James and Gladys Kemp Lisanby Museum

Located in the lower level of the Festival Conference and Student Center in room 1108, the James and Gladys Kemp Lisanby Museum presents dynamic, high-quality exhibitions featuring works of art from the Madison Art Collection. Serving both the university population as well as that of the surrounding community, the Lisanby is dedicated to celebrating diversity, scholarship, and the pursuit of knowledge.

The Lisanby Museum is closed for the summer and will reopen on September 10th, 2019.

Purity and Power: The Art of Russian Icons

Fall 2019 (September 10 – November 30, 2019)

To the followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church, images of holy people or events, called icons, are considered to be a window or portal into the heavenly realm. This exhibition will highlight the finest icons in the Madison Art Collection, presenting never-before-seen works of art along with a scholarly catalogue that will explore the history, materials, and meaning of Russian icons as well as the culture and history of Russia itself.

Savoring the Moon: Japanese Prints of the Floating World

Spring of 2020 (January 21 – April 19, 2020)

This exhibition will present Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period (1615-1868), a time when the cessation of civil warfare and governmental stability ushered in a new period of artistic appreciation and patronage. In what is known as the “Floating World” was not a physical place, but rather a mindset of enjoying life’s fleeting pleasures. While the pleasures may have been fleeting, happily the prints which chronicled this lifestyle survive to be enjoyed by viewers today.

Featuring objects from the ancient world to the present day. Faculty may request specific objects to be considered for inclusion during the upcoming academic year by contacting Dr. Wren River Stevens (stevenwr@jmu.edu or 540-568-5577) before July 30th.