Join moderator Jeff Koterba for an engaging conversation with collectors Karen & Robert Duncan, Kathryn & Marc LeBaron, and Ree & Jun Kaneko as they explore the profound motivations behind collecting art and its vital role in cultural life.
In conjunction with the current exhibition Under the Skin: From the Collections of Karen & Robert Duncan and Kathryn & Marc LeBaron, this special program brings together distinguished collectors whose passion and vision have shaped remarkable private collections. The panelists will discuss what draws them to acquire works of art, how they approach building a collection, and why supporting artists and preserving cultural heritage matters deeply to them.
Under the Skin showcases provocative figurative works that challenge conventions and reveal the raw complexity of the human form—a testament to the bold, discerning eye these collectors bring to their acquisitions. Through their conversation, discover how collectors serve as essential stewards of artistic innovation and expression.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, an emerging enthusiast, or simply curious about the world of art collecting, this discussion promises unique insights into the relationships between artists, collectors, and the works that connect them.
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Please be advised that the Under the Skin exhibition contains depictions of full/partial nudity and mature themes. Parents and guardians are encouraged to preview and assess the content to decide if it aligns with what they deem appropriate for their children.
Reception begins at 6:30 pm.
Photo credit: Robert Arneson, Flat Face
Collector Bios:
Robert & Karen Duncan and Kathryn & Marc LeBaron are passionate art collectors and cultural philanthropists who have spent over four decades building significant collections while supporting artists and arts organizations. Their commitment to the arts extends beyond collecting to include founding the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum in Iowa, establishing Assemblage—a private exhibition space in Lincoln, Nebraska—and creating an artist residency program in Mexico.
The two couples have traveled the world together in pursuit of art, visiting artists’ studios and building lasting relationships with creators across multiple continents. Their collections, which initially focused on sculpture but have since expanded to encompass diverse media, are united by a love of figurative works that explore the human form in all its complexity. They share a passion for boldly beautiful, technically excellent pieces and have been guided by mentors including George Neubert and Jun Kaneko.
Through the Clarinda Carnegie Art Museum and Assemblage, the Duncans and LeBarons host exhibitions from their collections and provide extensive educational programming, bringing world-class art to their communities and supporting emerging artists through residency programs.
Ree & Jun Kaneko are acclaimed artists and arts advocates based in Omaha. Ree, a ceramicist and arts administrator, co-founded the internationally renowned Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in 1995, supporting over a thousand artists through residencies, studios, and exhibitions over her five-decade career. Jun, born in Nagoya, Japan, studied with pioneering ceramicists Peter Voulkos and Paul Soldner and has created large-scale sculptural installations in over seventy public art commissions worldwide. His work appears in more than eighty museum collections, and he has received numerous honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center. Together, the Kanekos have transformed Omaha into a vital center for contemporary art.
Moderator Bio:
Jeff Koterba is the host of KVNO’s “Morning Classics” and an award-winning cartoonist whose work appears in over 800 newspapers. His original drawings have flown on the space shuttle Discovery and were exhibited in Paris and elsewhere in France. Entertainment Weekly called his memoir, Inklings: “…a powerful and moving portrait of an artist.” A two-time TEDx speaker, he often speaks on how Tourette’s Syndrome is connected to his creative process. Jeff is a two-time finalist for a Heartland Emmy Award. He writes music, sings, and plays guitar and mandolin in his swing band, Prairie Cats. A painter and sculptor, Jeff is an artist in residence at the Pottawattamie, Arts, Cultural & Entertainment (PACE) center.
