Written by: Allison Boedges

Ellis Library is home to a large number of exhibits and showcases from permanent fixtures, annual displays, and others that are constantly new or frequently switched out.

Permanent exhibits:

The cast gallery can be found on the second floor of the building in a quiet study space. The larger than life sculptures are a part of the Museum of Art and Archaeology’s collection (but are too tall for the museum space!) are worth a visit from every student at some point.

Also on the second floor, the M.L. Snowden Collection features multiple statues carved of bronze in the windows of the Grand Reading Room. M.L. Snowden won several of the world’s most prestigious sculpture prizes including The International Rodin Competition in Tokyo, Japan, and the inaugural Presidential Order of Merit “In Recognition of Significant Contributions to the Betterment of Humanity Through Art.”

Ellis is currently hosting a campaign buttons collection on the 1st floor of the library. The collection features the entire campaign of 1896, with all presidential  elections through 1996. The collection represents a lifetime of work by Sandy and Barry Garron, who donated their full collection to the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs in 2021.

The Museum of Anthropology is located on the ground floor of Ellis. Open from 10-4 Tuesday-Friday and 12-4 on weekends, the museum offers a multitude of exhibits designed to allow visitors to broaden their understanding of human history. The museum is currently featuring several revolving exhibits, including beautiful Native American embroidery done by dyeing and stitching porcupine quills and watercolor paintings done by Pueblo Artists in the early 20th century. More exhibits can be found online at https://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/exhibitions.

The Museum of Art and Archeology is also located on the ground floor of Ellis. With the same hours as the Museum of Anthropology, these exhibits showcase a wide range of original art and artifacts. Some exhibitions are permanent while others rotate and include everything from ancient works to contemporary art. New exhibits at the museum include a series titled From Earth to Artist: Clay, featuring works from Ancient China, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean and Catching Light: Two River Views featuring works from two early 20th century artists. Another display case holding artifacts from the museum can be found near the Peer Navigator desk on the first floor of the library. For more information about current and past exhibits, check out the Museum’s exhibition page, and updates about displays, please see the Museum’s news page.

Annual Exhibits in the Colonnade:

During Faculty Excellence Week, Ellis hosts an exhibit for all faculty who have published or edited a book in the past year. These books are part of the MU Libraries Collection and will be available in time for Faculty Excellence Week, which is May 4th to May 11th.

The Visual Art and Design Showcase is a venue for undergraduate students to display their work. Various awards are offered during this exhibition, including the MU Libraries Showcase award. The winner of this category is displayed on the first floor of Ellis Library in a case located near the Peer Navigator desk.

Each year during February, Ellis offers exhibits honoring Black History Month. These include a special book collection, art, and displays celebrating the month. For more information on exhibits and events, see https://libraryguides.missouri.edu/mulibraryexhibits/BHM.

Current Exhibits:

An exhibit honoring the 13th President of the University and namesake of the library, Elmer Ellis, displays information on this very pivotal figure in the University’s history. Under his direction, the University of Missouri grew to 4 campuses, which formed what is now known as the University of Missouri System. Additional information on Elmer Ellis, and the history of the library with his name, can be found on the Ellis Old and New section of the Library website.

The art featured in Bookmark Cafe, located on the ground floor of the library, rotates each semester. Currently, Ellis is hosting the artist René de Jesús Peña González, who generously loaned two works to the library. The first is titled Flamenco and the second, part of a larger series, is titled Sad Blue Child.