05/31/2026
The Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery is pleased to announce that Karrie Steely, from Hendley, Nebraska, will be its Artist in Residence from June 10 through June 24, 2026. Her work will be on display at the museum with many available for purchase.
Steely is a freelance artist and writer who works in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, ceramics and sculpture, multimedia with found materials, and murals. She is also an instructor of individuals, classes, and workshops at art centers and privately in studio.
Steely is a community leader and visionary on collaborative projects with artists and creatives. Finally, she is a writer and wordsmith at large; writing homesteading articles, freelance newspaper articles, blogging, editing and manages social media sites, channels and groups.
Karrie will be offering two art classes in the museum’s gallery on Saturday June 13th 1-3:30pm and Saturday June 20th 1-3:30 pm. There will be a $40.00 fee for the class which will include all the supplies necessary for the lessons. Students will be able to take their artwork with them after the class concludes. For those who are interested in taking the class they must be 18 years old. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the museum at 308-784-4343. There will be a class limit of eight participants.
Her artist statement follows:
At the core of my artistic practice are three guiding principles: Connection, Creativity, and Community.
Connection: Art is the great connector—between people, between ideas, between the self and the world. I use my creative practice to deepen my relationship with the world, inviting others to see the beauty and complexity within it. I grow connections, bridging divides and nurturing empathy and understanding.
Creativity: Creativity is not just a skill to be cultivated, but a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human. I am committed to nurturing creativity in myself and others. I approach each project with curiosity and experimentation, embracing the unknown and celebrating the ways we can learn together.
Community: I believe in the power of collaboration and collective action to make positive change in the world. Whether through community art projects, workshops, or creative mentoring, I am dedicated to creating spaces where everyone's voice is valued and celebrated.
The museum’s artist programs are sponsored by the membership of the museum and were established in 1988 to encourage understanding and appreciation of the arts in central Nebraska and to promote the legacy of Robert Henri, one of America’s greatest art instructors. He taught more than one thousand students over his long career including well-known artists such as Edward Hopper, Rockwell Kent, George Bellows, Marjorie Ryerson, Minerva Teichert, and Elizabeth Grandin.
Artists can apply for entry into the program by going to the museum’s web page, printing off the application and submitting it by email. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2027 program.
The Robert Henri Museum and Art Gallery is a national treasure that is the result of the work of many volunteers, board members, and professional staff who have toiled for forty years. The site is now listed on the United States Department of Interior’s National Register of Historic Places and has more Henri paintings and sketches on display than any other institution in the world and currently has Painter, Teacher and Pioneer: The Life and Times of Robert Henri, a major new exhibition on display.
The museum and gallery complex is located at 207 East 9th Street in Cozad and is open from May 1 to November 1, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The complex includes a museum, the boyhood home of Henri, a library and archives, and a new five-thousand-square foot gallery. For more information call 308-784-4343, visit the museum’s web page at www.roberthenrimuseum.org, or its page at www.facebook.com/roberthenrimuseum.
TOWN WATCHMAN
Courtesy Karrie Steely
