John Michael Kohler Arts Center

Last chance to experience Workplace—an interactive space at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center!

Inspired by 1970s workshops where Kohler Co. associates and ceramic artists collaborated, Workplace celebrates problem-solving, experimentation, and creativity across disciplines. In 2024, five artists were in residence in the gallery, partnering with the community to share skills, ideas, and processes.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to explore Workplace before it’s gone!

🔗 Artists Arlo Howard (left) and Risa Puno in Workplace at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 2024.

Celebrate 50 Years of Arts/Industry with the third shift of Clocking In: 2024 Arts/Industry Residents.

As part of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s fiftieth-anniversary celebration of Arts/Industry, twelve artists in residence at the Kohler Co. factory will showcase their work in the yearlong exhibition Clocking In: 2024 Arts/Industry Residents.

Among them, artist Ger Xiong/Ntxawg Xyooj completed his residency in December 2024. His work examines cultural identity through the Hmong American experience, focusing on themes of assimilation, colonization, and migration. In particular, Xiong’s pieces consider the history and usage of French Indochina coins during the French occupation of Southeast Asia and, later, as adornment on Hmong clothing.

Don’t miss this compelling exhibition honoring the legacy of the residency and notable works of art!

🔗 Arts/Industry artist-in-residence Ger Xiong in the Kohler Co. Foundry, 2024. Photo: Kohler Co

Last chance to see "Mad Dash: 50 Years of Arts/Industry" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

In 2024, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Arts/Industry residency program, and this exhibition reflects that milestone.

Featuring letters and photographs from 1974 to today, it highlights key moments from the residency, like the first artist to work in the foundry or a notable performance that took place at Kohler Co. The exhibition also showcases artworks donated by artists, offering a glimpse into their experiences and the lasting impact of this unique collaboration.

Don’t miss this tribute to five decades of creativity and innovation!

🔗 Salvador Jiménez-Flores, Momentos antes del desmadre (Moments before the riot) (detail), 2019; brass; 23 1/4 x 23 1/4 x 1 3/4 in. John Michael Kohler Arts Center Collection, gift of the artist.

Applications Now Open for the 2026 Arts/Industry Cohort!

Arts/Industry provides artists with time, space, and resources to create new work in one-of-a-kind studio settings. Residents work in the Kohler Co. factory’s Pottery or Foundry, gaining access to industrial tools and techniques.

No prior experience with clay or metal is required—just an interest in materials and how industrial processes can inspire creative exploration. Participants gain technical knowledge and hands-on experience, encouraging fresh approaches to their practice.

Applications close February 28, 2025. Learn more about the application process and FAQs at www.jmkac.org/arts-industry/applications/.

Join us for Khecari: Tend on Fridays and Sundays, January 10–26, for an interactive performance that treats dance as a meaningful, personal experience. Matched with a dancer/technician for a one-hour appointment, guests embark on a choreographic journey shaped by their needs and interests in the moment.

Blending touch, conversation, music, and movement, Tend creates space to rest, recharge, and connect—exploring the dynamics of interaction and somatic engagement.

Click the link to learn more, complete our audience interest form, and book your appointment.

🔗www.jmkac.org/residencies/tend/

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Arts/Industry residency program with artist talks, creative activities, and a look back through decades of innovation.

This exhibition dives into the program's past, present, and future through documents, photos, timelines, sketches, and more, revealing the story of the Arts Center’s collaboration with the Kohler Co. factory.

Over 500 artists have created new work at Kohler’s factory through the residency, with alumni reflections highlighting the lasting impact of Ruth DeYoung Kohler’s visionary program.

📸 Milestones in the Making installation view at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 2024.

The Arts Center and Art Preserve will be closed for New Year's on December 31–January 1, and will resume normal operations on January 2, 2025. 🎉

Wishing you a joyful holiday season—we look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Don’t miss Willie Cole: Home Assembly, now on view at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center!

This powerful solo exhibition features newly commissioned sculptures and works spanning over three decades. Known for transforming everyday objects into thought-provoking art, Cole explores themes of labor, domestic spaces, and untold histories.

Come see how he reimagines familiar items like irons, shoes, and tools to tell intricate stories and inspire reflection.

📸 Willie Cole: Home Assembly installation view at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, 2024. Willie Cole, (from left) Order (detail), 2007; shoes, wood, and epoxy. Head over Heels (Street Dragon), 2019; ink on canvas.

Get ready to turn the page to a new year!

The SHOP at JMKAC still has a few 2025 calendars in stock to help you start each day with creativity. Visit before Sunday, December 29—the shop’s last open day until 2025!

All are welcome to create a keepsake of their visit to the Arts Center during these four festive days. Projects are quick, simple, and appropriate for all ages. Arts Center staff will be on hand to encourage exhibition connections and assist with making.

Complimentary tea and hot cocoa will be served. Cookie decorating kits will be available for purchase at the Arts Center’s CAFE.

Clocking In: 2024 Arts/Industry Residents presents the work of twelve artists who participated in the Arts/Industry residency at the Kohler Co. factory in 2024, divided into three unique "shifts."

This last shift features:

Lauren Mabry, Ger Xiong/Ntxawg Xyooj, Sharif Bey, Cathy Hsiao

For more information, visit www.jmkac.org/exhibition/clocking-in-2024-arts-industry-residents/

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The Arts Center and Art Preserve will be closed December 24–25, for the holidays. Wishing you a warm and joyful time with loved ones! 🧣

In the interactive exhibition Workplace, Risa Puno (Foundry, 2018) and Arlo Howard team up to explore how we think about failure.

Through a series of games and interactive prompts, visitors are invited to see failure as a normal and important part of learning and growth. The experience encourages personal reflection and connection with others, opening up conversations about resilience, creativity, and self-discovery.

Due to inclement weather, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Art Preserve will be closing early today at 5 p.m. ❄️

Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

The SHOP at JMKAC has everything you need for the holidays—cards, ornaments, stocking stuffers, and gifts for everyone on your list. Hurry in before Sunday, December 22, the last day we're open before the holiday, to find those perfect last-minute gifts! ❄️

Coming soon in the next rotation of "Clocking In: 2024 Arts/Industry Residents"! Lauren Mabry, a current resident in the pottery studio, will be featured in the exhibition.

Internationally recognized for her bold glazes and inventive use of material, color, and form, Mabry’s work blurs the lines between abstract painting, minimalist sculpture, and process art. Her creations are part of prestigious collections, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Missouri.

Mabry holds a BFA from Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is represented by Pentimenti and Ferrin Contemporary. Don’t miss this exciting showcase!

Mabry's work will be on view though March 2, 2025 in Clocking In.

📸 Arts/Industry artist-in-residence Lauren Mabry in the Kohler Co. Pottery, 2024. Photo: Kohler Co.