Contemporary meets history with the Kansas City Museum’s new publication, “Natural History on the Head: Contemporary Artists, Historical Fashion.” This acclaimed “exhibit in print” features the Museum’s extensive collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century hats and contemporary artwork inspired by the collection.


About “Natural History on the Head”

For this “exhibit in print,” five Kansas City contemporary artists were commissioned to review the Museum’s extensive collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century hats and create works inspired by the collection. The artists, Shane Evans, Peregrine Honig, Russell Ferguson, Sherry Cromwell-Lacy, Mary Ann Strandell, captured the aesthetics of the 28 displayed historic hats with 16 contemporary artworks, with an introduction by Kansas City Museum Director Christopher Leitch.

The resulting images range from elegantly simple line drawings to sophisticated computer renderings, and some include original narrative prose as well.

The artists were excited about being a part of the project and were intrigued by the collection.

Evans said he got involved based on Leitch’s creative approach to the project and the challenge to get patrons re-engaged with the Museum.

“The concept of bringing in artists to reinterpret the past in a creative way lends a fresh look at history” Evans said.

Honig, whose artwork was inspired by the collection’s hats with simulated birds, said she was moved by the idea of nature framing the face of love.

“The projection of Athena and other goddesses onto a mortal being is romantic and hopeful, a belief that love and attraction will never die,” Honig said.

Ferguson chose his hat based on its spotted feathers. He said the hat reminded him of the guinea fowl he sees frequently in his neighborhood.

Cromwell-Lacy was inspired by the Collection’s hats with veils, finding them mysterious and seductive, flamboyant and dramatic.

“I saw them as extraordinary visual objects, ones I might conceptually stretch beyond their apparent beauty,” Cromwell-Lacy said.


An integral part of the Museum’s Costume Institute

Kansas City Museum houses one of the major regional costume collections in the United States, and it has been long supported by Friends of Kansas City Museum.

The development of a Costume Institute at the Museum formalizes a vibrant program of visiting scholars and curators, seminars and conferences, sponsored research and special exhibitions. A significant activity of the Institute will be enlarging and enriching the collection. To support this important interpretative theme, we invite you to consider membership in the Friends of Kansas City Museum.

Natural History on the Head is available for purchase in the museum visitor center or online.