Curators Revealed for ArtSalon, Opening Reception During the 2025 KCAI Alumni Weekend
07.22.2025
Alumni Jori Louise Cheville (’04 Ceramics), Sara Haug (’16 Printmaking & Painting), and Marianne Laury (’12 Sculpture) are shaping the thematic direction and visual identity of the 2025 Alumni Exhibition.
The Kansas City Art Institute invites the public to ArtSalon, an evening that brings together alumni, faculty, collectors, and patrons to celebrate the enduring creative legacy of KCAI.
ArtSalon serves as the opening reception for the 2025 Alumni Exhibition, featuring a curated selection of work from KCAI alumni across disciplines and generations. All artworks on display will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both the participating artists and the KCAI Annual Fund, an essential resource for student scholarships and institutional support.
The ArtSalon 2025 Curators are Jori Louise Cheville (’04 Ceramics), Sara Haug (’16 Printmaking & Painting), and Marianne Laury (’12 Sculpture). The group collaborated with KCAI staff and jurors to select alumni artwork and shape the event’s thematic direction and visual identity.
Read their biographies below. Whether you're looking to add to your collection or simply reconnect with the creative community, ArtSalon promises to be one of the most striking art events of the season.
Jori Louise Cheville (’04 Ceramics)
Jori Louise Cheville is an accomplished curator and arts leader with 20 years of experience in the contemporary arts. She graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2004 with a BFA in Ceramics and earned her MFA from the University of Kansas in 2013. Over the course of her career, Jori has collaborated with several leading galleries in the Crossroads Arts District, including Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Belger Arts, and Weinberger Fine Art, where she honed her expertise in curating and managing exhibitions.
In her recent role as Area Director of Museum Operations for 21c Museum Hotels, Jori developed and oversaw rotating exhibitions, site-specific installations, and cultural programming for both the Kansas City and Bentonville locations. Her work at 21c highlights her ability to blend contemporary art with hospitality and community engagement, creating environments that invite dialogue between art and public spaces.
She is also responsible for leading the curation and installation of artwork at CPKC Stadium, the first national women’s soccer stadium, where she works to ensure that the art reflects the stadium’s commitment to inclusivity and community.
Jori’s curatorial approach is deeply rooted in her belief in the transformative power of art to inspire, provoke, and challenge audiences. Her exhibitions often explore themes of identity, community, and social justice, and she is dedicated to creating spaces that are both intellectually engaging and visually compelling. This philosophy extends to her work at the Museum of Art + Light in Manhattan, Kansas, where she curates exhibitions that invite viewers to engage with art in dynamic and unexpected ways as the Director of Curatorial Affairs.
Sara Haug (’16 Printmaking & Painting)
Sara Haug was born and raised in Leawood, KS, eldest daughter in a family of 10. Sara graduated with a BFA in Printmaking & Painting from the Kansas City Art Institute, and holds a Masters in Art Business from Sotheby’s London, graduating with distinction. Her Masters dissertation focused on the impact of sociopolitical climate on the Black and African American photography market from 2010-2019, utilizing both qualitative historical market trends and quantitative auction data analysis.
Previously, she interned at Anderson Ranch Art Center, worked as a coordinator of communications, engagement, and programming at the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, and as a strategic development and staffing consultant at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. Recently, she worked at Bonhams, where she started in client services and moved to coordinating high-volume e-commerce fine jewelry auctions. Currently, she is executive assistant at Regen Projects supporting both operations and sales. Sara lives in Los Angeles with her little dog Chapito, they enjoy gallery hopping and beach days.
Marianne Laury (’12 Sculpture)
Marianne Laury is an artist, curator, and co-founder of Bad Girllz Studio, a women owned art-handling and art fabrication business. She was the co-founder of BANK Projects, an independent art space in St. Louis, MO, and is currently the Curator and Director of Programming at the Granite City Art and Design District (G-CADD) in Granite City, IL. She received a BFA in Sculpture from the Kansas City Art Institute, and an MFA in Visual Art from Washington University in St. Louis, where she currently lives and works.