4 Places to Enjoy Local Artwork in Liberty, MO

Liberty, Missouri, is a Kansas City suburb known for its arts, music, and historic downtown. It’s home to a number of local artists whose work you can find on display around the city. Check out these four places if you’re looking for local art in Liberty. 

The Artisan Market 

The Artisan Market on Main Street has been showcasing local artists since 2017. Today, its gallery features more than 25 artists and the market also hosts art classes, workshops, and parties. Currently featured artists include owner Shawn Garland, art teacher Gwen Bosworth, metal sculptor Eric Easton, abstract artist Holly Weber, glass-blower Katie Hubbs, jeweler Karen Triggs, multimedium artist Carol Sweetwood, mosaic artist Mindy Chandler, animal painter Sara Long, fiber artist Susan Ferguson, and more.  

Visit to admire local art or to buy a piece for your own collection. The Artisan Market is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Liberty’s Sculpture Program 

Since 2017, the city’s rotating sculpture program has installed unique works in various spots downtown. Today, the program sponsors nine sculptures including resident Robert Evans’ Bottle Tree, an 800-pound African-inspired steel piece located at the Garrison School Cultural Center. You can find the bronze sculpture of beloved local custodian Lawrence “China” Slaughter on the corner of Mill and Gallatin streets. Nathan Pierce’s colorful epoxy-coated steel Social Tones sculpture and Ben Pierce’s stainless steel Reach are also on display. 

Stocksdale Gallery of Art at William Jewell College 

The Ruth E. Stocksdale Gallery of Art, located in what was once William Jewell College’s Brown Gymnasium, features eight regional art exhibits per year. Each one lasts three weeks and features a different local artist. The gallery boasts 1,200 square feet of wall space and 900 square feet of floor space, natural sunlight, and track lighting. The Stocksdale Gallery is open from September through May, and admission is free. 

Atrium Gallery at Liberty City Hall 

Liberty City Hall’s two-story Atrium Gallery has been hosting a variety of artwork, including displays by local artists, since 2008. As a result, the hundreds of people who pass through City Hall daily get to admire art as they go about their business. Displays are rotating and last two months at a time.  

Currently on exhibit during June and July is the work of local portrait artist Jennifer Hutton. Hutton designed Hallmark cards for 15 years before returning to her painting roots and creating a variety of portrait pieces. The Biological/Pre-Medical Illustration major is now pursuing her nursing degree at William Jewell College. 

Liberty City Hall’s Atrium Gallery is one of the three city public art galleries, the other two being the Liberty Community Center and the Mid-Continent Public Library Liberty Branch. They accept wall art from artists with a focus on photography, drawing, textiles, illustrations, multimedia, and more. 

Pay tribute to local Liberty artists by visiting these galleries and sites around town. You never know who will breakthrough as the next great artist, and you could have the chance to own a piece of Liberty culture yourself. 

Image courtesy of pexels.com

Tags: liberty artwork, local liberty
Posted in Local Insight | No Comments »