Art Meets Innovation: Inside Kansas’s Museum of Art + Light

© David Mayes Photography

Art Meets Innovation: Inside Kansas’s Museum of Art + Light

The Museum of Art + Light (MoA+L) has opened its doors and is inviting art enthusiasts, students, and families to explore a space where traditional visual and performing arts meet cutting-edge technology. If that sounds like you, consider this your sneak peek into this groundbreaking new space. The museum, which spans 100,000 square feet, features three main galleries, flexible classrooms, a

space, a restaurant, and a curated museum store. Each area is thoughtfully designed to create an environment that engages and inspires.

Mezmereyz Gallery – 1st Floor

Mezmereyz, known as “The Mez,” is the MoA+L’s groundbreaking, multi-sensory, state-of-the-art immersive exhibition for projected storytelling, with a whopping 188 million pixels animating visual narratives across 37,000 linear feet. Open until August 31, 2025, the first exhibition, "Renoir: A Luminous Evolution," brings the life and works of Pierre-August Renoir to life. Visitors are transported into Renoir’s world through high-resolution digital images, family photos, and archival films that explore the artist’s life and artistic journey.

DE CODED GALLERY - 2ND FLOOR

The second-floor De Coded Gallery is dedicated to digital arts, pushing the boundaries of what it means to create in the digital age. With a focus on blending art and technology, this 15,000-squarefoot gallery is set to feature "Code & Canvas: Defining Digital Art in the Age of Blockchain," an exhibition highlighting the possibilities of blockchain and Web3 technology in the art world. Open until August 1, 2025, this exhibition includes works from prominent digital artists Erick “Snowfro” Calderon, Tyler Hobbs, Sasha Stiles, Emily Xie, and Grant Yun.

Evolved as a partnership between the featured artists, MoA+L, and Iconic Moments, this exhibition marks a critical moment for museums and digital art. It presents how the rapidly developing digital realm, the physical world, and the unique capabilities of blockchain and Web3 technology have combined to actively reshape the contemporary art conversation while also working to democratize the artistic landscape for both collectors and artists.

FINE ART GALLERY - 3RD FLOOR

On the third floor, the Fine Art Gallery will showcase MoA+L’s evolving permanent collection alongside rotating exhibitions. This gallery is a testament to the museum's commitment to fostering a creative dialogue between traditional and digital art, providing visitors with a glimpse into the museum's origin and mission to elevate various artistic realms.

For over 40 years, the four founders of the MoA+L collected works of art by an array of artists who reflect an eclectic mix of media, styles, and eras. The opening exhibition, "Lasting Impressions: Shaping a Personal Collection," open until November 1, 2025, celebrates the founders’ personal art collections, a testimony to their passion for “collecting what you love and sharing it with others.” These works span diverse media and styles, representing decades of thoughtful curation and reflecting the museum’s mission: to incite positive emotion, cultivate meaningful connections, encourage artistic exploration and spark innovation.

BYRNICE & BYRON HURT GALLERY - 2ND FLOOR

Named in honor of two individuals who championed arts and culture as a family value, the Byrnice & Byron Hurt Gallery is a permanent tribute to the Hurt family's legacy. This space is dedicated to celebrating the importance of passing down an appreciation for the arts—a personal and collective reminder of the power of art to shape lives.

Until June 30, 2025, check out "Exploring Perception" by Mads Christensen. This exhibit combines digital expertise and artistic exploration. Trained as a software developer, Christensen’s work fuses color, technology, and philosophy, creating two and three-dimensional pulsating works of art. His art reflects the unpredictability of digital processes, turning flaws in programming into opportunities for discovery and surprise.

By creating a space where digital tools are celebrated alongside traditional artistry, MoA+L is a destination where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience the transformative power of art.

Plan your trip today at artlightmuseum.org