Rural America

Most of the works in the Rural America exhibition will be rotated for phase two of the exhibition opening March 31, 2026. Check out the new selections! The exhibition will be open through Sept. 26, 2026. Free admission, always.

Brian Maxwell, Destruction of the Family Farm, late 20th century, screenprint, 12 7/16 x 18 15/16 in., 2004.137

Rural communities across America face unique hardships, such as limited access to healthcare, education, and broadband services. Yet they also possess strengths, such as close-knit social networks, natural resources, and cultural traditions that contribute to their resilience and character.

The artworks in this exhibition highlight the challenges rural communities have faced and the unique qualities that have sustained them. The works offer a lens through which to consider the struggles and assets of today’s rural communities. Artists explore themes such as the decline of small farms, grocery store closures, and the fading of local journalism. These are balanced by depictions of rural vitality such as tourism, community events, and faith institutions.

New works for spring include Destruction of the Family Farm by Brian Maxwell; Winchester, Kansas, Tornado by John Steuart Curry; and Miller Ranch School House by Gordon Parks.

Major Sponsor: Greater Manhattan Community Foundation’s Lincoln & Dorothy Deihl Community Grants Program
Sustaining Sponsors: Dan and Beth Bird
Contributing Sponsor: The Beach–Edwards Family Foundation

Related event | Beach Museum of Art | Free and open to the public

Hungry Heartland: Stories of Resilience
Thursday, April 16, 2026, 5:30-7 p.m.
Conversation with K-State Faculty and Students in Art, Media and Communications, and Social Transformation Studies