Chosen Treasures

This year we tried something new, we asked our co-workers to pick a piece from the library’s art collection to create a “library picks” exhibit. They chose pieces from all parts of the art collection: paintings, prints, photographs, ceramics and glass! It is interesting to see how art inspires and intrigues each of us differently.

We had a lot of fun going through the art collection with our colleagues to create this exhibit, we hope you enjoy just a few of the treasures from the library's art collection.

The Alice C. Sabatini Gallery is home to Topeka’s oldest public art collection with thousands of artworks. Library board member Edward Wilder acquired the nucleus of the collection at the turn of the 20th century. He purchased a large collection of Art Nouveau glass and ceramics for the library while on a tour of Europe in 1901. The collection has expanded to include regional paintings and prints, American contemporary ceramics, glass paperweights, West African decorative arts, southwest reliquary woodcarvings and 19th century Chinese decorative arts.

Chosen Treasures will be on the display in the front gallery Dec 10, 2018 – Feb 10, 2019.