KCAI in the Community

From illustrating a mural at the KC Zoo to developing life-like silicone burns for training at Children’s Mercy, KCAI students are having an impact on our community through Sponsored Studio and Micro Agency. Area businesses are benefiting from the fresh creative approach students bring to projects and in turn, students are receiving real-life experience working with clients.

School of Economics at UMBKansas City Art Institute

School of Economics at UMB

When elementary school students visit the School of Economics at UMB in downtown KCMO, they’ll learn business and financial skills in colorful storefronts and cityscapes designed by KCAI students. The challenge was to come up with designs that would set the stage for financial learning, and bring sense of fun to the audience of fourth through sixth graders. The final result is a lively, vibrant environment perfect for learning business basics.

Stingray Bay at the Kansas City Zoo (2018) by Vaughn Parrish, '19 IllustrationKansas City Art Institute

Stingray Bay at the Kansas City Zoo

Two of Kansas City’s great institutions – the Zoo and KCAI – teamed up to create an exhibit called Stingray Bay at the Kansas City Zoo. Visitors experience the gigantic 13' x 45' tropical-colored mural that spans the entire back wall of the new touch tank for stingrays and catsharks. The Caribbean-inspired underwater scene was designed by Vaughn Parish, (‘19 Illustration).

Emerging (2018) by Lisa Bjornstad, KCAI GraduateKansas City Art Institute

Lead Bank Emerging Artist Prize

Each year, Lead Bank recognizes four KCAI students with their Lead Emerging Artist Prize (LEAP). Each student receives a scholarship and the opportunity to display their artwork in Lead Bank's Crossroads branch for three months.

Portrait of Jacob (2019) by Dawn LewallenKansas City Art Institute

Humana Veteran Reflection 

A new exhibition developed through a partnership with Humana and created by Illustration students gives insight into the social isolation and loneliness experienced by many veterans. The exhibition, which will travel throughout the US, uses paintings and short audio clips to tell the stories of 14 Kansas City area veterans.

Monarch Bar Butterfly Chandelier (2018) by Nathan Neufeld '15 CeramicsKansas City Art Institute

Monarch Bar Butterfly Chandelier

The shimmering chandelier made with over 1,000 acrylic butterflies is the first thing that will catch your eye over the main bar at the Monarch on the Plaza in KC. They were hung in columns on a grid to give the illusion of butterflies in flight.

Events by Elle Wedding Dresses (2018) by KCAI Fiber StudentsKansas City Art Institute

Events by Elle Wedding Dresses

Events by Elle, a Kansas City planning and design boutique, asked nine Fiber students to use re-purposed materials to create wedding gowns and the results are both amazingly artistic and eclectic. From a Nigerian inspired wedding dress with a feather collar to a bustier romper and clear acrylic coat, these gowns rethink wedding attire conventions.

Independence Center Mall - Pillar Artwork (2019) by Lacey Vonderschmidt and Nehemiah CisnerosKansas City Art Institute

Independence Center Pillars

Visitors to Independence Center can enjoy four 40-ft. vibrant pillars wrapped in artwork designed by Micro students Lacey Vonderschmidt ('19 Illustration) and Nehemiah Cisneros (Senior, Painting). The pillars bring color and energy to the popular mall.

Children's Mercy Hospital Medical Illustrations (2019) by KCAI StudentsKansas City Art Institute

Children's Mercy Hospital Medical Illustrations

Students were asked to make illustrations to explain medical procedures to illiterate and non-English speaking patients. They are an important tool to help patients understand everything from blood draws to surgeries and provide solutions for communication that goes beyond language and cultural barriers.

Credits: Story

Find out more at sponsoredstudio@kcai.edu.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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