Kemper Gala - ArtSmash 2025
The Kemper Gala is a high-energy Kansas City tradition, raising essential funds to keep contemporary art and inclusive programs accessible to all. Held each fall, the gala is the museum’s largest fundraising event and one of the city’s most anticipated celebrations.
Gala Committee
Ava Amirahmadi
Michael Baxley
Nancy Bollier
Chadwick Brooks
Jennifer Burkhead
Christa Cavanaugh
Dan Meiners Studio
Tyler Enders and Kim Hinman, 2024 Co-Chairs
Jeff Evrard
Emily Farris
Hannah Fleming
Ted Habiger (Oil on Linen)
Scott Heideman
Chloe Hough
Kenny Johnson
Keisha Jordan, Co-Chair
Damian Lair
Paige Marley, Co-Chair
Jessica May
Mary Nord
Sami Paxton
Anna Petrow
Matthias Pintscher, Honorary Chair
Brian and Rachel Sexton, 2024 Co-Chairs
Jasmine Thompson
Hope-Lian Vinson
Bailey West
Jennifer Wampler
Kat Wood-Norris
Zee_
Event Leadership
Honorary Chairs
Matthias Pintscher
Co-Chairs
Keisha Jordan
Paige Marley
Gala Sponsors
Maestro
Kemper Family Foundations
MC
Bebe and Graham Hunt
Quest Rentals
Virtuoso
Elizabeth and Greg Maday
Producer
Karen and Jack Holland
Linda and Bradley Nicholson
Kansas City Symphony
Spencer Fane LLP
UMB Financial Corporation
Sally and Thomas Wood Family Foundation
Stylist
Elizabeth and Majid Amirahmadi
Gloria and Dick Anderson
Ann Baum
Burns & McDonnell
Susie and Tom Corbin
Stylist (cont.)
Theresa and Bradley Freilich
Kristen and Dan Fromm
Christy and Bill Gautreaux
Shirley and Barnett C. Helzberg Jr.
Ryan Hiser and David Tran
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Linda Lighton and Lynn Adkins
Palle and Dennis Rilinger
Connie Stirgus-Marley and Paige Marley
Marny and John Sherman
Paige and Ross Simpson
Cathy Beaham Smith and Geoff Smith
Mary Kemper Wolf and Gary Wolf
Toma and Andy Wolff
Performer
Chadwick Brooks
Ellen and Jamie Copaken
Linda and Topper Johntz
Jane and Brad Kleindl
Stephanie and Jim Lawrence
Dan Meiners Studio
Kat and Jason Norris
Jo Ann and William Sullivan
Suntory
Crytal O'Dea and Bill Weaver
Helen and Frank Wewers
Patty and Tom Wood
Special Thanks
90.9 The Bridge–Media Sponsor
AAA Party Rental
André’s Confiserie Suisse
Barkley—Design and Event Branding
Café Sebastienne
Clairvaux
Jeff Evrard Photography
IN Kansas City Magazine—Media Sponsor
KC Studio—Media Sponsor
Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions
MEDiAHEAD—Kat McDaniel, Invitation Printing
Nat Bluhm of High Heart Creative
Anna Petrow
Studio Dan Meiners, Décor
Tavolo Vigneto
USA Dance Floor KC
Chadwick Brooks—Production and Entertainment
Gala Ambassadors
Since 2014, a group of valuable supporters who served in leadership roles for past annual Galas have joined together to form Kemper Ambassadors. This auxiliary group of volunteers stay involved with Kemper Museum as advocates and fundraisers, sharing their leadership experience with current and future leaders of the event. The complete list of Kemper Ambassadors includes:
Christine and Don Alexander
Kathleen Aylward *
Jo Ann * and Fred Ball *
Brooke Barrier
Tom and Linda Beal
Elizabeth Bennett
Beverly Pierson
Bradley Karl Bublitz
Tim Butt
Lynn Carlton
Eileen and Byron * Cohen
Gaye and Mark Cohen
Ann Cooling
Susie and Tom Corbin
Rachael and Kanon Cozad
Cheryl and Chris Davis
Peter and Michelle DeSilva
Lena and Dan Dickinson
Keely Edgington
Irene and Saul Ellis
Tyler Enders and Kim Hinman
Emily Uhlmann Fehsenfeld
Scott Francis
Theresa and Brad Freilich
Lisa Garney
Christy and Bill Gautreaux
Courtney Goddard
Pam and Gary Gradinger
Laura Greenbaum
Paul Gutiérrez
Jill Hall
Marilyn Hebenstreit
Scott Heidmann and Ken Petti
Sally Hilkene
Denise and Tom Holcom
Karen and Jack Holland
Katherine Holland
Carol and Dennis * Hudson
Bebe Hunt
Sharron Hunt
Laurie Ingram
John and Trudy Jacobson
Jackie Johnson
Michele and Harvey Kaplan
Julia Irene Kauffman
R. Crosby Kemper, Jr *
Megan and Mariner Kemper
Diana Kline
Kim Klein
Ada Koch
Nancy and Herb Kohn
Stacey and Mike Koon
Linda and William Kornitzer
Gayle Krigel
Jan Kyle
Damian Lair
Kelly and Jon Lambert
Linda Lighton and Lynn Adkins
Jo * and Bob * Loyd
McClain Bryant Macklin
Liz and Greg Maday
Lindsay and Lee Major
Cathy and Mark Maslan
Dan Meiners
Kat McDaniel
Jean and Tom McDonnell
Lauren Merriman
Holly Mihalovich
Jerry * and Margaret * Nerman
Jeannette Nichols
Linda and Brad Nicholson
Jill Norden *
Barbara Buell Novaria *
Hallie Hudson Peavey
Wendy Powell
Mike and Kathy Rainen
Anne Scharf
Cathy Schultz
Cathy and Fred Seligson
Brian and Rachel Sexton
Laura Shultz
Lynnette and Norm Siegel
Debbie Simpson
Helane Smith
Matt Smith and Lindsey Patterson Smith
Jane and Josh Sosland
Jo Ann and Bill Sullivan
Sue Trucksess
Paul Uhlmann, Jr. *
Ann and Frank Uryasz
Jane Voorhees
Kim Weinberger
Brooke Runnion Weinstein
Katie Wendel
Helen and Frank Wewers
C. Stephen Metzler * and Brian D. Williams
Carolyn Williams *
Mary Kemper Wolf
Toma and Andy Wolff
Dolly Wood