KANSAS CITY, MO.- A grid of photographs of people sleeping. A pair of high-end designer shoes featuring intricate American Indian beadwork. A silk sari from India, richly embellished with metallic brocade. These are just a few of the disparate artworks displayed at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Showcase: Collecting for Kansas City exhibition opening June 9. The exhibition features 25 recent acquisitions and puts the generosity of museum patrons in the spotlight.

“Our collection is internationally known and we are so pleased to be able to add to it through the generosity of our donors,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO. “More than 850 works of art have been given to the museum in the past two years, and now is the time to celebrate those gifts.”

Nearly every area in the museum is represented in Showcase, including Asian, American, Prints and Modern & Contemporary.

“It is both astonishing and humbling to realize that everything in this museum is either a direct gift or has been acquired through funds given to us,” said Jan Schall, Sanders Sosland curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. “Without this profound generosity, we would not exist. It’s important to pause from time to time and acknowledge our friends and collecting groups who care deeply about helping the museum grow.”

An eye-catching pair of Christian Louboutin pumps sport intricate Native American beading, stiletto heels and sassy open toes. The acquisition was made possible with a donation from the A. Keith Brodkin Fund which supports additions to the museum’s collection of contemporary American Indian art.

“Having sustained commitments like this to acquiring works of art for the museum means we can continue to build on our collection strengths,” said Schall. “New acquisitions also take us in exciting fresh directions.”

This exhibition runs through Aug. 12. The Nelson-Atkins plans to periodically showcase new acquisitions to show gratitude to the museum’s generous donors.