Save the Date for ‘An Inspired Evening’ Honoring Kentucky Artists
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2019) — Join University of Kentucky Art Museum for An Inspired Evening, the museum’s annual fundraising soiree and an unforgettable night recognizing individuals who make a significant contribution to the art and culture of the Commonwealth. In previous years, the museum recognized Ouita Michel (influential chef and restaurant owner) and Jim Gray (former mayor, art patron and collector, and LGBTQ activist).
This year, as part of the museum's 40th anniversary, Kentucky’s own celebrated visual artists will be in the spotlight on Saturday, May 9, 2020. While the UK Art Museum exhibits and collects a range of historical and contemporary art from around the world, the museum takes special pride in those artists who make Kentucky their home.
"Rather than focus on a single deserving honoree, we are celebrating all the living Kentucky artists the museum has exhibited and collected throughout our history," said UK Art Museum Director Stuart Horodner. "If you love that we present and preserve works by these talented individuals, come celebrate with us and meet many of the people whose art you admire." Artists who have already confirmed their attendance at the event include Anita Douthat, Mike Goodlett, Rae Goodwin, Crystal Gregory, Christopher Meatyard, Guy Mendes, Bob Morgan, Lawrence Tarpey, Lina Tharsing, Judy Wells and others.
The evening's themes are Kentucky and time. As part of the festivities, revelers will enjoy fabulous food and drink and lively entertainment inspired by the past 40 years. An Inspired Evening will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 9, throughout the museum's galleries.
Proceeds from this milestone celebration support the UK Art Museum's year-round ambitious schedule of exhibitions and events, including lectures, workshops and family programming.
For more information on An Inspired Evening, visit https://finearts.uky.edu/art-museum/events/inspired-evening-2020.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.