A Place to Be Seen: Solving the Gallery Space Shortage

Every work of art carries a story. But until recently, many of the stories held within the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) were tucked away in storage—unseen, unheard, and undercelebrated.

MONA, housed in a 1911 Federalist Revival building in Kearney, Nebraska, has long been the steward of the state’s official art collection. Its holdings represent generations of Nebraska artists—across media, eras, and movements. Yet for decades, the museum simply didn’t have enough gallery space to display that legacy. Many large-scale works remained hidden from public view, and exhibitions were often limited by spatial and logistical constraints. For an institution devoted to visibility and storytelling, this was a fundamental challenge.

The recent expansion and reimagining of MONA directly responds to this need—not with just more square footage, but with purpose-built, flexible galleries designed to elevate and evolve the visitor experience.

New second-floor galleries with soaring 18-foot ceilings now allow for the exhibition of large and monumental works that were previously impossible to display. Curatorial flexibility is embedded in every space—enabling thematic groupings, rotating shows, and deeper engagement with both the permanent collection and contemporary voices.

Photos: Nic Lehoux

The design introduces natural light with care, using glazed thresholds to frame views to Nebraska’s expansive horizon while preserving the integrity of the artwork inside. These visual connections to land and light ground the visitor in the region’s identity, even as they move through a contemporary and adaptable interior.

This expansion is more than an architectural gesture. It’s an affirmation: that Nebraska’s art deserves to be seen, studied, and celebrated. That the public deserves access to the full richness of its cultural legacy. And that museums in rural places can lead in making art accessible—not just in content, but in experience.

In revealing what was once hidden, MONA opens the door to new narratives, new audiences, and new possibilities. The expansion is not an endpoint—it’s a platform for the future, ready to grow with the community it serves.

By creating more space for stories, MONA reaffirms its role as a living institution—rooted in place, shaped by people, and open to all.