Second Skin: Exploring Adornment as an Extension of Self
February 6 - May 2, 2026
at Belger Crane Yard Studios
2011 Tracy Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108
Opening Reception: First Friday, February 6, from 6PM to 8PM
Belger Arts is pleased to present Second Skin: Exploring Adornment as an Extension of Self, an exhibition that invites the viewer to discover how objects worn on the body express personal stories, cultural lineage, and intimate narratives.
Through a vibrant array of materials and techniques, these works 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.
This exhibition is in conjunction with Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade
both throughout our history and in contemporary life.
Participating Artists:
Cheryl Eve Acosta, Shae Bishop, Hadley Clark, Mona Cliff, Ellen Greene, Patrycja Grzesznik, Kate Kretz, Kit Paulson, and Rob Stern.
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, in addition to 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 new 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.
About Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026:
Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among 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.
Museums and arts organizations joining as participants in the Handwork 2026 initiative will complete the rich diversity of interpretations on the work of the hand with Exhibitions and Events throughout 2026. We invite all museums and regional arts centers to join this effort with the craft-centric, culture-based exhibitions to honor the handmade during our nation’s Semiquincentennial.
Four special episodes of Craft in America, the Peabody Award-winning DOCUMENTARY SERIES on PBS, will premiere as part of Handwork 2026. EAST, WEST, NORTH and SOUTH, will present a rich, exploration of the handmade in traditional, studio, ethnic, and contemporary practices.