Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery
LINDSBORG— Four new exhibitions open at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery on Sunday, May 3, and continue through July 19, 2026. They feature an invitational figurative exhibition and shows of paintings by Anthony Benton Gude, Sarah Winkler, and Barry Fitzgerald. A reception for the exhibitions will be on Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m., with exhibition talks beginning at 2:30.
Go Figure will showcase art by 30 regional artists and is curated by Hays, Kansas, artist Michael Jilg. For the show he writes, “There is a wide range of visual stories using the figure, created with a variety of media. I did not select the artworks, but chose artists that I admire for their ability to engage an audience with their particular narratives.” The Sandzen Gallery also has a rich history of exhibiting figurative art that encompasses an important part of the permanent collection, and some of which will be on display in other exhibition areas.
Anthony Benton Gude of Frankfort, Kansas, will be showing paintings from his past to the present day. They will include farm scenes, mountain landscapes, abstracts, and more. As the grandson of Regionalist Thomas Hart Benton, art was encouraged in his house and he writes, “The passion for drawing and art of course was important and as I grew that passion grew with me. To this day, painting is as necessary as eating. It's a hunger in my soul that is always there. I would say that's what it is to be an artist.”
Sarah Winkler’s work explores geological aspects of landscape formation. Combining studio art, earth science, and creative writing during her educational studies, Winkler began her career as a collage artist and graphic designer. Her work draws inspiration from the diverse geological landscapes she has encountered throughout her life. Now residing in Morrison, Colorado, she sketches in a collage format using printed imagery that she creates either physically or digitally. Each layer is then hand painted to retain the cut-paper aesthetic and convey the strata of geological time in landscapes. Locations are not depicted with identical exactness, but instead balances in the abstract state between the physical world and the emotive experiences of place.
Lawrence, Kansas, artist Barry Fitzgerald rounds out the roster of guest artists. His exhibition includes a series of paintings using plants, buildings, and human forms as a palette for an exploration in contrasts. They build on relationships with geometric and organic, line and shape, and abstract and representational elements. The final combinations are intended to ask questions more than give answers. Fitzgerald is a longtime professor at the University of Kansas and a multi-disciplinary illustrator, artist, and visual communicator who loves the challenge of making images that engage intellectually, emotionally, and aesthetically.
The Sandzen Gallery is located at 401 North First Street in Lindsborg. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, with donations appreciated. Docent tours for groups are available by two-week advance appointment. For more information about Birger Sandzén, the Gallery, and these exhibitions visit www.sandzen.org or phone (785) 227-2220.