Subject: Press Release - "Second Skin: Exploring Adornment as an Extension of Self" Exhibition opens February 6

Second Skin: Exploring Adornment as an Extension of Self

  • Exhibition Dates: February 6 - May 2, 2026

  • Opening reception: February 6, 2026, 6:00PM to 8:00PM

Belger Crane Yard Gallery Hours

Tuesday – Friday: 10:00AM - 5:00PM;

Every First Friday of the month: 10:00AM – 8:00PM; 

Saturday: 10:00AM - 4:00PM


Media contact: 

Belger Crane Yard Gallery

2011 Tracy Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108 

gallery@belgerartscenter.org 

816-474-7316 

BelgerArts.org


Shae Bishop, ♢♢♢♢♢, 2011. Earthenware, glaze, nichrome wire, polyester string; 32 x 14.5 x 9 in. Image by E. G. Schempf. Courtesy of Belger Collection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Belger Arts is pleased to present Second Skin: Exploring Adornment as an Extension of Self, an exhibition that invites viewers to discover how objects worn on the body express personal stories, cultural lineage, and intimate narratives. 

Through an array of materials and technical approaches, artists in the exhibition bridge fine craft traditions with contemporary perspectives, revealing how adornment becomes a visual language that shapes identity. Each work serves as an invitation to reflect on the personal journey behind its creation, fostering a deeper connection between maker and viewer.

Second Skin features work by Cheryl Eve Acosta, Shae Bishop, Hadley Clark, Mona Cliff, Patrycja Grzesznik, Kit Paulson, and Rob SternIn addition, work from the Belger Collection by artists including Kate Kretz, Ellen Greene, and Renée Stout, will be on view.


This exhibition is in partnership with Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the enduring importance of the handmade throughout history and in contemporary life. Belger Arts is proud to participate in the year-long initiative that includes over 250 museums, art centers, organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.


As a member of the initiative, Belger Arts will celebrate handwork through a variety of programs that provide visitors opportunities to discover and experience craft. Stay tuned to BelgerArts.org for more information.


For high-resolution images of work and a PDF of the press release, click here.

Hadley Clark, Flower Arms, no. 3, 2025. Raw silk, cotton thread, botanical and insect dyes; 40 x 14 x 8 in. Image provided by artist.

Mona Cliff, Past/presence/future lV, 2026. Gas mask, beeswax, leather, seedbeads, fabric; 8 x 10 x 5 in. Image by Belger Arts.

About Belger Arts:  

Since 2000, the Belger Arts Center has encouraged viewers to explore, question, and deepen their understanding of art and the world around them. Drawing upon the extensive Belger Collection, as well as a rich variety of local, national, and international artists, the Belger Arts Center has staged over 100 large-scale exhibitions that represent some of the best in contemporary art.  


Belger Crane Yard Studios, an arts complex dedicated to providing studio and exhibition space for artists, opened in 2013. A range of programming in ceramics education and an Artist in Residence program has made Belger a center for contemporary art.  


The Belger Glass Annex is the third Belger Arts location and opened to the public in October 2021. It is the first public glass blowing studio in Kansas City of its scale and scope. The facility boasts state-of-the-art glass blowing equipment and tools, a furnace that holds 300 pounds of molten glass, and three workstations. The Belger Glass Annex is primed to be a Midwest hub for glass art, education, and appreciation, strengthening Kansas City’s reputation as an arts destination. 


For more information on upcoming exhibitions, classes, and workshops, or to schedule a group tour, please visit BelgerArts.org or call 816-474-7316. 

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