Spencer Museum of Art Museum
University art museum with diverse American and global collections
On the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, the Spencer Museum of Art houses European, American and Asian collections; visitors come for rotating exhibitions, campus galleries and academic programs.
Spencer Museum of Art at a Glance#
Address: 1301 Mississippi St, Lawrence, KS 66044, United States
Website: https://spencerart.ku.edu/
Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, closed Mon
Admission: Free
About Spencer Museum of Art#
The Spencer Museum of Art is the art museum of the University of Kansas, located on the university campus in Lawrence, Kansas. It functions as both a public museum and a teaching collection, housing a broad range of works across cultures and historical periods.
Galleries present art from global traditions spanning antiquity to contemporary practice, and the museum supports academic programs, exhibitions and public programming. The collection includes a mix of paintings, prints, sculpture, decorative arts and works on paper used for research and teaching.
The museum developed from university art holdings and acquisitions over the 20th century into a consolidated institution serving students, scholars and the public. Facilities and exhibition spaces have been adapted over time to support conservation, storage and rotating exhibitions.
It sits on the KU campus in Lawrence in northeastern Kansas, with campus addresses and visitor information available through the university; the city of Lawrence is west of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
- University museum: Located on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence and serves as the university’s teaching museum for art and material culture.
- Collection size: Holds a multi-continental collection numbering in the tens of thousands, covering works from antiquity to contemporary art.
How to Get to Spencer Museum of Art#
The Spencer Museum is on the west side of the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence. From downtown Lawrence it’s a short drive or a 15-20 minute walk; limited campus parking is available. The nearest public transit is the Lawrence Transit bus network; consult local routes for stops near Jayhawk Boulevard and Mississippi Street.
Tips for Visiting Spencer Museum of Art#
- Check the Spencer Museum's calendar for rotating exhibitions and free public programs - the museum runs frequent talks and family activities.
- The museum is on the University of Kansas campus; combine a visit with a walk through the nearby Campanile and Memorial Union area.
- Photography policies vary by exhibition - ask at the desk before using flash in galleries.
Best Time to Visit Spencer Museum of Art#
Open year-round following university calendar; weekdays are less busy than weekend afternoons.
Weather & Climate near Spencer Museum of Art#
Spencer Museum of Art's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1004 mm/year), wettest in June.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -7° - 3° | -7° | 30 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -5° - 7° | -3° | 29 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 1° - 13° | 4° | 68 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 7° - 19° | 13° | 93 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 13° - 25° | 19° | 135 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 18° - 30° | 24° | 141 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 20° - 32° | 26° | 100 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 32° | 25° | 95 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 14° - 27° | 21° | 119 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 8° - 21° | 14° | 86 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 1° - 12° | 3° | 64 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -5° - 6° | -4° | 44 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
