Riffs on Real Time, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, February 14—August 10, 2025

Considering Kansas City’s storied legacy of jazz, Riffs on Real Time explores the expansive possibilities of riffing and more broadly, the power of rhythm and music. As the exhibition’s starting point, Leslie Hewitt’s eponymous work nods to this musical approach by creating juxtapositions and layers in her compositions demonstrating riffing’s conceptual richness. Riffs on Real Time builds on this idea with works from the Kemper Museum’s collection featuring artists riffing on different artistic styles or movements and aspects of popular culture. Additionally, it includes works highlighting the cultural and sociopolitical dimensions of rhythm and music as well as their ability to convene, even galvanize.

Images: EG Shempf