Just a short walk from Benedictine’s campus lies a large brick house with a tower jutting into the sky and a sign in the front yard.
This is the Muchnic Art Gallery, named for the family foundation that opened the space to the Atchison Art Association around 1970 for the sake of sharing art with art enthusiasts in the area and then later, for the public.
“Our main objectives are to promote and advance the arts in Atchison through arts education, exhibitions and community outreach,” Molly Porter, the museum’s executive director said.
The museum has seen growth and change since it first became a museum. “In the beginning, the Art Association’s mission was focused on collecting art and creating a nice personal collection,” Porter said.
In the next phase, the Art Association became somewhat of an elite club, something a person could only enter if invited. However, Deborah, the previous executive director, believed “art should be accessible to everybody.”
Deborah opened the art association and Porter has continued this mission since becoming executive director earlier this year.
Currently, the Gallery holds an exhibition of Brandon Tackett’s astrophotography ending December first. Gallery viewers are welcome to provide free will donations upon entrance.
Built in 1885, the interior is in many ways a work of art. “It’s rumored to be a carpenter’s catalogue house,” Porter said. “He was interested in showing everything he could do so there’s 47 different patterns in the wood floors.”
In an effort to share as much art as possible with the Atchison community, Porter is hoping to host a total of 12 exhibitions between the gallery and the cultural center on 8th street in 2026 to showcase local talent.
In addition, Porter hopes to do workshops monthly for all levels in 2026, “just different things to get creativity into people’s minds,” she said.
The museum currently hosts an artist in residence, Vaughn Schultz. A second artist will begin residency soon and the museum hopes to host more artists in the future.
The Muchnic Art Gallery offers Atchison a chance to contemplate the work of artists and to help inspire and support young up and coming artists, providing a space for their first solo show or helping them feel supported in their artistic endeavors, Porter said.
