Mini Exhibit, Big Excitement: A review of the new Nelson-Atkins Museum-inspired exhibit in The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: a Kansas City classic that almost any local — or tourist — could walk you through with their eyes closed. However, a museum that even KC residents may not be able to tell you exists — The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, located on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus.

A mini version of the Nelson, including oil paintings, colorful statues, gorgeous walkways and the entrance room are stuffed in a corner of the Museum of Toys and Miniatures. 

The museum installed a mini version of the Kansas City classic at the beginning of the month — and the beauty and detail of it was nothing short of awe-inducing.

The exhibit consisted of five sections — four with paintings or sculptures and one of the main entrance rooms in The Nelson. The attention to detail down to even the swirls and designs on the paintings’ frame was what I was most impressed by. Being able to add intricate designs onto something smaller than my finger is a talent I never knew I’d respect so much.

An in-depth examination of the exhibit took me no more than 15 minutes — just the right amount of time for someone who struggles to make it through a five minute Youtube video. At the real-size Nelson I’m constantly begging my group to move onto the next piece. Luckily in this mini version I wasn’t forced to impatiently stand there waiting for my friend to read the artist’s three paragraph bio before moving on to the next painting since you could see almost all of them on the wall at once. The perfect place for kids — and anyone who can’t sit still for the life of them — if you ask me.

The paintings and sculptures are also changed periodically much like an actual museum, giving guests something new to look at on their visits.

I would visit this exhibit ‘mini’ more times.