Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is an art museum that is part of Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. The Nerman Museum is named for donors Jerry and Margaret Nerman. It opened in October 2007, succeeding the college's former Gallery of Art. The building was designed by Korean architect Kyu Sung Woo. Construction of the approximately $15 million Nerman Museum was realized through Johnson County Community College funding, with support from the Nerman Family, the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Marti & Tony Oppenheimer, Richard I. & Jeanne S. Galamba, Barton P. & Mary D. Cohen, Dean E. Thompson, Irma Starr, Carl & Lee McCaffree, Jim & Mary Tearney, and Joseph & Margery Lichtor. The museum building is clad in Kansas limestone. Throughout the museum's two levels are ten expansive galleries for temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection. Additionally, the museum houses the 200 seat Hudson Auditorium, Café Tempo, two classrooms, a Museum Store, a New Media Gallery, and art storage and preparation spaces. The museum boasts two lobbies – the Cantilever Entrance (featuring a 60,000 white LED installation by artist Leo Villareal) and the glass and metal Atrium Lobby. The Nerman Museum's permanent collection consists of works gifted by the Oppenheimers and the Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation. It also includes art from Johnson County Community College's Permanent Collection.