Welcome to the Spencer Collection
A database that will eventually feature information on every work of art in the Museum
Even if you’re several time zones away, the Spencer’s internationally-known collection is now accessible to you with a few keystrokes and clicks of your mouse. Through our fully relational database, you can discover the Museum’s rich and diverse holdings.
The Spencer Collection spans the history of European and American art from ancient to contemporary, and includes broad and significant holdings of East Asian art. Areas of special strength include medieval art; European and American paintings, sculpture and prints; photography; Japanese Edo-period painting and prints; 20th-century Chinese painting; and KU’s ethnographic collection, which includes around 10,000 Native American, African, Latin American and Australian works.
To navigate, use the ”Search the Collection” feature, or use the index features to search for artists, exhibitions, and events. The “keyword” feature lets you search the collection for objects related by themes or subjects. The database has been designed with ease of navigation in mind, with fully relational features. For instance, if you search for the artist Thomas Hart Benton, you’ll find all of his works in our collection, and the history of those works in exhibitions, publications, multimedia, and related events. You can compile the results of a search into a “portfolio” and view side by side using the lightbox feature.
Information and images may be used for personal and educational use. For details on copyright and reproduction, and to request images for reproduction view the Spencer’s Photo Rights and Reproduction.
We are always looking for ways to improve our website. Please take a few minutes to tell us how we are doing by taking our Feedback Form.
Please note that this database does not yet contain every work of art in the Spencer Collection. We are adding new records and images on a regular basis, and eventually will make the entire collection searchable online. To submit an inquiry regarding works of art in the collection, please email spencerart@ku.edu.
