MAY 20 - SEPTEMBER 6, 2026
The fifth iteration of the Salina Biennial continues to affirm the power of art-making in the Mountain Plains region. The Biennial was established in 2018 to highlight artists who are balancing the traditions and history of our region with a larger, global contemporary practice. The artists of the Mountain-Plains region are equally defined by their place while also defining it, and continuing to redefine it. The Biennial continues our tradition of exhibitions that pose important questions and encourage meaningful interactions.
2026 Mountain Plains Contemporary Art Biennial is a juried exhibition highlighting contemporary visual art from the Mountain-Plains region of the United States. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this exhibition encourages artists to reflect on identity, place, belonging, and transformation through the lens of a region often considered the country’s heartland. All themes and media are welcome.
EVENTS
June 5 | FIRST FRIDAY
OPENING RECEPTION & AWARDS | Gallery
5-7pm | 5:30pm Brief Award Presentation
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE
June 6 | Brunch with the juror, hesse Mcgraw
10-11am | FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE | Gallery
June 23 | GRANITE RAPIDS MOON SPECIAL SCREENING
& GET YOUR BIENNIAL PASSPORTS!
6:30pm | Cinema
See Kansas. Share the Story. In celebration of the 2026 Biennial, we’re inviting you to explore the landscapes that shape our region— through art, film, and firsthand experience. The Biennial Passport challenges participants to visit 10 iconic Kansas sites, capturing moments of curiosity, beauty, and connection along the way. We’ll kick it all off with a special screening of Granite Rapids Moon by John Charles Meyer where passports will be released and your summer journey begins.
June 28 | EXPRESSIVE PORTRAIT DRAWING WITH AARON CRIM
1-5pm | $85 | Warehouse
Join Biennial Artist, Aaron Crim, as he shows you basic drawing concepts applied to portraiture, under drawing, and finishing the piece. Charcoal, soft pastels, pencils, and more will be used to create a dynamic portrait. Register Here.
July 10-15 | FOUR DAYS IN JUNE
In a nation defined by division, a Midwest arts festival creates space for joy. It transforms a normal city park into a space where tens of thousands feel welcome, trying the same foods, dancing to the same beats, experiencing the same art. For four days in June, this rural American community proves there are still ways we can find common ground. Tickets Here.
July 14 | Mini Masters
5:30pm | $5 | Gallery
Start your evening with curiosity and creativity. Join Executive Director Misty Serene for a special preschool-friendly tour inspired by the 2026 Biennial—designed for just young learners and their grown-ups. We’ll explore the exhibition, ask big (and small) questions, and create hands-on art inspired by what you discover.
July 19 | ART BYTE
12:15pm | Gallery
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE
Join Director of Education Darren Morawitz for a 30-minute deep dive into a single work of art in the gallery. These small “bytes” of insight spark conversation around viewing, interpreting, and discussing contemporary art in all its forms. This interactive experience will leave you feeling inspired and more confident on your next visit to an art museum. Each session features a new work to explore. Free and open to everyone.
July 23 | EXHIBITION TOUR WITH THE DIRECTOR
9am | Gallery
FREE & OPEN TO EVERYONE
Come early for coffee and donuts at 8:30am before the tour. Join Executive Director Misty Serene for a special personal tour of the exhibition—led not as a curator or art historian, but as a genuine art lover guided by instinct, observation, and a deep sense of wonder. This informal, conversation- driven experience invites you to look closer, ask questions, and explore what the work reveals to you. Free and open to everyone.
August 9 | Tulipiere Ceramic Vessel with Ellie Lieber
10am-6pm | $119
Join Ellie Lieber, a Biennial Artist, for an all day Ceramics Workshop! We will compositely assemble multi-part wheel-thrown vessels, based on historical tulipiere forms. We will start with sketches and a group discussion, followed by demos. After lunch, we will throw and attach our components. This class will not cover the basics of wheel throwing, but instead focus on more advanced techniques like throwing spots, lids, and attaching handles. Along with honing advanced wheel-throwing techniques, students will be able to work on their own personal form language. In addition to a basic tool kit, bats and bat pins are strongly recommended. Register Here.
JUROR, HESSE MCGRAW
Founder and Artistic Director, Artist Venture Fund
Hesse McGraw is a nationally respected curator, writer, and cultural strategist known for artist-centered exhibitions and public art initiatives that bridge institutions and communities. Most recently Executive Director of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, McGraw has held leadership and curatorial roles at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, and El Dorado. His groundbreaking work spans more than 75 exhibitions and commissions, including The Rainbow by Michael Jones McKean, The Proposal by Jill Magid, and the CAMH Court by Trenton Doyle Hancock.