Modern Pioneers highlights the artistic achievements of two major women artists of the 20th century: Martha Graham and Barbara Morgan. From 1936 to 1941, these two artists worked together on a remarkable collaborative project in which Morgan used her photography skills to capture the essential qualities of 16 important dance pieces composed by Graham between 1930 and 1940. The results of their collaboration were published in 1941 in the book “Martha Graham, Sixteen Dances in Photographs by Barbara Morgan.”  Some of the photographs in the KAM exhibition were printed from negatives used for the images in that book. Other of the photographs were printed from negatives taken during the project but not used in the book. All of the Morgan photos were printed by the artist or under her direction by studio assistants. (Image: Martha Graham: Ekstasis. Barbara Morgan (American, 1900-1992). 1936 / Gelatin silver print. Hope College Collection, gift of the Peter C. & Emmajean Cook Foundation, 2019.32.15)

The Kruizenga Art Museum functions as an educational resource for Hope College and the greater West Michigan community. The museum features two public galleries as well as a classroom and climate-controlled storage space for its 9,000-object permanent collection. It is named in honor of a leadership gift from Dr. Richard and Margaret Kruizenga, both of whom graduated from Hope in 1952.

Admission to the museum is always free and the public is welcome. 

Open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm