Leedyville: Where Art, Community, and Legacy Live On

History, Vision & Leedyville

Founded in 1985 by Jim Leedy, the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center was created to establish a permanent and thriving arts community in Kansas City. Its mission is to showcase world-class artwork from the city’s vibrant creative community — including painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, designers, printmakers, craftsmen, and more. The name of the center honors Peter Voulkos, Jim’s friend and celebrated artist, reflecting the deep connections and inspirations that shaped its foundation.

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From the beginning, Jim envisioned Leedyville — a community where artists could affordably live, work, and flourish. He transformed abandoned warehouses into studios and galleries, creating a space that nurtured creativity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Over the decades, Leedyville has remained the heart of the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, home to both studio artists and countless exhibitions that have shaped Kansas City’s cultural landscape.

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As a vital part of the Leedy Foundation, the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center continues to honor Jim Leedy’s vision. A comprehensive museum is under development to celebrate his legacy and pivotal role in developing the Kansas City Crossroads Arts District, while showcasing the works of Midwestern artists, both living and deceased. Today, Leedyville stands as a vibrant, living community that connects the city’s artistic past, present, and future.

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Leedyville Exhibition Artists

Since opening our doors, the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center has showcased thousands of artists through exhibitions that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of Kansas City’s creative community. From emerging voices to nationally celebrated figures, these exhibitions have connected our city to the larger art world while remaining deeply rooted in our local history.

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Today, the center features seven gallery spaces totaling more than 10,000 square feet: the Main Gallery, Front Gallery, Opie Gallery, Back Gallery, Leedy Underground Gallery I, Leedy Underground Gallery II, and the Vault Gallery. These galleries host a dynamic mix of exhibitions year-round, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the depth and variety of work produced by both local and regional artists.

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​In 2024 alone, the center showcased more than 146 artists across 20 exhibition openings, highlighting the vibrant creativity and ongoing legacy of Leedyville. The Leedy Foundation continues to preserve the exhibition history, honoring both living artists and those who have passed, ensuring their contributions remain part of the enduring story of Leedyville.

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Leedyville Studio Artists

For more than four decades, the studios within the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center have provided affordable workspaces to hundreds of artists across all disciplines. Painters, sculptors, photographers, designers, and makers of every kind have called Leedyville home. These artists form the beating heart of our community, creating new work every day within the same walls Jim once filled with his own creations.

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The Leedy Foundation is committed to maintaining these studios, ensuring that artists have access to affordable, sustainable spaces to create. By supporting our studio artists, you are investing in the future of Kansas City’s cultural landscape.

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Visitors are welcome to experience the studios firsthand during First Friday, with entrance through the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center’s Opie Gallery. This offers a unique opportunity to see the creative process in action and engage with the artists who continue Jim Leedy’s vision today.​

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The Foundation is also working to preserve and document the exhibition history of the center for future generations. Every artist who has shown here has contributed to the living story of Leedyville.

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LeedyVille Artist Legacy Submission – Leedy Foundation

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“I wish every artist would know how important they are to the world.” – Jim Leedy

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Whether you have had a studio within Leedyville or exhibited your work at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, you are part of Jim Leedy’s original vision. Every artist who has created, shown, or shared work here has helped build the legacy that defines Kansas City’s arts community.

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The LeedyVille Artist Legacy Submission is the Leedy Foundation’s initiative to collect and preserve the stories, artwork, and contributions of both studio and exhibiting artists. By submitting your history, you become part of a permanent archive, future publications and exhibitions, and an online collection that will help lay the foundation for a future museum. This museum will be dedicated to Jim Leedy and his vision, his personal collection, the Leedy Foundation Legacy Artist Collection, and the history of Leedyville and the Crossroads Arts District.

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If an artist has passed away, family members or friends are encouraged to submit on their behalf. This ensures that the contributions of all artists, living and deceased, are recognized and preserved as part of Leedyville’s enduring legacy.

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 * Want to see your Leedyville Artist Profile featured on our website?

Support the Leedy Foundation with a one-time donation of $25 or more, and we’ll create a profile just for you. Learn more at the end of the form. 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Support Leedyville - Leedy Foundation

Leedyville has always been more than a set of studios or galleries — it is a community built on the belief that art matters. The Leedy Foundation is dedicated to sustaining this vision, but preserving Leedyville’s legacy requires extra time, resources, and manpower. We rely on the generosity of those who share our commitment to artists and their contributions to Kansas City’s cultural heritage.

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There are many ways to help:

• Make a donation – One-time or recurring gifts help support artists, exhibitions, and the additional work needed to preserve Leedyville’s history.

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• Volunteer your time – Assist with exhibitions, archives, events, or other efforts to maintain and document the community’s legacy.

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• Shop in our Gift Gallery – Support local artists directly by purchasing artwork and merchandise.

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• Buy art from exhibiting artists – Acquire pieces displayed at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.

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• Buy art from our studio artists – Support the artists who make Leedyville their creative home.

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Every contribution, big or small, helps ensure that artists have a place to create, that Leedyville’s history is preserved, and that Kansas City’s artistic legacy thrives for future generations.​​​​​​