcoming programs and events, visit the museum's calendar.