Derby Arts Council at the Derby Public Library

06/15/2026

Stop into our High Wall Gallery to enjoy artworks from Karen Funcheon!

The FACES series is a vibrant collection of "lovely ladies" brought to life through a meticulous and sustainable creative process. Funcheon’s work consists primarily of found objects, including vintage jewelry belonging to herself or her mother. Each piece begins with a specific frame and background fabric, which then dictates the historical theme. "I start with the frame, and it inspires the direction," Funcheon explains. "Each piece is meticulously researched to stay true to the specific time period and location suggested by the fabric."

Delight in Karen Funcheon’s featured works, Blossom Belle and The Reluctant Bride.

06/11/2026

Invitation to Exhibit: Veterans Art Show at the Derby Public Library. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

We want to shine a light on the incredible creativity of our veteran community!

06/09/2026

🎨 Artist Shout-Out: Donna Bates sharing 2 artworks in the Gathering Space Gallery as part of the Derby Photo Club and the Wichita Area Camera Club show.

Donna’s artistic journey truly blossomed after moving to Derby in 2012, where she began exploring classes at the Derby Recreation Center. Refusing to lock herself into just one medium, Donna has mastered everything from fused glass and fiber arts to concrete stepping stones and painting. As an active member of Derby’s Photo Club, she beautifully fuses these distinct disciplines together—often creating custom barn quilts, memory stepping stones for her grandkids' sports, and stunning multimedia tapestries entirely inspired by her own original photography.

Stop by the Gathering Space Gallery to view her featured works on display:

Yellow Glory
Price: $65 (with frame)

The Story: A stunning capture of an Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio Glaucus) enjoying a bright spring day near Dexter, KS. Donna’s keen eye beautifully frames the butterfly, capturing its vibrant colors and the delicate, graceful signs of its age.

Sliding the Rail
Price: Not For Sale

The Story: A joyful, candid slice of life. Donna captures a playful moment of her granddaughter creating her own half-time entertainment on a railing during her cousin's soccer game. It is a wonderful example of finding art in everyday family moments.

From the Artist:
"With a passion for the arts and unable to choose just one, I started combining my skills by creating tapestries and paintings based from my photography... and creating custom commissioned pieces in memory of loved ones."

Come celebrate Donna's unique perspective and incredible craftsmanship next time you visit the gallery!

05/27/2026

Call for collectors: Nerd Collectors Meet-Up is coming soon!

The Derby Public Library will be bringing back its Nerd Collector’s Meet-up, to be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. July 5 in the library, located at 1600 E Walnut

05/25/2026

🎨 Artist Shoutout & Congratulations! ✨❤️

At the Derby Arts Council, we absolutely love keeping up with and supporting the incredible artists who have graced our library galleries. Today, we want to shine a massive spotlight on a very special member of our arts family: Stephanie Bayliff!

Stephanie is not only a remarkably talented artist who creates across many beautiful mediums, but she is also a phenomenal friend to the DAC. From volunteering her time to expertly stage our galleries to hanging artwork with precision and care, she does so much behind the scenes to make local art shine in Derby.

Now, it’s our turn to celebrate her! Stephanie has a stunning new display of her work over at Gallery XII in Wichita, and we couldn't be prouder.

Looking for a great, free night out? We highly encourage you to stop into Gallery XII to see her incredible creations on display and show her some love. Congratulations, Stephanie—thank you for everything you do for our community! 🎉🧵🎨

Next month, Mulvane artist Stephanie Bayliff will be part of a featured show at Wichita’s Gallery 12. Bayliff’s latest solo exhibit, “The Space Between Breaths,” will be on display at

05/22/2026

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! 🎉🎨✨

The wait is officially over! Join us this evening at the Derby Public Library for a spectacular Double Artist Reception from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

We are celebrating an incredible mix of local talent across our galleries tonight:

📸 In the Gathering Space Gallery: Experience the breathtaking beauty of our state with the "Kansas: Through the Lens" exhibition, featuring stunning landscapes and wildlife from the talented members of the Derby Photo Club and the Wichita Camera Club.

🧵 In the High Wall Gallery: Prepare to smile and laugh as you meet the whimsical, one-of-a-kind characters of Karen Funcheon’s FACES fiber art collection—including Aunt Mildred and Judy in Disguise!

Bring your friends and family for a fabulous Friday night out filled with inspiring artwork, live music, and delicious refreshments. It’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend and support our wonderful local arts community.

We can't wait to see you there! 👇

🗓️ Tonight, Friday, May 22nd
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Derby Public Library
🎟️ Free & open to the public!

Library

05/21/2026

From our High Wall Gallery:

Meet "Judy in Disguise" by Karen Funcheon! 🕶️✨

This fabulous lady is another unforgettable character from Karen’s whimsical FACES series currently lighting up the High Wall Gallery. Bursting with texture, personality, and playful charm, Judy is a perfect example of how Karen brilliantly weaves together vintage trims, found fabrics, and expressive detail to create one-of-a-kind art that is guaranteed to make you smile.

Come see Judy in all her disguised glory and meet the artist behind the magic this Friday night from 6:00 to 7:30 PM! 🧵🎨

05/21/2026

Artist Spotlight: Reed Harder 📷 🎞️

The Gathering Space Gallery is excited to introduce Reed Harder as part of our current exhibition, "Kansas: Through the Lens." A member of the Wichita Area Camera Club (WACC), Reed brings a unique, industrial-focused eye to the local arts scene, captured beautifully through the nostalgic medium of film photography.

Reed’s artistic journey spans from the rolling hills of Eastern Washington to the historic mining landscape of Butte, Montana, where he earned a degree in Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. Walking past abandoned mining structures every day sparked a lifelong fascination with ruins and industrial bones, leaving him wondering: What were these places like when they were alive?

Since moving to Wichita in early 2022, Reed has embraced the community—cultivating native Kansas wildflowers like coreopsis and Maximilian sunflowers in his yard, and pursuing his two favorite, beautifully meticulous hobbies: woodworking and film photography.

Reed has three striking long-exposure nighttime photographs on display in the gallery, offering a mesmerizing look at local architectural giants:

Starlight on 21st and Topeka: "The first thing that caught my attention when I moved to Wichita were the silos along Interstate 135. They served the same purpose as the round metal silos that I was familiar with, but were far more impressive. These silos have had a grip on me since the day I saw them. This is my attempt to show the beauty I see in these looming concrete towers. This is one of many long-exposure nighttime photographs of industrial architecture that I have taken, and I hope to take many more." (Shot on Kodak Gold; Developed and scanned by Midwest Film Company).

Diesel Fuel & Memorial to Neon: (Be sure to check out these stunning companion pieces on the gallery wall to see how Reed continues to capture the unexpected beauty, grit, and glowing nostalgia of Wichita's industrial spaces!)

05/20/2026

🖼️ Behind the Scenes: The galleries are ready for Friday night!

Our walls are officially filled with stunning art for this Friday's reception, and we can’t wait for you to see them in person. We're teasing a little sneak peek of just two of the unforgettable pieces you'll find on display:
📷 "A Look Back in Time" by Sheila Maksimowicz
🧵 "Aunt Mildred" by Karen Funcheon (complete with her vintage 50s style!)

Which gallery are you planning to explore first—the High Wall Gallery or the Gathering Space Gallery? Let us know in the comments!

05/20/2026

Artist Spotlight: Vanessa Call 📷 ✨ The Gathering Space Gallery is delighted to feature local photographer Vanessa Call as part of our current community exhibition, "Kansas: Through the Lens." As a passionate member of the Derby Photo Club, Vanessa dedicates her talent to a beautiful personal challenge: capturing wildlife moments so profound that words simply seem inadequate to describe them.

"God created a beautiful world for us to enjoy," Vanessa shares. "Louis Armstrong was right when he sang, ‘I see skies of blue, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you… and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.’"

Vanessa has two stunning photographs on display in this show, each offering a unique, storytelling glimpse into the heart of Kansas wildlife:

Prairie Gold: Taken during an early morning adventure to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, this breathtaking shot transforms a familiar, classic Kansas image into a drenched, golden icon.

Bird of Pray: Captured at Lake Afton, this remarkable photograph features a local bluebird. While the bird was actually recycling the downy feathers of a dead crow to line its own nest, the perfectly timed shot gives the touching impression of a tiny creature praying over a fallen friend.

***Remember our artists reception - This Friday 6-7:30 pm!